Is Heart Disease Considered a Disability?
December 8, 2025 |
When someone hears the words heart disease, their first concern is usually staying alive and managing their health. Very few people think ahead to how this condition might affect their ability to work or function day to day.
That uncertainty is what brings many people to ask an important question: Is heart disease considered a disability? The short answer is that it can be, but everything depends on the severity of your symptoms, your medical documentation, and how your limitations affect your work capacity.
How the Social Security Disability System Looks at Heart Disease
The Social Security Administration has strict guidelines for determining when a cardiovascular condition qualifies for support. The agency reviews how the condition affects the cardiovascular system, whether the person can maintain physical activity, and how their body manages basic tasks like getting enough blood to the major arteries and the rest of the circulatory system.
Common Heart Conditions That May Qualify
There are many forms of heart-related disease, but some of the most familiar conditions include:
- Blockages or narrowing of the coronary artery
- Coronary artery disease
- Ischemic heart disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic heart failure
- Myocardial ischemia
- Prior myocardial infarction
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Recurrent arrhythmia
- Acute congestive heart failure
These conditions affect the heart muscle and its ability to pump blood efficiently. When the body does not receive sufficient blood supply, a person can experience disabling symptoms that make employment nearly impossible.
The Symptoms and Limitations Decision Makers Consider
Heart-related illnesses can show up in many different ways. Some individuals experience sudden heart attack events. Others have persistent symptoms that slowly chip away at their stamina and quality of life. The Social Security Disability benefits process focuses heavily on what you feel day to day, not only the diagnosis written on your chart.
Physical Symptoms That Can Impact Your Claim
Some of the symptoms that commonly harm a person’s ability to work include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Extreme fatigue
- Palpitations linked to electrical impulses in the heart beating irregularly
- Weakness or reduced blood pressure
- Difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or handling physical activity
Your treating doctor will document how these symptoms affect your daily living, and that documentation becomes a major part of the disability evaluation.
How Medical Testing and Evidence Impact Your Case
If you submit a disability claim, the Social Security Administration will expect objective evidence that supports your condition. This evidence may include everything from magnetic resonance imaging scans to laboratory findings that show how your heart works under stress.
Tests That Are Commonly Used
Decision makers regularly request or review:
- Exercise tests
- Drug-induced stress tests
- An exercise tolerance test
- Ejection fraction measurements
- Physical examinations
- Imaging showing the left ventricle structure
- Documentation of systolic failure or diastolic failure
These tests demonstrate how your cardiovascular system responds to movement, how well your heart pumps enough blood to the rest of the body, and whether there is a measurable heart abnormality.
Meeting the Social Security Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, your condition must prevent you from working at the level known as substantial gainful activity. The agency then evaluates whether your medical impairment meets the criterion for a cardiovascular impairment or whether your limitations reduce your residual functional capacity enough that you cannot return to work.
What the Administration Looks For
Some of the factors that play a major role include:
- A complete medical history
- Medical records showing consistent medical treatment
- Evidence that you follow your prescribed treatment
- Demonstrated difficulty performing work-related tasks
- Objective signs like reduced ejection fraction or myocardial ischemia
Even if you do not automatically qualify under the cardiovascular category, you may still win benefits through a broader assessment of your limitations.
Underlying Causes and Contributing Conditions
The reason someone develops heart issues can also influence how the condition progresses. Some individuals have a family history of birth defects affecting the heart or other medical risk factors. Others develop problems due to high blood pressure, blocked blood vessels, or long-term cardiovascular disease.
Certain individuals have complications after a prior myocardial infarction, while others may experience sudden cardiac arrest or acute event episodes that leave lasting damage. No matter the underlying causes, what matters most is documenting how your medical condition affects your ability to maintain daily living and consistent work.
What Happens If Your Claim Is Denied
Many applicants do not receive benefits on their first attempt. This is where the disability claims and appeals process becomes important. Your insurance company may also play a role if you have private disability insurance that requires additional proof of medical impairment.
If denied, you can request reconsideration. If denied again, you can move forward to a hearing and present testimony, medical evidence, and statements from your treating doctor. Persistence is often necessary, and the appeals process can be significantly smoother with legal guidance.
Is Heart Disease Considered a Disability under Social Security?
In many cases the answer is yes, but eligibility depends on the severity of symptoms and the strength of your evidence. Heart failure that limits mobility, cardiovascular disease that reduces proper functioning of the heart, or an acute event that leads to long-term limitations can all meet the criteria for disability programs.
If you can no longer perform your previous job and cannot adjust to new work because of your condition, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or a needs based program like Supplemental Security Income.
If you still find yourself wondering how to qualify for social security assistance, or if you feel uncertain about the next steps, that reaction is completely normal. Many applicants feel overwhelmed because the process can be intimidating.
How Our California Disability Attorneys Can Help You
If you are living with heart disease and struggling to understand how to protect your financial stability, it is time to consult with a social security lawyer. At Pisegna and Zimmerman, LLC, our attorneys have decades of experience guiding individuals through every stage of the Social Security disability journey, from initial applications to hearings and beyond.
Our lawyers understand how challenging these conditions can be and how drastically they can affect your life. Here is how we support you:
Personalized Disability Guidance
- We review your medical records and medical evidence with care.
- We study your daily living limitations and gather objective evidence that supports your claim.
- We handle communication with the local Social Security office and guide you through each requirement.
Full Support Through the Application or Appeals Process
- We help you complete your application process accurately and on time.
- We communicate with your treating doctor when additional documentation is needed.
- We stand with you throughout the entire claims process, including appeals when necessary.
Compassionate and Skilled Legal Representation
- Our attorneys bring over 60 years of combined experience in disability benefits representation.
- We are dedicated to securing the maximum compensation available through disability programs and insurance company policies.
- We maintain a supportive, understanding environment during what can be a stressful chapter in your life.
If you believe you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to a serious heart-related condition, our Social Security Disability attorney team is ready to represent you. Reach out to us today, and we will review your information, explain your legal options, and help you move forward with confidence and reassurance. To schedule your no-obligation, free consultation, call us at (818) 377-2200 or contact us online.