Pulmonary Atresia and Social Security Disability Claims
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States today. It is understandable that many hard-working American citizens find themselves unable to work due to a heart-related condition. Unfortunately, without any means of income, these disabled workers soon find that the bills begin to pile up and they have no way to pay for their daily living expenses. In such situations, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are intended to help.
Unfortunately, when an individual is suffering from a serious disability, it isn't always easy to obtain Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. In fact, most disability applicants wait two years or more before seeing their first Social Security Disability payment.
Why does it take so long for disability benefits to begin? The reason for the extensive wait times is the fact that nearly two-thirds of disability claims are denied by the SSA during the initial stage of the application process. These applicants must then pursue a disability appeal in order to obtain the disability benefits they need; a process that can take more than two years to complete due to the overwhelming backlog of appeals in the Social Security system.
Fortunately, when an individual is suffering from a severe disability, there is a chance that they can receive benefits more quickly. In 2008, the SSA rolled out the Compassionate Allowances Listings. Under these listings, an applicant may be able to obtain benefits in a matter of weeks instead of waiting months or years before receiving their first disability payment.
Up until recently there were only 88 conditions that would qualify an applicant for processing under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines. In 2011 the SSA added 12 more conditions to the Compassionate Allowances Listings, including pulmonary atresia.
If you have been diagnosed with pulmonary atresia the following information will help you understand how the SSA reviews disability claims that are based on this diagnosis and how you can increase your chances of receiving a quick approval of your disability claim under the Compassionate Allowances Listings.
Pulmonary Atresia Condition and Symptoms
Pulmonary atresia is a congenital heart disease that prevents the pulmonary valve from forming properly. In a normal and healthy heart, there is a pulmonary valve on the right side that regulates the blood flow from the right ventricle into the lungs. However, when an individual suffers from pulmonary atresia the blood from the right side of the heart is unable to go into the lungs to gather oxygen for the rest of the body.
There are two different types of pulmonary atresia. In one form of the condition, the individual also has a hole in the wall of the heart that separates the right and left ventricles. When this hole is present, it is called pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septal defect. If there is no hole present, the condition is referred to as pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum.
Patients who suffer from pulmonary atresia usually suffer from other cardiac conditions as well, such as an underdeveloped right ventricle and abnormal blood vessel formation. When an individual is born with this condition, surgery is usually necessary in order to create a shunt leading from the systemic circulatory system to the pulmonary circulatory system. This allows the heart to oxygenate the blood for the body.
Individuals who are able to survive into adulthood with this disability will often develop heart-related health problems later on in life. These complications may include angina, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure and/or cyanosis.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Pulmonary Atresia
If a Social Security Disability applicant suffers from pulmonary atresia, it is very important that the disability claim forms are filled out properly and that sufficient medical evidence is provided with the Social Security Disability application. The applicant will need to provide proof to the SSA that their condition does indeed meet the guidelines that have been set forth under this specific Compassionate Allowances Listing.
When filing a Social Security Disability claim due to pulmonary atresia, make sure that you answer all of the questions on the claim forms in detail. You want to provide as much information as possible to the adjudicator who will be reviewing your file.
Medical evidence will also be crucial in your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. In a case of pulmonary atresia, the adjudicator will need to see copies of a clinical description of your physician's findings, operative reports, cardiology consultation reports, imaging studies and electrocardiogram results.
Pulmonary Atresia and Your Social Security Disability Case
Many of the applicants who file a Social Security Disability claim that is based on a Compassionate Allowances Listing assume that their claim will be automatically approved by the Social Security Administration under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If you want your claim to be processed properly and approved quickly, you need to prepare your claim the right way and submit the proper medical evidence.
If you want to increase your chances of a quick and hassle-free approval of your Social Security Disability application, you should consider the services of a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or advocate. These professionals can help you with the preparation of your claim paperwork and the gathering of the medical evidence that will be needed to support your claim for disability benefits.
To learn more about the Social Security Compassionate Allowance Listings or to find out if you might qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to a case of pulmonary atresia, simply fill out the form for a free evaluation of your case from a qualified and experienced Social Security Disability lawyer.
