Long-Term Disability & Cardiovascular Conditions

Cardiovascular disease affects roughly half of all Americans, according to the American Heart Association. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 18 million adults are walking around with coronary artery disease. Smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main risk factors for CAD, as well as job-related stress 

Heart disease and related illnesses are classified as “cardiovascular,” meaning the heart, blood vessels and their related systems. The gradual buildup of plaque in the arteries slows the flow of blood to and from the heart, Experiencing a heart attack or other cardiovascular-related condition, such as a stroke, can mean limitations on what you can and can’t do during convalescence. In severe cases, you may become disabled and no longer be able to work at all. 

If you or a loved one suffer from a cardiovascular condition and want to recover long-term disability benefits, our long-term disability attorney in Kansas City, MO can help.  If your claim has been denied, we will review your denial letter for free.  Call us at 816-203-0143.

Cardiovascular Conditions Causing Disability

The most common medical conditions that impact your cardiovascular system are: 

  • Heart attackscardiovascular conditions qualify for long term disability lawyer.jpg
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) 
  • DVT (deep venuous thrombosis) 
  • Arrhythmia
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Familial Hypercholesterolaemia/High Cholesterol
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Angina
  • Palpitations
  • Heart valve issues
  • Coronary artery spasm

How Cardiovascular Conditions Impact Your Ability to Work

A stroke affects your ability to walk, talk, and function on a daily basis. Many people recover from strokes with therapy and rehabilitation and re-learn to function normally. 

Having a heart attack may limit your physical abilities, but work-related stress is also be a risk factor for having one. This would leave a person unable to return to work in a high-stress environment. 

Functional impairments could mean that you are unable to return to work long-term, or even permanently.  

These are just a few of the wide range of conditions that can render a person unable to work. You may also have associated symptoms such as: 

  • Shortness of breath at rest or with exercise, including a hacking or wheezing cough
  • Water and fluid retention that results in weight gain, swelling, nausea, bloating, nausea and increases in urination
  • Difficulty with exertion, including walking, carrying and lifting 
  • Fatigue, weakness, dizziness and confusion
  • Medication side effects

Symptoms like these can impede your ability to work, or keep you from working altogether. 

Applying for Long-Term Disability due to a Cardiovascular Condition

Whether you’ve paid for your own disability insurance, or obtained it through your employer, long-term disability is intended to give financial help when you are disabled for a long period of time or can no longer work. 

Medical evidence is critical to presenting your claim of a disabling condition. You’ll need to demonstrate “proof of loss” in your application through the inclusion of medical records, prescription history, diagnostic test results and other documentation. Everything must point to the conclusion that you are physically unable to return to work for a period of time (or permanently.) 

It’s also important to have as much information in your original application as possible, and far beyond what you’re asked for. Should you be required to appeal or file an ERISA suit, the judge will only see what’s in your original file. No new evidence will be allowed, and you won’t be able to testify. Ask your disability attorney about “packing” your disability application at the beginning to avoid a lack of evidence later. 

You vs. The Disability Insurance Company

You’ve submitted your requested paperwork to your insurer, including diagnostics, prescriptions, and other treatments, but you still received a letter of denial. What’s going on here? 

Sometimes the insurer pays as expected. But sometimes benefits are cut off without notice, leaving the insured in a bind. Many conditions are insured by a long-term disability policy for a specific amount of time. 

In some cases, the application is denied at the outset, even though you’ve filled out all the paperwork and done everything they’ve asked. The truth is that insurance companies tend to look at papers and tests and make their determinations from there. Many insurers are of the belief that after heart surgery you’re fit to return to work. “Normal” test results do not mean a patient is fit to return to work, and returning to a stressful work environment puts and individual back at risk for the same condition. But basing a decision on a case file isn’t looking at the whole picture, and they may not be taking symptoms into consideration. 

Insurance companies are in business to make money, not pay claims. They consistently employ stalling tactics, such as requests for additional information, and routinely deny claims hoping that you won’t fight back with an appeal. It’s up to you to continue the case to win the benefits you’re entitled to. 

Every case is different, and just because you received a letter of denial does not mean you aren’t disabled.  ERISA LTD claims are different and complicated, and you should get assistance from a long-term disability lawyer with your appeal. Getting help from an experienced long-term disability attorney greatly increases your chances of a successful appeal. 

Our Long-term Disability Attorney Can Help

If you have questions about long-term disability insurance, we have answers.  Here are a few of the ways we can help:

long term disability book by attorney for denial appeal1.    If you have not yet made an initial application for benefits, schedule a strategy session with our long-term disability lawyer today. You can do this in person, or by phone. Usually, it's all the help you'll need from us. If your claim is denied, you can then hire us, and we will credit your consultation fee to the appeal.

2.   If you've already received a denial letter, please don't give up. Call us at 816-203-0143 and we can review your denial letter for free. Our free review includes tips on what we think you should do on your appeal. We can also tell you how we might be able to help if you decide to hire us.

3. Want answers right now?  Download our free long term disability book Danger: Proceed at Your Own Risk, which is packed with helpful tips and the exact steps you need to take for an appeal.

No matter what you do, don't wait. The deadlines associated with these claims are very short. Continue to do your research but don't hesitate to reach out for help. 

 

 

Kevin J. McManus
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Kevin McManus is an accident injury and disability lawyer in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS