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Is Pulmonary Hypertension a Disability?
Pulmonary hypertension is a broad term for high blood pressure ("hypertension") affecting the blood arteries of the lungs. If you have moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension restrictions, Social Security may approve you for benefits.
Currently, the only known cure for pulmonary hypertension is a lung transplant. This hazardous disease can hit at any age and severely limit your ability to work. However, if you are disabled and receive Social Security benefits, you may be eligible for financial aid.
You have another health condition that matches a specific listing in the Impairment List.Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, PAH is a disorder in which the arteries that convey blood from the heart to the lungs ("pulmonary arteries") tighten and harden. This causes abnormally high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, putting additional strain on the heart's right side ("right ventricle"). The right ventricle becomes overworked and enlarged, causing it to become weak and incapable of pumping adequate blood into the lungs.
Is Pulmonary Hypertension a Disability?
When the pressure in the blood veins flowing from the heart to the lungs becomes too high, this is referred to as pulmonary hypertension.
When the pressure in the blood veins flowing from the heart to the lungs becomes too high, this is referred to as pulmonary hypertension.
With pulmonary hypertension, the blood arteries leading to the lungs have an increased amount of muscle in their walls. To get oxygen, the heart pumps blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. Because blood does not have to travel very far, the pressure in this side of the heart and the artery carrying blood from the right ventricle to the lungs is generally low—much lower than systolic or diastolic blood pressure restricting blood flow to the lungs.
When the pressure in this artery becomes too high, the arteries in the lungs might constrict, preventing blood flow.
Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are usually not visible until the problem has progressed, although the first noticeable symptom is usually shortness of breath during regular activities like ascending stairs. Other signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Occurrences of fainting spells
- Chest discomfort or pressure, ankle, leg, or belly edema,
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are usually not visible until the problem has progressed, although the first noticeable symptom is usually shortness of breath during regular activities like ascending stairs. Other signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Occurrences of fainting spells
- Chest discomfort or pressure, ankle, leg, or belly edema,
- Heart palpitations or racing pulse, and
- Trouble breathing even when resting
How Does Pulmonary Hypertension Qualify as a Disability
The following are some of the recognized causes of pulmonary hypertension:
- Use of certain diet pills or illicit narcotics due to heredity
- Congenital Heart Disease during birth (heart problems present at birth)
- Disorders of blood clotting (like pulmonary "emboli," or blood clots)
- COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and obstructive sleep apnea are examples of lung diseases, as are connective tissue illnesses (like scleroderma or lupus).
- Pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon condition that affects one to two persons per million in the United States each year. Pulmonary hypertension can affect persons of any age, however it is more frequent in women aged 30 to 60.
- Use of certain diet pills or illicit narcotics due to heredity
- Congenital Heart Disease during birth (heart problems present at birth)
- Disorders of blood clotting (like pulmonary "emboli," or blood clots)
- COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and obstructive sleep apnea are examples of lung diseases, as are connective tissue illnesses (like scleroderma or lupus).
- Pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon condition that affects one to two persons per million in the United States each year. Pulmonary hypertension can affect persons of any age, however it is more frequent in women aged 30 to 60.
How to Qualify for Disability Benefits for Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension does not always arise by itself. Instead, you may have other medical issues that are expressly listed in the Listing of Impairments. The Blue Book, for example, expressly lists the following medical disorders that may arise with pulmonary hypertension:
- Chronic hepatitis (Section 5.05)
- Cirrhosis of the liver (Section 5.05)
- Scleroderma (Section 14.04) (Section 14.04)
- Lupus (Section 14.02) (Section 14.02)
- Emphysema (Section 3.02) (Section 3.02)
- Fibrosis of the lungs (Section 3.02)
- Heart attack (Section 4.02)
You may be eligible for benefits if you fulfil the particular eligibility criteria for any of these conditions—or any other.
Pulmonary hypertension does not always arise by itself. Instead, you may have other medical issues that are expressly listed in the Listing of Impairments. The Blue Book, for example, expressly lists the following medical disorders that may arise with pulmonary hypertension:
- Chronic hepatitis (Section 5.05)
- Cirrhosis of the liver (Section 5.05)
- Scleroderma (Section 14.04) (Section 14.04)
- Lupus (Section 14.02) (Section 14.02)
- Emphysema (Section 3.02) (Section 3.02)
- Fibrosis of the lungs (Section 3.02)
- Heart attack (Section 4.02)
You may be eligible for benefits if you fulfil the particular eligibility criteria for any of these conditions—or any other.
Meeting a Respiratory Listing for Pulmonary Hypertension
Your illness may be evaluated by Social Security under listing 3.09 for persistent pulmonary hypertension. According to the listing, your medical documents must prove that you have persistent pulmonary hypertension, as evidenced by a "mean pulmonary artery pressure" of 40 mm Hg or greater.
Your doctor will need to arrange pulmonary artery catheterization to determine the blood pressure in your pulmonary arteries (also called cardiac catheterization). The test must be performed when your condition is stable, which means your doctor should postpone the catheterization if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Your respiratory medication was altered (wait two weeks).
- You are suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection (wait 30 days).
- You are suffering from an abrupt aggravation of a chronic respiratory illness (wait 30 days).
- You've been admitted to the hospital for a cardiac condition.
Your illness may be evaluated by Social Security under listing 3.09 for persistent pulmonary hypertension. According to the listing, your medical documents must prove that you have persistent pulmonary hypertension, as evidenced by a "mean pulmonary artery pressure" of 40 mm Hg or greater.
Your doctor will need to arrange pulmonary artery catheterization to determine the blood pressure in your pulmonary arteries (also called cardiac catheterization). The test must be performed when your condition is stable, which means your doctor should postpone the catheterization if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Your respiratory medication was altered (wait two weeks).
- You are suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection (wait 30 days).
- You are suffering from an abrupt aggravation of a chronic respiratory illness (wait 30 days).
- You've been admitted to the hospital for a cardiac condition.
Social Security requires medical evidence to determine your claim for Pulmonary Hypertension
Social Security will review your claim based on medical data from your doctors, such as blood results, imaging reports, and treatment notes. Social Security may also send you for an independent assessment by one of their doctors or ask your doctor to fill out a questionnaire explaining your limitations.
Your medical records must include at least the following to be approved for pulmonary hypertension disability:
- Reports on any testing you've had (like pulmonary function tests, open-lung biopsy, CT scan, ECG, or echocardiogram)
- A summary of any hospitalizations you've had,
Social Security will review your claim based on medical data from your doctors, such as blood results, imaging reports, and treatment notes. Social Security may also send you for an independent assessment by one of their doctors or ask your doctor to fill out a questionnaire explaining your limitations.
Your medical records must include at least the following to be approved for pulmonary hypertension disability:
- Reports on any testing you've had (like pulmonary function tests, open-lung biopsy, CT scan, ECG, or echocardiogram)
- A summary of any hospitalizations you've had,
- Documentation of medicines you've taken and
- Your reactions to them, and
- Doctor's notes detailing the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
Filing your claim for Social Security disability benefits online at www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability is a simple way to get started. You may also make a claim by phone by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213, but expect significant wait periods.
If you have any doubts or need assistance with your application, you may request a free case evaluation with an expert disability attorney at The Law Office of Irene Ruzin to see if your symptoms qualify for benefits.
If you have any doubts or need assistance with your application, you may request a free case evaluation with an expert disability attorney at The Law Office of Irene Ruzin to see if your symptoms qualify for benefits.
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