If you are disabled and unable to work due to chronic pulmonary hypertension, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Being diagnosed with chronic pulmonary hypertension does not automatically qualify you for disability benefits. However, you may qualify if you either meet a Social Security listing or can show that you are unable to work due to the chronic pulmonary hypertension.
Chronic pulmonary hypertension can have a severe impact on your ability to function. You may suffer from dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and even loss of consciousness, in severe cases.
Social Security Listings
Social Security understands that chronic pulmonary hypertension can be disabling and has a listing for the disease, Listing 3.09. Under this listing, you can qualify for disability if you have medical documentation of your mean pulmonary artery pressure being equal to or greater than 40 mm Hg. You must be medically stable while the result is being read.
I Don’t Meet the Listing!
If you do not meet the listing, you may still qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. To prove that you are disabled and unable to work, you will need medical evidence that shows the severity of your impairment. Social Security will need reliable medical evidence from your doctors to show them that your condition limits you and prevents you from working.
Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons for a denial is not enough medical evidence. It is important that you keep a log of all doctors, hospitals, and clinics you have seen for your chronic pulmonary hypertension, including any inpatient stays or hospitalizations.
If you do not meet the listing, Social Security will consider your residual functional capacity (RFC). Your RFC outlines your job restrictions and will be used to determine if you can go back to your past work. Your RFC is also used to determine whether there is other work available for you.
If you have chronic pulmonary hypertension and it is preventing you from working, contact a local attorney today. An attorney can help answer your questions or help you apply for disability.