West Liberty Heart Disease Lawyer

Millions of people in the U.S. live with heart disease. In some cases, a severe cardiovascular condition keeps them from working. If heart disease affects your ability to earn a living in West Liberty, you could apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits to pay your healthcare costs and other household expenses.

A heart disease lawyer with Berger and Green can help you navigate filing a benefits claim with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Our Social Security Disability lawyers have handled these claims many times. We can explain your options, file your initial benefits claim, or appeal a claim denial, which commonly happens to first-time applicants. You can call us today for a free consultation to learn more.

How Our West Liberty Heart Disease Lawyers Help With an SSD Benefits Claim

For over 40 years the law firm of Berger and Green has been helping individuals who can no longer work get the benefits they deserve. Our Social Security Disability lawyers serving West Liberty only handle SSDI and SSI claims. 

We know each case involves circumstances unique to the person and their situation, so we will tailor our approach to your specific concerns. Our attorneys know the disability benefits application process is complex and time-consuming. We will advise you on what you qualify for and what to expect as the process unfolds.  

When we talk with you, we will review your situation and advise you accordingly. We also can:

• Explain which benefits program you can apply for that best meets your needs. 
• Explain what you will need to prove you meet the SSA Blue Book’s criteria for cardiovascular conditions.
• Gather and present the medical evidence, work history, and other information to prove your heart condition.
• Communicate with the SSA, the disability examiner, and other parties to ensure your claim receives due consideration.
• File your initial disability benefits application and manage the process.
• Review SSA’s reason for denying your claim, including technical denials. 
• Manage the appeals process and guide you through its stages as they apply to your case.
• Represent you before an Administrative Law Judge

We Can Handle Your West Liberty Heart Disease Claim With No Upfront Fees

Our heart disease disability benefits attorney can manage your claim on contingency. This means you don’t have to pay us attorney fees upfront for us to work on your case. Instead, we will only recover compensation (the maximum lawyer fee) if you receive benefits.

A contingency agreement allows you to hire a legal professional to help you with the application and appeals process without worrying about how you will pay for it.

It also lets our legal team start working on your case immediately. The sooner you start, the sooner you can start the journey to receiving assistance that can make it easier to meet your financial needs.

How the SSA Defines Cardiovascular Impairments and Qualifying Disabilities

The SSA defines what it considers a cardiovascular impairment in Section 4, Cardiovascular System – Adult of its Blue Book. It writes: “We mean any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart or the circulatory system (that is, arteries, veins, capillaries, and the lymphatic drainage). The disorder can be congenital or acquired.” 

Cardiovascular system impairments include the following:

• Chronic heart failure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Recurrent arrhythmias
• Symptomatic congenital heart disease
• Heart transplant
• Aneurysm of the aorta or major branches
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Peripheral arterial disease

The SSA also shares the documentation it uses to evaluate the duration and severity of an applicant’s cardiovascular impairment. Such documentation includes the following:

• Detailed medical history reports
• Physical examination results
• Laboratory studies
• Prescribed medical treatments and the recorded patient’s response (your medical records should reflect this)

The federal agency can consider other medical evidence, including an applicant’s exercise test results and electrocardiograph or electrocardiogram (ECG) test results. Our West Liberty heart disease attorney can explain what other documentation you may need to support your claim for disability benefits.

What Is a Disability?

Before you apply for federal assistance, it is important to understand how SSA defines a disability. Per its rules, all the following must apply before it considers an applicant to have a disability:

• The applicant cannot work or engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a medical condition.
• The applicant cannot do the work they did previously or adjust to other work because of a medical condition.
• The applicant must have a condition expected to last a year or result in death.

To determine if you have a qualifying disability, the questions below will need to be answered:

• Are you working?
• Is your condition severe?
• Does the SSA include your condition on its list of disabling conditions?
• Can you do the work you did previously?
• Can you do any other type of work?

We can review these topics and others during your free consultation.

Applying for SSDI or SSI Benefits in West Liberty, WV? We Can Help

If heart disease makes it challenging to hold a job in West Liberty, West Virginia, we encourage you to apply now. Prompt action gets the application process underway and sets an established onset date (EOD) when deciding your back pay, if applicable.

There are two types of Social Security disability benefits available from the Social Security Administration. Disability benefits applicants could qualify for:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Both programs (concurrent benefits)

If you’re not sure which one you are eligible for, we can determine that and guide you through your next steps.

SSDI Is a Work Credit-Based Program

SSDI is available for applicants who have paid enough into Social Security with credits they have earned and contributed during part-time or full-time employment. Per the SSA, workers can earn up to four work credits each year. How many credits you need will depend on your age. We can determine how many credits you have when we review your work history and how long you have worked.

SSI Is a Needs-Based Program

People who do not have SSDI work credits might be able to apply for SSI. These benefits are based on need, not work history. You must have few assets and little income from any source. Our disability attorneys can discuss your work history, income, and assets to determine if you may be eligible for SSI benefits.

We also help applicants apply for both programs if they are eligible.

What Happens If the SSA Denies Your West Liberty Heart Disease Disability Claim?

Most SSD applications receive denials, per the Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. If your application is among them, you should receive a letter from the SSA stating why it denied the claim. Common reasons for claim denials include the following:

• Clerical or application errors
• Improper or insufficient medical evidence 
• Earnings are higher than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount
• Not following a prescribed medical treatment
• Not cooperating with the SSA’s requests
• Prior application denials (you cannot reapply; you must appeal)

If the SSA denies your application, it is not the end of the road. You can appeal an SSDI decision. We can file your appeal and meet the SSA’s strict deadlines. You only have 60 days to file your appeal. 

How Long do You Have to Appeal a Claim Denial?

You generally have 60 days from the date of your denial letter to request a reconsideration of your initial claim. You can work with our West Liberty heart disease attorneys. Once the 60 days expires, you must reapply and submit a new application. A new application could mean you won’t receive the same back pay you were eligible for under your first application.

If we do receive approval at the reconsideration stage, we can request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). If the ALJ looks at the evidence but still doesn’t approve your claim, we can request a review from the Appeals Council. Our heart disease benefits lawyers can sue in federal district court for your benefits if necessary.

Call Us Today to Get Started on a West Liberty Heart Disease Benefits Claim

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a challenging process, and if you are trying to apply while managing heart disease complications, it can become more difficult. The West Liberty heart disease lawyers at Berger and Green can manage your case while you take care of your health.

We know how Social Security Disability works and have decades of experience that we use while working on behalf of our clients’ interests. Don’t let a difficult process derail your hopes or chances of getting the financial relief you need. We’re ready to answer your questions and review your options during a free consultation.