Beating more than 100,000 times every day, the human heart is a miraculous organ. Made almost entirely of muscle tissue, the different sections of the heart fill with blood and then contract in perfect synchronicity, moving oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to deliver the oxygen to the rest of the body. Simultaneously, the blood which has already delivered its cargo of oxygen is returned to the heart, routed to the lungs to be re-oxygenated, and then back to the heart to be circulated again and again. The simple fact that man has yet to develop a permanent replacement for the heart, despite exponential growth in medical technology, speaks volumes about the brilliance of the heart’s design.
In spite of its exquisite design, the heart is far from infallible. The complexity of its function leaves it vulnerable to injury, which can lead to malfunctions. When we have problems with our heart, everyday tasks become increasingly complicated. Our ability to get out and shop may be compromised. Other normal activities may be curtailed. And our ability to work for a living may fall victim to our illness.
It is situations such as this which justify the existence of Social Security Disability benefits. These benefits can often fill in the gaps when we are, for any number of different reasons, unable to provide for our own needs. Because fraud has become so prevalent within the Social Security system, those with a legitimate need for benefits have found them increasingly difficult to obtain.
In an effort to make these benefits easier to access for those who genuinely need them, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented the Compassionate Allowance program. This program recognizes a list of illnesses which are intrinsically serious enough to warrant disability payments. For these conditions, the process of obtaining disability benefits has been dramatically simplified.
If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it is strongly recommended that you initiate the application process as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of a delay to your case.
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipient – Condition and Symptoms
Among the heart’s four chambers, the left ventricle is the last stop for oxygenated blood as it is sent out to the rest of the body. The freshly-oxygenated blood returns from the lungs (via the pulmonary veins) into the left atrium, which pumps it to the left ventricle. From there, the left ventricle pumps the blood to the aorta, which distributes it to the rest of the body.
Sometimes the heart muscle can become damaged by disease or injury, or is malformed due to a birth defect. Whatever the reason may be, the result is that the heart is unable to keep up with the body’s need for oxygen and requires some assistance.
And this is where a Ventricular Assist Device comes in. A VAD is essentially a small pump. While it doesn’t completely replace the function of the ventricle, it assists so the ventricle doesn’t have to work as hard. A VAD may be used to keep the patient alive while waiting for a heart transplant. One may also be used to give the heart time to regain its own strength to function by itself again. Sometimes, a VAD is used as a long-term solution for heart disease for people who for other medical reasons are not candidates for a heart transplant.
After surgery, normal activities may gradually be resumed assuming the patient’s general physical health is appropriate.
Filing for Social Security Disability as a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipient
If you are a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipient, you automatically qualify to receive Social Security Disability benefits because the Social Security Administration has placed this condition on the list of conditions which qualify for Compassionate Allowance status. While this means that your case is virtually guaranteed to be approved, it would still be a very good idea to have your case reviewed by a Social Security Disability attorney.
The vast majority of first-time applications for Social Security Disability benefits are denied. While that fact is frustrating enough, the reality is that most of these claimants are actually entitled to receive benefits. Their cases are denied, however, because of errors in the application paperwork. An experienced Social Security Disability attorney can make sure that all your paperwork is accurate and complete so you won’t face a delay due to simple procedural errors.
Your Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipient Social Security Disability case
If you are the recipient of a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), you can be confident that you will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. But don’t let that confidence cause you to take your approval for granted, because a simple error could delay your case for months. In order to avoid any potential problems, trust your claim to a qualified Social Security Disability lawyer.
