Probably the most fearsome diagnosis any of us could receive would be that of heart disease. There are a multitude of reasons for this fear. The main reason is that we only have one. With some other organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, or eyes, there is a duplicate which can take up the slack if one fails. Such is not the case with the heart; we only get one, and if it fails the future looks pretty grim.
The simple truth is that despite monumental advances in medical technology, science has yet to develop a permanent replacement for the complex series of muscular contractions which circulate our blood in several different directions at once. When the heart begins to fail, every aspect of life becomes more difficult. Our mobility is increasingly limited. Simple activities of daily living become chores. And our ability to earn a living may be diminished or lost altogether.
During times when health issues prevent us from being able to work, Social Security Disability benefits can provide a measure of financial relief. Although these benefits can often be difficult and time-consuming to obtain, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has seen fit to enact the Compassionate Allowance program. Under this program, the agency created a list of illnesses and conditions which are routinely serious enough to warrant disability status. Currently totaling 100 different conditions, this program streamlines the application and approval process for disability benefits.
One of the conditions that qualify for the compassionate allowance program is Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis, If you have been diagnosed with Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis, it is very important that you begin the process of applying for benefits as soon as you possibly can in order to avoid unnecessary delays to your disability case.
Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis – Condition and Symptoms
Primary Amyloidosis is a disease of the bone marrow which is closely related to multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells. In fact, the two diseases occasionally occur simultaneously. Abnormal plasma cells in the diseased bone marrow result in the production of amyloids, which are fibrous proteins. These amyloids then collect and form deposits in different tissues in the body. When they collect in the heart tissue, the resulting condition is known as Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis.
As these deposits build up in the heart tissue, the tissues in the heart begin to grow stiffer. As a result, the heart is unable to do its job efficiently. In particular, the manner in which the heart muscle conducts electrical impulses from the brain is affected. Symptoms of Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis include:
- Excessive nighttime urination.
- Shortness of breath during exercise or activity.
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs.
- Heart palpitations.
- Fluid retention.
The progression of Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis may be slowed somewhat with medications, but the average life expectancy is usually 1 year or less. The only other alternative treatment is a heart transplant.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis
If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis, you will automatically qualify to receive Social Security Disability benefits, because this illness has been granted Compassionate Allowance status. Provided that all of your application paperwork is in order, your case can be approved in a matter of weeks, rather than months or years. While this Compassionate Allowance status may make your disability benefits appear to be a sure thing, it would be very wise to have your case reviewed by a Social Security Disability attorney.
More often than not, applications for disability benefits are denied approval when they are first submitted. Adding to the frustration is the fact that most of these claimants are truly entitled to receive benefits; the reason for the denial is because their application paperwork is either inaccurate or incomplete. By seeking the services of an experienced Social Security Disability attorney, you can virtually eliminate the possibility that your disability claim will become part of the unfortunate majority of cases facing the appeal process.
Your Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis Social Security Disability case
If you are battling Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. However, even though the approval process has been streamlined it is still absolutely crucial that all of the accompanying documents be complete and in proper order or your case will become one of the projected 700,000+ that will become part of the backlog this year. A disability attorney can help you avoid this potential pitfall so you can begin receiving your benefits sooner rather than later.
Please click here if you would like to have your case reviewed by a Social Security Disability lawyer.
