Each year in the U.S., 610,000 people die of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, 735,000 Americans have heart attacks every year, with 210,000 of these being second-time events. With such sobering statistics on U.S cardiac health, it is no wonder that many long-term disability (LTD) claims comprise disabling cardiovascular conditions.

Indeed, the fallout from an acute cardiac event like a heart attack can be extensive and long-lasting. Heart attacks can damage the heart muscle, causing scar tissue to form over damaged areas. This can cause the heart to be weaker than before, resulting in shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.

Moreover, having a heart attack often leaves you vulnerable to another (again, about 30% of all U.S. heart attacks each year are repeat episodes). Thus, cardiac patients are often advised to avoid stress. In the workplace, this means that heart attack victims often cannot return to the requirements of their prior work. Jobs demanding long hours, high levels of focus and deep energy reserves can be much more difficult to return to following a heart attack or other coronary event. Further, medicines to keep the heart under control can lead to fatigue, frequent bathroom breaks, and other complications, taking away from prior working ability.

We understand the difficulties that lead to LTD claims following a heart attack or heart disease. Just as importantly, we know the arguments the insurance carrier will use to try to pretend you do not deserve benefits. For example, they will try to paint the heart attack as a one-time event that has resolved, ignoring the lingering complications. They will overlook the risk and effect of stress in your post-heart attack lifestyle. Essentially, they will try to dismiss the severity of the heart attack and seek to hide behind advances in medical treatment.

We will not let them do that. Our firm is adept at analyzing our clients’ medical records and finding inconsistencies in the insurer’s arguments. We know how to expose their attempts to downplay the medical evidence in your file and try to turn it against you. If you have experienced a heart attack or suffer from heart disease and wish to explore your LTD options, please call us at (888) 213-8140 for a free consultation today. We will listen to you and help you decide the best course. We can help at any stage in the LTD claim process, including helping you appeal to federal court. We look forward to discussing your case.