The Social Security Administration compiled a listing of impairments, commonly called the “Blue Book,” of medical conditions severe enough to qualify as disabling under the definition used to determine eligibility for disability benefits. High blood pressure is not a listed impairment, but medical documentation of your condition and other evidence may prove that you cannot work and meet the definition of disability used to determine whether you qualify for high blood pressure disability benefits.
It may seem complicated, but the disability team at Sackett and Associates has spent the past 45 years helping people in Northern California and throughout the country obtain benefits for disabling medical and mental health conditions. You’re reading this because you’re wondering, “Is high blood pressure a disability?” This blog explains what it takes to qualify for disability benefits with high blood pressure and how Sackett Law can help.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, occurs when blood traveling through your arteries flows at higher-than-normal pressure and pushes against vessel walls with enough force to damage them. A characteristic that makes qualifying for disability with hypertension difficult is that it typically occurs without obvious symptoms, so the only way to know if there is a problem is by monitoring your blood pressure.
Blood pressure is measured as millimeters of mercury and written as two numbers separated by a slash. The first number, systolic pressure, represents the force of the blood flow as it’s pumped from the heart. The second number, diastolic pressure, is the force of the blood flow between heartbeats.
Medical professionals consider 120/80 mm Hg or lower readings as healthy blood pressure. Consistently higher readings represent stages of hypertension. For example, readings of 130 to 139 systolic pressure or diastolic pressure of 80 to 89 represents stage one high blood pressure. Readings higher than 180 systolic or 120 diastolic pressure indicate a hypertensive crisis requiring immediate medical attention.
One in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure without knowing it. The danger of untreated hypertension is that it can cause other medical issues, including:
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
- Atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases
- Heart attack
- Eye damage
High blood pressure is treatable with medication and modification of a patient’s lifestyle and diet.
If you have elevated blood pressure readings, a medical provider may do a medical history to determine risk factors, such as diet, level of physical activity, sleep patterns, and body weight, that may be causing the condition. Diagnostic tests may be ordered to determine if hypertension has caused other medical conditions to develop.
Is High Blood Pressure A Disability?
According to the definition of disability used to evaluate applications for disability benefits, you must be unable to do substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The impairment or impairments must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 continuous months or be expected to result in death.
The Social Security Administration lists impairments, also called the “Blue Book,” of conditions severe to meet the disability definition. The listing of impairments is an aid to examiners reviewing applications for disability benefits. A claimant who meets the criteria for a listed impairment is disabled.
The Blue Book does not contain a specific listing for high blood pressure, so disability claims for hypertension would need to document a listed impairment, such as stroke, heart failure, or aneurysm, to qualify for SSDI or SSI disability benefits. For example, if you have hypertension that damaged your heart, your claim for disability benefits will be reviewed to determine if it meets the criteria for heart failure, a listed impairment.
Qualifying For Disability Benefits Without Meeting A Listed Impairment
If hypertension does not permit you to qualify using the listing of impairments, Social Security reviews your claim based on a medical-vocational allowance based on your residual functional capacity or RFC. The RFC assessment uses the limitations of your disability, age, education, work history, and job skills to determine if you can do the type of work you did in the past or adjust to a new type of work available in the national economy.
Learn More from Experienced Disability Claims Professionals
High blood pressure and Social Security disability eligibility can be challenging, but the disability benefits team at Sackett and Associates has met the challenge for people throughout Northern California for 45 years. Navigating through the maze of complex and confusing federal regulations and procedures can be too overwhelming for claimants to do alone. From the initial application through appeals to overturn benefit denials, have the disability team from Sackett Law with you to fight as they have for thousands of other people. Find out how we can help by contacting us today for a free consultation and claim analysis.
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