Congestive Heart Failure  

Congestive heart failure occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.   This condition can cause congestion in the circulatory system, particularly in the lungs, liver, and lower portion of the legs, where the blood pools.  Swelling in the ankles is one of the first complaints of people with congestive heart failure.  Medical notes by the treating physician are very important sense this swelling in the ankles or signs of lung congestion will be recorded by the doctor. If the doctor has recorded these signs and symptoms, then the Social Security Administration will be more likely to believe the doctors opinion concerning functional limitations.

The New York heart Association has created guidelines that place the patient in different categories depending on the seriousness of the congestive heart failure:  

Class I	No limitation of activities; you suffer no symptoms from ordinary activities
Class II	You have a slight, mild limitation of activity; you are comfortable with rest or with mild exertion
Class III	You have a marked limitation of activity; you are comfortable only at rest
Class IV	You should have complete rest, you are confined to a bed or to a chair; any physical activity causes discomfort and symptoms occur at rest

If you have congestive heart failure, you should talk to your doctor and find out which category you fall into under the New York Heart Association classification of limitations.  The last two categories are clearly disabling, however, your medical evidence still needs to be credible when presented to the Social Security Administration (i.e., documented functional limitations by your doctor).  The first two categories are not normally taken seriously by the Social Security Administration unless the heart condition is presented in combination with other impairments.  During a social security disability hearing, swollen ankles may be shown to the judge.  The need to elevate your legs because of blood pooling in your lower legs or ankles is extremely important and the judge needs to know.  The total picture of your medical condition and functional limitations need to be presented to the judge.