What Every Social Security Disability Applicant Needs to Know about Exercise Tolerance Testing ETT

If you’ve been diagnosed with cardiological disease, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. You can be awarded those benefits at Step 3 of the Five Step Sequential evaluation if you can establish that you meet every element of a Listing for chronic heart failure.

Part of the criteria requires the results of exercising testing or, alternatively, documentation the performance of an exercise test (ETT) would present a significant risk to you.

Who Makes the Determination of Whether I can Undergo ETTs?

Not your doctor! The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that a medical consultant determine whether or not undergoing an exercise would present a significant risk to you. §4.02 (B)(1).

A Medical Consultant (MC) is a member of the disability determination team within the state agency hired by the SSA to review your initial applications, or Request for Reconsideration or is a member of the SSA who is hired at the request for hearing stage.

The Social Security regulations require that the MC give great weight to the treating sources opinion about the risk of exercise testing. If the MC disagrees with your physician, they are required to prepare a written report explaining the reasons for overriding your treating physicians  opinions. 20 C.F.R. §404, subpt. P, app. 1 §4.00(C)(7)(c).

What Should I If My Doctors Told me I’m Disabled as a Result of Chronic Heart Failure?

It’s time to contact chronic heart failure Disability Attorney Nancy Cavey who can help you get the Social Security Disability benefits you deserve if you live in the Tampa Bay area.

Don’t Delay! Call today at 727-477-3263 for a complementary consultation.