Cardiovascular and Social Security Disability
Heart and circulatory conditions that can limit stamina, exertion, and the ability to sustain a workday.
Cardiovascular disease can limit how long a person can stand, walk, lift, or tolerate stress and exertion. Adult Listing 4.00 covers chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and other cardiac impairments. Meeting a listing usually depends on objective studies — such as imaging, stress testing, or documented treatment for heart failure — plus the specific criteria in that listing.
People who do not meet a listing may still qualify if their residual functional capacity is reduced by fatigue, angina, shortness of breath, or the need to elevate the legs or avoid workplace hazards. Medication side effects and recovery from procedures also belong in the record.
See the cardiovascular condition pages below, or return to the Disability Conditions Center.
Official SSA resource: Listing 4.00 — Cardiovascular System
Cardiovascular condition guides
- Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure can reduce exertional capacity and cause fluid buildup. Listing 4.02 requires the specific medical and functional findings in the current cardiovascular rules.
- Coronary Artery Disease
Narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries may cause myocardial ischemia. Listing 4.04 applies only when its prescribed-treatment and severity criteria are documented.
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Current Listing 6.00 includes separate pathways for ongoing dialysis, kidney transplant, impaired kidney function with complications, and repeated CKD hospitalizations.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD causes persistent airflow obstruction. Listing 3.02 uses standardized respiratory testing; claims below listing level may still turn on exertion, exposure, and exacerbations.
- Diabetes
Diabetes has no standalone adult listing. SSA evaluates its documented effects on other body systems and the combined functional limits those complications cause.
- Long COVID
Long COVID has no dedicated listing. SSA evaluates medically determinable post-COVID impairments by body system and RFC, following current COVID-19 evaluation instructions, including duration.
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
POTS is an orthostatic-intolerance syndrome without a dedicated SSA listing. Evaluation centers on objective diagnosis and supported limits from tachycardia, dizziness, syncope, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.
- Sickle Cell Disease
SSA evaluates sickle cell disease under Listing 7.05 as a hemolytic anemia. Specified crises, hospitalizations, or hemoglobin findings can meet the listing; other cases are decided on complications and RFC.
- Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea has no dedicated adult listing. SSA evaluates the medically documented sleep disorder and daytime limits—and any listing-level heart, lung, or neurologic complications—rather than an AHI number alone.
- Stroke
SSA evaluates stroke as vascular insult to the brain under Listing 11.04 when specified communication, motor, or combined physical and mental limits persist at least three months after the insult.
Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
Brock & Stout can review a Social Security Disability claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. We do not charge a fee for SSD representation unless we win.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
