Serious heart conditions — including heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and severe valvular disease — can leave people permanently unable to work due to breathlessness, fatigue, exercise intolerance and the risk of serious cardiac events. Our guide to heart attacks and TPD covers acute events; this article focuses on chronic heart disease.
How heart disease relates to TPD
Chronic heart failure or severe coronary disease can reduce exercise capacity to a level where even sedentary work is impossible due to fatigue and breathlessness. A cardiologist's assessment documenting reduced ejection fraction, functional class and prognosis is the cornerstone of a heart disease TPD claim.
NYHA classification matters
The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system grades heart failure from Class I (no limitation) to Class IV (symptoms at rest). Claims from people with Class III or IV heart failure are generally well-supported.
Evidence to gather
- Cardiologist reports including echocardiogram results
- Exercise stress test or 6-minute walk test results
- Surgical or procedure records (stents, bypass, valve repair)
- GP records showing ongoing functional limitations
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