The listings in this section describe childhood impairments resulting from congenital or acquired cardiovascular disease based on symptoms, physical signs, laboratory test abnormalities, and response to a regimen of therapy prescribed by a treating source. A longitudinal clinical record covering a period of not less than 3 months of observations and therapy is usually necessary for the assessment of severity and expected duration unless the child is a neonate or the claim can be decided favorably on the basis of the current evidence. All relevant evidence must be considered in assessing a child's disability. Reasonable efforts should be made to ensure evaluation by a program physician specializing in childhood cardiovascular impairments or a qualified pediatrician.

Examples of congenital defects include: abnormalities of cardiac septation, such as ventricular septal defect or atrioventricular (AV) canal; abnormalities resulting in cyanotic heart disease, such as tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the vessels; valvular defects or obstructions to ventricular outflow, including pulmonary or aortic stenosis and/or coarctation of the aorta; and major abnormalities of ventricular development, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome or pulmonary tricuspid atresia with hypoplastic right ventricle. Acquired heart disease may be due to cardiomyopathy, rheumatic heart disease, Kawasaki syndrome, or other etiologies. Recurrent arrhythmias, severe enough to cause functional impairment, may be seen with congenital or acquired heart disease or, more rarely, in children with structurally normal hearts.

Cardiovascular impairments, especially chronic heart failure and congenital heart disease, may result in impairments in other body systems including, but not limited to, growth, neurological and mental. Therefore, evaluation should include consideration of the adverse effects of cardiovascular impairment in all relevant body systems, and especially on the child's growth and development, or mental functioning, as described under the Growth impairment (100.00), Neurological (111.00), and Mental retardation (112.05) listings.

Many children, especially those who have listing-level impairments, will have received the benefit of medically prescribed treatment. Whenever there is evidence of such treatment, the longitudinal clinical record must include a description of the therapy prescribed by the treating source and response, in addition to information about the nature and severity of the impairment. It is important to document any prescribed therapy and response because this medical management may have improved the child's functional status. The longitudinal record should provide information regarding functional recovery, if any.

Some children will not have received ongoing treatment or have an ongoing relationship with the medical community despite the existence of a severe impairment(s). Unless the claim can be decided favorably on the basis of the current evidence, a longitudinal record is still important because it will provide information about such things as the ongoing medical severity of the impairment, the level of the child's functioning, and the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms. Also, several listings include a requirement for continuing signs and symptoms despite a regimen of prescribed treatment. Even though a child who does not receive treatment may not be able to show an impairment that meets the criteria of these listings, the child may have an impairment(s) that medically or functionally equals the listings.

 

Indeed, it must be remembered that these listings are only examples of common cardiovascular disorders that are severe enough to find a child disabled. When you have a medically determinable impairment that is not listed, an impairment that does not meet the requirements of a listing, or a combination of impairments no one of which meets the requirements of a listing, we will consider a determination whether your impairment(s) medically equals or, as appropriate, functionally equals the listings. (See §§ 404.1526, 416.926, and 416.926a.)

Each child's file must include sufficiently detailed reports on history, physical examinations, laboratory studies, and any prescribed therapy and response to allow an independent reviewer to assess the severity and duration of the cardiovascular impairment. Data should be obtained preferably from an office or center experienced in pediatric cardiac assessment. The actual electrocardiographic tracing (or adequately marked photocopy) and echocardiogram report with a copy of relevant echocardiographic views should be included (see Part A, 4.00C1).

Results of additional studies necessary to substantiate the diagnosis or to document the severity of the impairment, including two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, and radionuclide ventriculograms, should be obtained as appropriate according to Part A, 4.00C3. Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring may also be obtained if necessary to document the presence or severity of an arrhythmia.

Exercise testing, though increasingly used, is still less frequently indicated in children than in adults, and can rarely be successfully performed in children under 6 years of age. It may be of value in the assessment of some arrhythmias, in the assessment of the severity of chronic heart failure, and in the assessment of recovery of function following cardiac surgery or other therapy. It will only be purchased by the Social Security Administration if the case cannot be decided based on the available evidence and, if purchased, must be performed in a specialty center for pediatric cardiology or other facility qualified to perform exercise testing for children.

Purchased exercise tests should be performed using a generally accepted protocol consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge and clinical practice. An exercise test should not be purchased for a child for whom the performance of the test is considered to constitute a significant risk by a program physician. See 4.00C2c.

Cardiac catheterization will not be purchased by the Social Security Administration. If the results of catheterization are otherwise available, they should be obtained.

In general, conclusions about the severity of a cardiovascular impairment cannot be made on the basis of type of treatment rendered or anticipated. The overall clinical and laboratory evidence, including the treatment plan(s) or results, should be persuasive that a listing-level impairment exists. The amount of function restored and the time required for improvement after treatment (medical, surgical, or a prescribed program of progressive physical activity) vary with the nature and extent of the disorder, the type of treatment, and other factors. Depending upon the timing of this treatment in relation to the alleged onset date of disability, impairment evaluation may need to be deferred for a period of up to 3 months from the date of treatment to permit consideration of treatment effects. Evaluation should not be deferred if the claim can be favorably decided based upon the available evidence.

The most life-threatening forms of congenital heart disease and cardiac impairments, such as those listed in 104.00D, almost always require surgical treatment within the first year of life to prevent early death. Even with surgery, these impairments are so severe that it is likely that the impairment will continue to be disabling long enough to meet the duration requirement because of significant residual impairment post-surgery, or the recovery time from surgery, or a combination of both factors. Therefore, when the impairment is one of those named in 104.00D, or is as severe as one of those impairments, the presence of a listing-level impairment can usually be found on the basis of planned or actual cardiac surgery.

A child who has undergone surgical treatment for life-threatening heart disease will be found under a disability for 12 months following the date of surgery under 104.06H (for infants with life-threatening cardiac disease) or 104.09 (for a child of any age who undergoes cardiac transplantation) because of the uncertainty during that period concerning outcome or long-term results. After 12 months, continuing disability evaluation will be based upon residual impairment, which will consider the clinical course following treatment and comparison of symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings preoperatively and after the specified period. (See §404.1594 or §416.994a, as appropriate, for our rules on medical improvement and whether an individual is no longer disabled.)

Some congenital defects usually lead to listing-level impairment in the first year of life and require surgery within the first year as a life-saving measure. Examples of impairments that in most instances will require life-saving surgery before age 1, include, but are not limited to, the following: hypoplastic left heart syndrome; critical aortic stenosis with neonatal heart failure; critical coarctation of the aorta, with or without associated anomalies; complete AV canal defects; transposition of the great arteries; tetralogy of Fallot; and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.

In addition, there are rarer defects which may lead to early mortality and that may require multiple surgical interventions or a combination of surgery and other major interventional procedures (e.g., multiple “balloon” catheter procedures). Examples of such defects include single ventricle, tricuspid atresia, and multiple ventricular septal defects.

Pulmonary vascular obstructive disease can cause cardiac impairment in young children. When a large or nonrestrictive septal defect or ductus is present, pulmonary artery mean pressures of at least 70 percent of mean systemic levels are used as a criterion of listing-level impairment. In the absence of such a defect (i.e., with primary pulmonary hypertension, or in some connective tissue disorders with cardiopulmonary involvement and pulmonary vascular destruction), listing-level impairment may be present at lower levels of pulmonary artery pressure, in the range of at least 50 percent of mean systemic levels.

Chronic heart failure in infants and children may manifest itself by pulmonary or systemic venous congestion, including cardiomegaly, chronic dyspnea, tachypnea, orthopnea, or hepatomegaly; or symptoms of limited cardiac output, such as weakness or fatigue; or a need for cardiotonic drugs. Fatigue or exercise intolerance in an infant may be manifested by prolonged feeding time associated with signs of cardiac impairment, including excessive respiratory effort and sweating. Other manifestations of chronic heart failure during infancy may include failure to gain weight or involuntary loss of weight and repeated lower respiratory tract infections.

Cardiomegaly or ventricular dysfunction must be present and demonstrated by imaging techniques, such as two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. (Reference: Feigenbaum, Harvey, “Echocardiography,” 4th Edition, Lea and Febiger, 1986, Appendix, pp. 621-639). Chest x-ray (6 ft. PA film) will be considered indicative of cardiomegaly if the cardiothoracic ratio is over 60 percent at age 1 year or less, or 55 percent at more than 1 year of age.

Findings of cardiomegaly shown by appropriate medically acceptable imaging evidence must be accompanied by other evidence of chronic heart failure or ventricular dysfunction. “Appropriate” means that the imaging technique used is the proper one to support the evaluation and diagnosis of the impairment. This evidence may include clinical evidence, such as hepatomegaly, edema, or pulmonary venous congestion; or echocardiographic evidence, such as marked ventricular dilatation above established normals for age, or markedly reduced ejection fraction or shortening fraction.

Valvular heart disease requires documentation by appropriate imaging techniques, including Doppler echocardiogram studies or cardiac catheterization if catheterization results are available from a treating source or other medical source. Listing-level impairment is usually associated with critical aortic stenosis in a newborn child, persistent heart failure, arrhythmias, or valve replacement and ongoing anticoagulant therapy. The usual time after valvular surgery for adequate assessment of the results of treatment is considered to be 3 months.

The diagnosis should be made in accordance with the current revised Jones criteria for guidance in the diagnosis of rheumatic fever.

104.01 Category of Impairments, Cardiovascular System

104.02 Chronic Heart Failure. Documented by clinical and laboratory findings as described in 104.00E, and with one of the following:

A. Persistent tachycardia at rest (see Table I);

OR

B. Persistent tachypnea at rest (see Table II), or markedly decreased exercise tolerance (see 104.00E);

OR

C. Recurrent arrhythmias, as described in 104.05;

OR

D. Growth disturbance, with:

1. An involuntary weight loss (or failure to gain weight at an appropriate rate for age) resulting in a fall of 15 percentiles from established growth curve (on standard growth charts) which persists for 2 months or longer; or

2. An involuntary weight loss (or failure to gain weight at an appropriate rate for age) resulting in a fall to below the third percentile from established growth curve (on standard growth charts) which persists for 2 months or longer; or

3. Growth impairment as described under the criteria in 100.00.

104.03 Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.

With persistently elevated blood pressure equal to or greater than the 95th percentile for age (see Table III), and one of the following:

A. Impaired renal function, as described in 106.02;

OR

B. Cerebrovascular damage, as described in 111.06;

OR

C. Chronic heart failure as described in 104.02.

104.05 Recurrent arrhythmias, such as persistent or recurrent heart block (A-V dissociation), repeated symptomatic tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias or long QT syndrome arrhythmias, not related to reversible causes such as electrolyte abnormalities or digitalis glycoside or antiarrhythmic drug toxicity, resulting in uncontrolled repeated episodes of cardiac syncope or near syncope and arrhythmia despite prescribed treatment, including electronic pacemaker (see 104.00A if there is no prescribed treatment), and documented by resting or ambulatory (Holter) electrocardiography coincident with the occurrence of syncope or near syncope.

104.06 Congenital heart disease. With one of the following:

A. Cyanotic heart disease, with persistent, chronic hypoxemia as manifested by:

1. Hematocrit of 55 percent or greater on two or more evaluations within a 3-month period; or

2. Arterial O saturation of less than 90 percent in room air, or resting PO  of 60 Torr or less; or

3. Hypercyanotic spells, syncope, characteristic squatting, or other incapacitating symptoms directly related to documented cyanotic heart disease; or

4. Exercise intolerance with increased hypoxemia on exertion;

OR

B. Chronic heart failure with evidence of ventricular dysfunction, as described in 104.02;

OR

C. Recurrent arrhythmias as described in 104.05;

OR

D. Secondary pulmonary vascular obstructive disease with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure elevated to at least 70 percent of the mean systemic arterial pressure;

OR

E. Congenital valvular or other stenotic defects, or valvular regurgitation, as described in 104.00F and 104.07;

OR

F. Symptomatic acyanotic heart disease, with ventricular dysfunction resulting in significant restriction of age-appropriate activities or inability to complete age-appropriate tasks (see 104.00A);

OR

G. Growth failure, as described in 100.00;

OR

H. For infants under 12 months of age at the time of filing, with life-threatening congenital heart impairment that will or has required surgical treatment in the first year of life, consider the infant to be under a disability until the attainment of age 1 or for 12 months after surgery, whichever is the later event; thereafter, evaluate impairment severity with reference to 104.02 to 104.08.

104.07 Valvular heart disease or other stenotic defects, or valvular regurgitation, documented by appropriate imaging techniques or cardiac catheterization.

A. Evaluate according to criteria in 104.02, 104.05, 111.06, or 11.04;

OR

B. Critical aortic stenosis in newborn.

104.08 Cardiomyopathies, documented by appropriate imaging techniques, including echocardiography or cardiac catheterization, if catheterization results are available from a treating source. Impairment must be associated with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or less and significant left ventricular dilatation using standardized age-appropriate echocardiographic ventricular cavity measurements. Evaluate under the criteria in 104.02, 104.05, or 111.06.

104.09 Cardiac transplantation. Consider under a disability for 1 year following surgery; thereafter, evaluate residual impairment under 104.02 to 104.08.

104.13 Chronic rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. Consider under a disability for 18 months from the established onset of impairment with one of the following:

A. Persistence of rheumatic fever activity for 6 months or more which is manifested by significant murmur(s), cardiac enlargement (see 104.00E) or ventricular dysfunction, and other abnormal laboratory findings, as for example, an elevated sedimentation rate or ECG findings;

OR

B. Evidence of chronic heart failure, as described under 104.02;

OR

C. Recurrent arrhythmias, as described under 104.05.

104.14 Hyperlipidemia. Documented Type II homozygous hyperlipidemia with repeated plasma cholesterol levels of 500 mg/ml or greater, with one of the following:

A. Myocardial ischemia, as described in 4.04B or 4.04C;

OR

B. Significant aortic stenosis documented by Doppler echocardiographic techniques or cardiac catheterization;

OR

C. Major disruption of normal life activities by repeated hospitalizations for plasmapheresis or other prescribed therapies, including liver transplant;

OR

D. Recurrent pancreatitis complicating hyperlipidemia.

104.15 Kawasaki syndrome. With one of the following:

A. Major coronary artery aneurysm;

OR

B. Chronic heart failure, as described in 104.02.