Hypertension | Heart Disease

Deemed to be Covered by Comp

Presumption.  An act of accepting that something is true until it is proved not true.  There are rare situations in which someone who is injured or suffering an ailment enjoys a presumption that an injury is job related even though, in most professions, that injury wouldn’t be job related.  A legal presumption on behalf of a claimant actually shifts the burden of proof to the employer and its insurance company, forcing them to disprove the assertion of a workers’ comp claim.  Officers suffering from hypertension and/or related heart disease are one of the few groups of workers’ compensation claimants who have been granted this powerful legal standing.

Law enforcement personnel are fully aware of the unique hazards, dangers, and unusual stressors that they face on a daily basis.  Sometimes it makes the work exciting, at other times making it perilous.  Whether from years of responses to traffic stops, domestic calls, assaults, or even having to constantly adjust to rotating shifts, these police-specific situations can impact and even alter an individual’s bodily systems.  Oftentimes, this unfortunately leads to a diagnosis of hypertension.  And that is where the presumption comes into play.  The law states that if a police officer develops hypertension, the condition is considered to have been suffered in the line of duty, unless proven otherwise.

The benefits of filing a workers’ compensation claim for hypertension can be monumental.  At the very least, if the diagnosis is controlled by medication, years of co-pays for prescriptions and doctor’s appointments may be covered by your employer’s insurance company.  Unfortunately, however, the ongoing effects of high blood pressure can lead to further, more serious, even career threatening situations.

A Little Hypertension is a Big Deal

Prolonged hypertension is known to lead to other ailments, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attacks.  While there are many factors which may contribute to these ailments, police are again afforded the presumption that the stressors of their careers are to blame.  Under these circumstances, the stakes are raised dramatically.  The monetary costs of treating with cardiologists and undergoing regular testing, as well as the physical costs of suffering a heart attack or undergoing surgery, can be devastating over time.  It is extremely important not to wait and see if your hypertension progresses to these levels, both from a health and career perspective.  It is exceedingly difficult to obtain an accidental disability retirement based on cardiac issues.  The system in place to protect officers afflicted by these ailments is the workers’ compensation system.  Not only may your related medical bills be covered for life, not only may you be entitled to a monetary award, but vocational training might also be an option for those unable to proceed with their careers.

With issues as important as these, it is vital to have a claim filed as early as possible when diagnosed with hypertension.  Once causation is established, it will be easier to relate potential future medical problems back to the original diagnosis, providing officers with the best chance of receiving the substantial benefits to which they are entitled and deserve.

We Have Handled Numerous Hypertension / Heart Disease Comp Claims for Police Officers.  Call Dan Now.