Brugada Syndrome

According to the Mayo Clinic, Brugada syndrome is a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that is characterized by an abnormal heartbeat. Patients may develop cardiac symptoms, like loss of consciousness, abnormally rapid heart rhythm and even sudden cardiac death.Brugada syndrome is frequently an inherited condition, which can require surgical implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator. Additional information can be found at http://www.brugada.org.

I represent a claimant with Brugada, who was seeking Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits. I submitted supporting medical reports from the claimant’s cardiologist. An article from the International Journal of Cardiology found that people with Brugada symptoms are at higher risk of sudden death if they have anxiety. A week before the hearing, I submitted a report detailing the claimant’s anxiety disorder. 

An Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) issued a fully favorable decision today, approving the claimant’s SSD benefits. The ALJ determined that the claimant was disabled by virtue of his anxiety relating to his Brugada Syndrome.