Heart cases split into two different worlds: the civilian claim, fought over whether work contributed at all, and the safety-member claim, where the statute already answered. Both end at the same rating math. Figures computed by the engine.
The civilian fight: contribution, not sole cause
Work does not need to be the only cause — a contributing cause suffices. The compensable patterns: acute exertion (the warehouse lift that becomes an infarct), acute stress events, and cumulative strain pleaded as CT. The whole case lives in the med-legal reporting; the QME (usually internal medicine or cardiology) writes the causation opinion that makes or breaks it.
The safety-member presumption
For qualifying firefighters, peace officers, and allied classes, §3212’s heart-trouble presumption flips the board: heart disease developing during service is presumed industrial, the employer must disprove it, and §4663(e) bars apportionment to diet, genetics, and every other “your heart, your fault” theme. The presumption extends beyond retirement for a statutory tail. Most litigated heart cases in this state are safety cases for exactly this reason.
The money
Hypertensive cardiovascular disease rates under 04.01.00.00, classed by end-organ findings and functional limitation; coronary disease (03.02) rates on similar functional lines. Engine-computed at the 2026 maximum:
Severe cardiac impairment pushes toward the 70% life-pension line — the lifetime layer — and cardiac future medical (medication, monitoring, intervention risk) is priced accordingly in any C&R. Companion pages: back · knee · shoulder · neck · hip · wrist · ankle · elbow · foot · hand · carpal tunnel · hearing · eye · amputation · fusion · knee replacement · rotator cuff · hip replacement · hernia · head injury · lungs. Estimates for informational use; not legal or medical advice.
Rate your heart right here
Same engine as the tables above — pick your occupation and age, slide the WPI from the report, and carry it into the full calculator when you’re ready.