List of Impairments per SSA Blue Book
Medical Impairments that Qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits
Summary: The Social Security Administration’s publication, “Disability Evaluation under Social Security,” also known as the “Blue Book” provides detailed information on their qualifying list of disabling conditions. There are, however, medical exceptions. If your medical condition is severe enough, and has made it impossible for you to work, you can still qualify for disability benefits.
SSA has identified impairments within 14 major body systems that are considered severe enough to prevent someone from doing “gainful activity,” which means work that earns income. Most of these conditions are permanent, and could result in death.
SSA’s publication, “Disability Evaluation under Social Security,” also known as the “Blue Book” lists these SSA-qualifying conditions.
The Blue Book is prepared to help health care professionals understand SSA’s disability determination process so that they can provide the medical information required to help SSA make decisions on disability claims.
Here is the list of impairments per the SSA Blue Book to help you identify if you could qualify for disability benefits.
Keep in mind that if your medical condition is not listed as an SSA-qualifying condition, you could still receive disability benefits if you can prove that your disability has made it impossible for you to work. SSA also considers your work history, skills, age and education to determine eligibility. A Freedom Disability Advocate can help determine if you could be eligible for disability benefits.
List of Impairments per the SSA Blue Book
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Musculoskeletal System
Major dysfunction of a joint; reconstructive surgery of a major weight-bearing joint; disorders of the spine; amputation; fractures of the femur, tibia, pelvis, or tarsal bones; fracture of an upper extremity; soft tissue injury; arthritis
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Special Senses and Speech
Visual disorders; hearing impairments; loss of speech
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Respiratory System
Chronic pulmonary disease; ventilator y disease; asthma; cystic fibrosis; pneumoconiosis; bronchiectasis; chronic lung infections; sleep-related breathing disorders; lung transplant
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Cardiovascular System
Disorders that affect the proper functioning of the heart or circulatory system: chronic heart failure; ischemic heart disease; recurrent arrhythmias; symptomatic congenital heart disease; heart transplant; aneurysm of aorta or major branches; chronic venous insufficiency; peripheral arterial disease
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Digestive System
Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging requiring blood transfusion; chronic liver disease; inflammatory bowel disease; short bowel syndrome; weight loss due to any digestive disorder; liver transplant
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Genitourinary Impairments
Chronic renal (kidney) disease
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Hematological Disorders
Blood disorders such as chronic anemia; sickle cell disease; chronic thrombocytopenia (low platelet count); hereditary telangiectasia (small dilated blood vessels); coagulation defects such as hemophilia; bone marrow disorders; chronic granulocytopenia; aplastic anemias with bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
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Skin Disorders
Ichthyosis; bullous disease; chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes; dermatitis; inflammatory disease of the apocrine sweat glands; genetic photosensitivity disorders; burns
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Endocrine System
Thyroid disorders; diabetes insipidus (water diabetes); hyper-function of the adrenal cortex; diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
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Impairments that Affect Multiple Body Systems
Non-mosaic Down syndrome
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Neurological
Convulsive epilepsy (grand mal or psychomotor); non-convulsive epilepsy (petit mal, psychomotor, or focal); central nervous system vascular accident; brain tumors; Parkinsonian syndrome; cerebral palsy; spinal cord or nerve root lesions; multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease); myasthenia gravis; muscular dystrophy; peripheral neuropathies; sub acute combined cord degeneration; degenerative disease; cerebral trauma; syringomyelia; stroke
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Mental Disorders
Psychological or behavioral abnormalities associated with the dysfunction of the brain (organic mental disorders); schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic disorders; affective disorders; mental retardation; anxiety-related disorders; somatoform (physical symptoms) disorders; personality disorders; substance addiction disorders; autistic disorder; other developmental disorders; Alzheimer’s
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Malignant Neoplastic Diseases
Soft tissue tumors of the head and neck; skin; soft tissue sarcoma; lymphoma; leukemia; multiple myeloma; salivary glands; thyroid gland; breast; skeletal system-sarcoma; maxilla, orbit or temporal fossa; nervous system; lungs; luera or mediastinum; esophagus or stomach; small intestine; large intestine; liver or gallbladder; pancreas; kidneys, adrenal glands, or ureters carcinoma; urinary bladder carcinoma; cancers of the female genital tract; testicles; penis; metastatic carcinoma or sarcoma; malignant neoplastic diseases treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
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Immune System Disorders
Systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic vasculitis; systemic sclerosis; polymyositis and dermatomyositis; undifferentiated and mixed connective tissue disease; immune deficiency disorders (excluding HIV infections); human immunodeficiency(HIV) infection; inflammatory arthritis; Sjogren’s syndrome; Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder (severe) in 1989. My mood swings are frequent and last sometimes weeks at a time. Medication helps for a while, but most times medication and adjustments and changes are needed. I have been fired from 21 jobs in my life due to mistakes caused by my illness during a manic and/or depressive episodes. I have lost 7 of those jobs in the past 4 years due to the same thing. I have had 4 hospitilizations due to suicide attempts during my illness. I applied for SSDI roughly 10 years ago and was denied on the basis that I hadn’t lost enough jobs yet. I applied again and have a phone interview this Friday. Any thoughts or advice you could offer me would be most helpful!
Thank you,
Anna
I have MS and was granted a medical waiver from the Palm Beach Half Way House. I need to help my family financially
I was diagnosed with ADDHD as a child. I was on medication for it, but the meds made me sleep, so my parents had me taken off the meds. As an adult I have been unable to hold a job as a result of the ADDHD I spoke with the social security admin and was told I do not qualify for disability for this condition nor the fractures in my spine. Please, any help would be appreciated.
Bruce,
Unfortunately, ADDHD does not qualify you for Social Security Disability. Unless you have other diagnoses, have been under a doctors care for some time now, you probably will not qualify for Social Security Disability. You can call a Freedom resprentative if you have any other questions. Good luck.
I had open heart surgery in 2000 for mitral valve repair, since then I have hypertensive heart disease, arrythmias. I was told recently that another heart surgery was in my future, because the regurgitation was back to moderate/severe. Would it be worth my time to file for benefits? Thanks for your time.
I recommend calling and speaking to one of our eligibility consultants at (866) 761-5942. If we are able to assist you, then it would definitely be worth your time. Good luck!
If you have a condition that has already been approved and later years you have another condition that has appeared as an impairment can you claim again with SSID?
Beverly,
Unfortunately, if you are already receiving Social Security Disability you would not be able to apply again. You have been approved for the max benefits.
I’ve been fighting social security for 6years. My doctor still has not released me to work says I am perm disabled. I have degentertive bone/disc, spinal stanoisis, scoliouis, head trauma, migraines that make me pass out, arthritis, fibromyalgia, memorey loss, and so many other things I can not remember. I fall and break bones and hurt myself all the time. My family has lost everything through the processs. I have no control to help, because of the pain and exhaustion. I feel it is awful to have someone who doesn’t feel how your body works judge you. My work history was great until my accident. I only missed three days of work after even having a baby. No clue where to turn or how to save my family from sinking. Just had a appeal hearing again the other day. The vocational expert says I can load a machine.m LOL. Guess it only takes one had, no lifting, bending, moving, and forget that all my meds say can not operate machinary. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Joy,
Get a lawyer and make sure that you make a list of all the meds you are on and the side effects of each med. Then you have reasons for why you can not hold a job. The head trauma needs to be in detail, as well as the migraines. You need to see a Neurologist and have him release his records to SSA. You have to make a stance for yourself, and the funds the lawyer gets is 25% of the money that has been owed you, he is not allowed to recieve any more than that so it is in your best interest to get a lawyer and in a few months you will be ok.
If you want to email me I left my email address.
Sincerely,
Relinda
I had my first blood clot (PE) in January of 2008. It almost killed me. I was in and out of the hospital for the next couple months. I was on Coumadin and got off after about 5 months. The doctors linked the clot with my pregnancy. On May 18, 2010 I got my 2nd blood clot (DVT). I was hospitalized again. I cannot work due to my medicine, and I’ve tried… My social worker and doctors have told me NOT to work. I have applied for disability and was denied. Since 2008, I was informed that I have depression, and the beginning signs of Bi-polar… What can I do?
Jessica,
Freedom Disability may be able to assist you. I would recommend speaking to one of our Eligibility Consultants. They will ask you a few questions regarding your current health conditions and past work history to determine your eligibility for our assistance. I hope you’ll give us a call at 866-761-5942. Good Luck.
I was diagnosed in 1991 for fibromyalgia and a ton of other syndrones and illnesses. since then I have had knee surgery i have peripheral neuropathy musculokeletal desease gegenerative disc desease bilateral carpal tunnel acute tenosynovitis all through my body and mrsa I am on SSi and have been told that since my last appeal was in 2006. That I cannot file a new application for SSDI. I now have fatal health issues here. Is there anyone that knows how I can get legal help. I’m desperate and afraid.
Sorry to hear about what is going on in your life. Try and stay positive. If you are receiving SSI, you are unfortunately receiving the maximum benefits. Talk to your local Social Security office and see if you have other options.
Good luck.
Hi. I am inquiring for my mom. I did not see this in the list of health conditions but my mother has severe Reynaud’s syndrome with Schleroderma. Any cold causes her hands to turn blue and the skin is receding so much in her fingers the doctors are talking about amputating on some of her fingers to prolong any further damage from the Schleroderma. She has already lost her job after working in meat market for 20+ years because the cold conditions cause more damage to her hands. Like Arthritis hand functions are hindered greatly. Would she qualify for disability benefits? She has been out of work for several months. If its not this recession its because she can’t perform the tasks because of her hands.
Ursula,
Freedom Disability may be able to assist your mother. I would recommend her speaking to one of our Eligibility Consultants. They will ask her a few questions regarding her current health conditions and past work history to determine her eligibility for our assistance. I hope she gives us a call at 866-761-5942.
If my daughter comes out of her neck surgery with vocal cord paralysis, her voice and her swallowing and choking and her breathing will be affected. Would she be able to quality for Social Security Disability?
Wendy,
I cannot give you a straight answer as I don’t have enough information on your daughter. If she is between the age of 18-62, has a disabling medical condition that has or will prevent her from working for at least 12 months, has a sufficient and recent-enough work history and has paid into Social Security through payroll (FICA) taxes, she might qualify. I recommend recommend speaking to one of our Eligibility Consultants. I hope you’ll give us a call at 866-761-5942.
i am on disabilty for end stage, stage 4 cancer, i have also devedloped blood clotting disorder (greenfield filter inserted) i see a dr. every 3 months for severe depression,and anexity i have at some point had a heart attack which a dr told me to hurry and get a living wil. i tried to work dec 12 but could stand more than 5-10 min, light headed, sweating profusly, someone had to help me off the floor. the manager sent me home said i looked very ill and needed to go to bed, can social security now take my benefits in a few months
Brenda,
As long as you do not continue to work full time and are not over $1040 a month, your benefits should continue as they are. If you are concerned, I recommend calling the Social Security Administration. I wish you the best of luck.
I have COPD, it is hard for me to walk up stairs, mop floors, take a shower ect, would I be eligible for SSDI.
Elizabeth,
I cannot be certain if you would qualify with the information you provided. I recommend contacting Freedom Disability and speaking to one of our Eligibility Consultants. They will ask you a few questions regarding your current health conditions and past work history to determine your eligibility for our assistance. I hope you’ll give us a call at 866-761-5942.Good Luck.
I was on SSDI for 4 yrs. Then went back to work4 yrs later I became unable to work again, I signed up for SSD and they gave me a 6 month expedited claim. It is now 7 months and they stopped my checks. I have had a quad. bypass, I now have plural effusion. an enlarged heart, Diabetes, Arthritis in my feet knees, and hands. I wear 2 hearing aids and eyeglasses they have everything documented. I went to there Dr. all he did was look at my meds. look at m surgical scars, check my eyes and ears and weight.My Adjudicator will not return my calls what can I do to try and help my case or get her to return my calls I am now on the verge of being homeless
James,
In reality since they gave you the 6 months expedited, you should be approved without issue. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do if no one is returning your calls, is to contact the DDS office and ask to speak to a supervisor. I’m sorry there isn’t much more we can do. I wish you the best of luck.
I was diagnosed with UC in 2001. Had severe flare ups. blood transfusions and on many meds that had there on side effects. in 2011 i was put in the hospital and had my large intestine taken out and now having to live with an illeostomy. and now told i have crohns. now i have headaches and back pain that spasm. is there a possibility that i qualify for disability? i do have a part job. i have not been to the doctor in amost a year. i live in texas, but i have medicaid in tenn.
Michelle,
You may be eligible but it does depend on your current work and when you last worked fulltime. For us to be able to assist you would need to have treatment within the last 9 months and as for SSA, you will probably need more recent treatment. But you can also try and apply. I would recommend contacting one of our Eligibility Consultants and speaking with them. They are experts in applying for SSDI and will answer any or all questions related. This conversion is free, I hope you give us a call at 866-761-5942.
i hade open heart surgery and a stroke and seizures my left side is weak i cant see anything that’s beside me on my let side i just hade surgery for 2 pinch verves on my left elbo also and they denied me for ssi
I am a stage 4 chronic kidney patient with fsgs, nephrotic syndrome and I’ve been diagnosed with vasvocular syncope, It makes me faint at anytime when I make sudden movements when I stand up and even when i sit too long and go to move. Do you believe I would qualify for ssdi
Keisha,
To be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits you must:
1. Be between the ages of 18 and 62
2. Have a disabling medical condition that has or will prevent you from working for at least 12 months
3. Have a sufficient and recent-enough work history
4. Have paid into Social Security through payroll (FICA) taxes
If you think you might qualify, I recommend speaking to one of our Eligibility Consultants. They will ask you a few questions regarding your current health conditions and past work history to determine your eligibility for our assistance. I hope you’ll give us a call at 866-761-5942. I wish you the best of luck!