Social Security Disability Conditions Center
Guides to medical conditions and impairments SSA may evaluate for SSDI and SSI. A diagnosis is not an approval.
Conditions and impairments
How Social Security evaluates impairments
A diagnosis is not a Social Security Disability approval.
Social Security asks whether there is a medically determinable impairment — a physical or mental condition that medical evidence can establish — how severe it is, how long it has lasted or is expected to last, and whether it keeps the person from doing past work or other work.
Adult medical criteria are in SSA’s Listing of Impairments, often called the Blue Book, and are organized by body system. Some conditions have a listing of their own. Others may be evaluated under a related listing or, if they do not meet or medically equal a listing, through residual functional capacity. SSDI and SSI still have separate nonmedical rules.
This center collects evergreen guides for claimants, families, and referring professionals. Each page is researched from current SSA authority and major medical sources. Empty sections are omitted. The guides are general educational information, not a decision on any claim.
Official Listing of Impairments resources
Use SSA’s current adult listings for the official medical criteria. Our Blue Book and impairments articles explain how those listings fit the five-step evaluation.
SSA Listing of Impairments · What is the Blue Book? · Impairments list · Five-step evaluation
Medically determinable impairment
SSA needs medical evidence of a physical or mental impairment — not only a diagnosis name or a description of pain. Symptoms matter, but they have to rest on clinical findings.
Listing of Impairments
The Blue Book groups adult medical criteria by body system. Meeting a listing requires that listing’s findings. Many claims continue even when no listing is met.
Residual functional capacity
If an impairment does not meet or medically equal a listing, SSA still asks what the person can do at work: sitting, standing, lifting, concentrating, and staying on task.
Work and nonmedical rules
Duration, SSDI work credits, SSI income and resource limits, and whether the person can do past work or other work still apply. Those rules sit beside the medical analysis.
Popular condition guides
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A progressive motor neuron disease evaluated under Listing 11.10. Adult ALS is also on SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list for expedited case processing when the documented diagnosis meets applicable rules.
- Cancer
Cancer is evaluated under site- and type-specific listings in Chapter 13.00. A general cancer diagnosis is not one listing, and CAL status must be checked for the exact malignancy.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD causes persistent airflow obstruction. Listing 3.02 uses standardized respiratory testing; claims below listing level may still turn on exertion, exposure, and exacerbations.
- Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure can reduce exertional capacity and cause fluid buildup. Listing 4.02 requires the specific medical and functional findings in the current cardiovascular rules.
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related or injury-related disc wear that may cause pain, stiffness, or nerve-root symptoms. A diagnosis alone does not meet a Social Security listing.
- Diabetes
Diabetes has no standalone adult listing. SSA evaluates its documented effects on other body systems and the combined functional limits those complications cause.
- Fibromyalgia
A medically determinable impairment under SSR 12-2p when diagnostic criteria are documented. There is no fibromyalgia listing.
- Herniated Disc
A disc herniation may irritate or compress a nerve root. Social Security may consider Listing 1.15 when the current criteria are documented.
- Lupus
Systemic lupus can affect joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, blood, or the nervous system. Listing 14.02 requires defined organ involvement or repeated manifestations with serious functional limits.
- Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent depressive symptoms may be evaluated under Listing 12.04. A diagnosis does not guarantee benefits; SSA also examines severity, duration, and work-related function.
- Multiple Sclerosis
A central nervous system disease that can affect movement, vision, sensation, fatigue, and cognition. SSA evaluates multiple sclerosis under Listing 11.09 when its specific criteria are documented.
- Osteoarthritis
Joint cartilage wear that can limit standing, walking, or use of the hands. SSA may consider Listing 1.18 when a major joint meets current criteria.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
An inflammatory autoimmune arthritis. SSA may evaluate it under Listing 14.09 when the current immune-system criteria are met.
Browse by body system
Categories follow the adult Listing of Impairments. Each hub links the current SSA chapter and the condition guides researched for that body system.
Listing 1.00
MusculoskeletalSpine, joints, and other musculoskeletal disorders that can limit standing, walking, lifting, and use of the arms or hands.
SSA Listing 1.00 — Musculoskeletal Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 11.00
NeurologicalDisorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that can affect movement, sensation, speech, or cognition.
SSA Listing 11.00 — Neurological Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 12.00
Mental HealthMental disorders that can limit understanding, concentration, social interaction, or adapting to change at work.
Listing 4.00
CardiovascularHeart and circulatory conditions that can limit stamina, exertion, and the ability to sustain a workday.
SSA Listing 4.00 — Cardiovascular System (opens in a new tab)
Listing 3.00
RespiratoryLung and breathing disorders that can limit walking, climbing, and tolerance for dust, fumes, or exertion.
SSA Listing 3.00 — Respiratory Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 5.00
DigestiveDigestive disorders that can cause pain, malnutrition, frequent restroom needs, or hospitalizations.
Listing 6.00
GenitourinaryKidney and related genitourinary disorders, including chronic kidney disease and dialysis-related limitations.
SSA Listing 6.00 — Genitourinary Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 7.00
HematologicalBlood disorders that can cause anemia, clotting problems, infections, or treatment-related work absences.
SSA Listing 7.00 — Hematological Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 8.00
SkinChronic skin disorders that can limit use of the hands, tolerate clothing or environments, or require intensive treatment.
Listing 9.00
EndocrineHormone-related disorders. Social Security generally evaluates the effects on other body systems rather than the diagnosis alone.
Listing 13.00
CancerMalignant cancers and the limitations caused by the disease, treatment, and recovery.
SSA Listing 13.00 — Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases) (opens in a new tab)
Listing 14.00
Immune SystemAutoimmune and immune-deficiency disorders that can affect joints, organs, stamina, or infection risk.
SSA Listing 14.00 — Immune System Disorders (opens in a new tab)
Listing 2.00
Special Senses and SpeechVision, hearing, and speech disorders that can limit communication or safe performance of work.
SSA Listing 2.00 — Special Senses and Speech (opens in a new tab)
Listing 10.00
Congenital and Rare DiseasesCongenital and rare disorders, including conditions that may be evaluated under several body systems or Compassionate Allowances.
SSA Listing 10.00 — Congenital Disorders That Affect Multiple Body Systems (opens in a new tab)
Recently updated
Find a condition
Search and letter filters stay on this page. They are not separate indexable URLs.
Browse by body system
Alphabetical
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A progressive motor neuron disease evaluated under Listing 11.10. Adult ALS is also on SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list for expedited case processing when the documented diagnosis meets applicable rules.
Neurological
- Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders may be evaluated under Listing 12.06 when medical documentation and the required paragraph B or C criteria are present.
Mental Health
- Asthma
Asthma causes variable airway inflammation and narrowing. Current Listing 3.03 requires both qualifying pulmonary-function results and the specified hospitalization history.
Respiratory
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Adult autism is evaluated under Listing 12.10, which requires paragraph A medical documentation and paragraph B functional severity. It has no paragraph C route.
Mental Health
- Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorders are evaluated under Listing 12.04, but diagnosis or hospitalization alone does not establish that all listing or RFC requirements are met.
Mental Health
- Cancer
Cancer is evaluated under site- and type-specific listings in Chapter 13.00. A general cancer diagnosis is not one listing, and CAL status must be checked for the exact malignancy.
Cancer
- Chronic Back Pain
A symptom, not a listing. SSA needs a medically determinable cause and documented functional limits. This page links the common spine diagnoses.
Musculoskeletal
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Current Listing 6.00 includes separate pathways for ongoing dialysis, kidney transplant, impaired kidney function with complications, and repeated CKD hospitalizations.
Genitourinary
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD causes persistent airflow obstruction. Listing 3.02 uses standardized respiratory testing; claims below listing level may still turn on exertion, exposure, and exacerbations.
Respiratory
- Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure can reduce exertional capacity and cause fluid buildup. Listing 4.02 requires the specific medical and functional findings in the current cardiovascular rules.
Cardiovascular
- Coronary Artery Disease
Narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries may cause myocardial ischemia. Listing 4.04 applies only when its prescribed-treatment and severity criteria are documented.
Cardiovascular
- Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Listing 5.06 uses documented intestinal disease plus specified obstruction, laboratory, nutritional, perianal, or repeated-complication criteria.
Digestive
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related or injury-related disc wear that may cause pain, stiffness, or nerve-root symptoms. A diagnosis alone does not meet a Social Security listing.
Musculoskeletal
- Diabetes
Diabetes has no standalone adult listing. SSA evaluates its documented effects on other body systems and the combined functional limits those complications cause.
Endocrine
- Epilepsy
A neurological disorder involving recurrent seizures. Listing 11.02 focuses on seizure type and frequency despite adherence to prescribed treatment.
Neurological
- Fibromyalgia
A medically determinable impairment under SSR 12-2p when diagnostic criteria are documented. There is no fibromyalgia listing.
Musculoskeletal
- Herniated Disc
A disc herniation may irritate or compress a nerve root. Social Security may consider Listing 1.15 when the current criteria are documented.
Musculoskeletal
- Inflammatory Arthritis
A broad group of immune-mediated joint and spine diseases, including psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Listing 14.09 has several disease-pattern pathways.
Immune System
- Lupus
Systemic lupus can affect joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, blood, or the nervous system. Listing 14.02 requires defined organ involvement or repeated manifestations with serious functional limits.
Immune System
- Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent depressive symptoms may be evaluated under Listing 12.04. A diagnosis does not guarantee benefits; SSA also examines severity, duration, and work-related function.
Mental Health
- Migraines
A primary headache disorder with no dedicated SSA listing. SSR 19-4p explains when a documented disorder may medically equal Listing 11.02 or require an RFC assessment.
Neurological
- Multiple Sclerosis
A central nervous system disease that can affect movement, vision, sensation, fatigue, and cognition. SSA evaluates multiple sclerosis under Listing 11.09 when its specific criteria are documented.
Neurological
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD is evaluated under Listing 12.06. SSA considers medically documented obsessions or compulsions and their effects on mental functioning and sustained work.
Mental Health
- Osteoarthritis
Joint cartilage wear that can limit standing, walking, or use of the hands. SSA may consider Listing 1.18 when a major joint meets current criteria.
Musculoskeletal
- Panic Disorder
Panic disorder has no separate listing number. SSA evaluates it within Listing 12.06 for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Mental Health
- Parkinson's Disease
A progressive movement disorder that may affect gait, hand use, speech, cognition, and stamina. SSA evaluates Parkinson's disease under Listing 11.06 for Parkinsonian syndrome.
Neurological
- Peripheral Neuropathy
Damage to peripheral nerves that may cause pain, numbness, weakness, or balance problems. Listing 11.14 applies only when its specified functional criteria are met.
Neurological
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is evaluated under Listing 12.15. SSA requires medical documentation plus the required paragraph B or C criteria, not trauma exposure alone.
Mental Health
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
POTS is an orthostatic-intolerance syndrome without a dedicated SSA listing. Evaluation centers on objective diagnosis and supported limits from tachycardia, dizziness, syncope, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.
Congenital and Rare Diseases
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
An inflammatory autoimmune arthritis. SSA may evaluate it under Listing 14.09 when the current immune-system criteria are met.
Immune System
- Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is evaluated under Listing 12.03. SSA considers psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, disorganization, longitudinal support, and work function.
Mental Health
- Scoliosis
A sideways curvature of the spine. There is no scoliosis listing. Evaluation follows documented respiratory, neurologic, or musculoskeletal effects.
Musculoskeletal
- Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings. Lumbar stenosis with cauda equina compromise may be evaluated under Listing 1.16.
Musculoskeletal
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain damage caused by external trauma. SSA may evaluate persistent physical and mental effects under Listing 11.18 and cognitive findings under Listing 12.02 when appropriate.
Neurological
Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
Brock & Stout can review a Social Security Disability claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. We do not charge a fee for SSD representation unless we win.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
