Skip to content
CALL: (800) 884-9600

Conditions That May Qualify for Social Security Disability

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

  • Alzheimer’s Disease

    SSA evaluates Alzheimer-type dementia primarily as a neurocognitive disorder under Listing 12.02. Early-onset presentations may also be considered under Listing 11.17. Young-onset Alzheimer disease appears on the current CAL list; typical late-onset disease does not automatically.

  • 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.

  • Breast Cancer

    SSA evaluates breast cancer under Listing 13.10. Some distant, inoperable, or recurrent cases appear on the current Compassionate Allowances list; verify the exact presentation.

  • 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.

  • Cerebral Palsy

    Adult Listing 11.07 evaluates cerebral palsy by extreme motor limitation, a marked physical-plus-mental combination, or significant interference with speech, hearing, or vision. A childhood CP diagnosis is not an approval.

  • Chronic Liver Disease

    Listing 5.05 evaluates chronic liver disease by documented complications such as variceal bleeding, ascites, peritonitis, hepatorenal or hepatopulmonary syndrome, encephalopathy, or specified SSA CLD scores. A cirrhosis label is not an approval.

  • 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.

  • Colon Cancer

    Listing 13.18 covers cancers of the large intestine from the ileocecal valve through the anal canal. Inoperable, unresectable, recurrent, distant-metastatic, or small-cell disease may meet the listing. Localized, successfully resected cancer does not automatically.

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

    CRPS has no dedicated adult listing. SSR 03-2p explains how SSA establishes it as a medically determinable impairment and then considers medical equivalence or residual functional capacity. Intense pain reports without clinical signs are not enough.

  • 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.

  • Cystic Fibrosis

    Listing 3.04 evaluates documented cystic fibrosis by specified spirometry, hospitalizations, pneumothorax, respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulse oximetry, or combined exacerbations including CF-related diabetes. A genetic diagnosis is not an approval.

  • 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.

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

    There is no adult listing titled Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. SSA evaluates the documented joint, vascular, skin, or autonomic effects under the affected body systems. A Beighton score is not an approval.

  • Fibromyalgia

    A medically determinable impairment under SSR 12-2p when diagnostic criteria are documented. There is no fibromyalgia listing.

  • Frontotemporal Dementia

    SSA evaluates frontotemporal dementia primarily as a neurocognitive disorder under Listing 12.02. Adult FTD / Pick’s disease Type A appears on the current CAL list. A personality-change complaint without a clinical diagnosis is not an approval.

  • Gastroparesis

    Gastroparesis has no dedicated adult listing. SSA may use Listing 5.08 for specified weight loss, Listing 5.07 when intestinal-failure parenteral-nutrition criteria are met, or residual functional capacity for nausea, vomiting, and attendance. A gastric-emptying study is not an approval.

  • Hearing Loss

    Hearing loss may qualify for SSDI or SSI when audiometric findings meet Listing 2.10 or 2.11, or when communication limits prevent sustained work. A hearing-aid prescription is not an approval.

  • Hepatitis

    There is no adult listing titled hepatitis. SSA evaluates chronic viral or autoimmune hepatitis under Listing 5.05 when it causes chronic liver disease, and otherwise through residual functional capacity and extrahepatic complications.

  • 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.

  • Hip or Knee Replacement

    Listing 1.17 evaluates reconstructive surgery or fusion of a major weight-bearing joint when lasting musculoskeletal limits and a documented need for a two-handed walking device persist. A completed hip or knee replacement is not an approval.

  • Huntington’s Disease

    SSA evaluates Huntington’s disease under Listing 11.17. Adult-onset and juvenile-onset Huntington disease appear on the current CAL list. A positive gene test is not by itself an approval.

  • Intellectual Disorder

    Adult Listing 12.05 requires significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, current adaptive deficits, and onset before age 22. An IQ score alone is not an approval.

  • Long COVID

    Long COVID has no dedicated listing. SSA evaluates medically determinable post-COVID impairments by body system and RFC, following current COVID-19 evaluation instructions, including duration.

  • 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.

  • Lymphoma and Leukemia

    SSA evaluates lymphoma under Listing 13.05 and leukemia under Listing 13.06. Some named blood cancers appear on the current CAL list; indolent or well-controlled disease is not automatically a CAL condition.

  • 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.

  • Muscular Dystrophy

    SSA evaluates muscular dystrophy under Listing 11.13 using extreme motor limits in two extremities or marked physical plus marked mental limitation. Some named dystrophies appear on the current CAL list; not every MD diagnosis does.

  • 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.

  • Pancreatic Cancer

    SSA evaluates pancreatic carcinoma under Listing 13.20. Pancreatic cancer appears on the current Compassionate Allowances list. Islet-cell carcinoma has a narrower listing pathway. A diagnosis still requires medical evidence.

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

    An inflammatory autoimmune arthritis. SSA may evaluate it under Listing 14.09 when the current immune-system criteria are met.

  • Sickle Cell Disease

    SSA evaluates sickle cell disease under Listing 7.05 as a hemolytic anemia. Specified crises, hospitalizations, or hemoglobin findings can meet the listing; other cases are decided on complications and RFC.

  • Spinal Cord Injury

    SSA evaluates spinal cord disorders under Listing 11.08. Complete loss of function or specified motor and mental limits must persist three consecutive months after the disorder.

  • Stroke

    SSA evaluates stroke as vascular insult to the brain under Listing 11.04 when specified communication, motor, or combined physical and mental limits persist at least three months after the insult.

  • Ulcerative Colitis

    Ulcerative colitis is evaluated under Listing 5.06 for inflammatory bowel disease, the same listing that covers Crohn’s disease. Objective bowel evidence is required. The existing Crohn’s page and IBD article remain; this page is the UC-specific guide.

  • Vision Impairment

    SSA evaluates visual disorders under Listings 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04. Statutory blindness has a specific legal definition and is not the same as every listing-level visual disorder.

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.

Recently updated

Find a condition

Search and letter filters stay on this page. They are not separate indexable URLs.

Alphabetical

  • Alzheimer’s Disease

    SSA evaluates Alzheimer-type dementia primarily as a neurocognitive disorder under Listing 12.02. Early-onset presentations may also be considered under Listing 11.17. Young-onset Alzheimer disease appears on the current CAL list; typical late-onset disease does not automatically.

    Mental Health

  • Amputation

    SSA evaluates amputation under Listing 1.20. Bilateral upper-extremity loss at or above the wrists, hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation, specified combinations, or complicated residual limbs with inability to use a prosthesis can meet the listing. A below-knee amputation with a well-fitting prosthesis often does not.

    Musculoskeletal

  • 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

  • Breast Cancer

    SSA evaluates breast cancer under Listing 13.10. Some distant, inoperable, or recurrent cases appear on the current Compassionate Allowances list; verify the exact presentation.

    Cancer

  • 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

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Carpal tunnel syndrome has no dedicated adult listing. SSA evaluates documented median-nerve impairment and whether hand use, pain, or treatment recovery prevent sustained work.

    Musculoskeletal

  • Cerebral Palsy

    Adult Listing 11.07 evaluates cerebral palsy by extreme motor limitation, a marked physical-plus-mental combination, or significant interference with speech, hearing, or vision. A childhood CP diagnosis is not an approval.

    Neurological

  • 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 Liver Disease

    Listing 5.05 evaluates chronic liver disease by documented complications such as variceal bleeding, ascites, peritonitis, hepatorenal or hepatopulmonary syndrome, encephalopathy, or specified SSA CLD scores. A cirrhosis label is not an approval.

    Digestive

  • 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

  • Colon Cancer

    Listing 13.18 covers cancers of the large intestine from the ileocecal valve through the anal canal. Inoperable, unresectable, recurrent, distant-metastatic, or small-cell disease may meet the listing. Localized, successfully resected cancer does not automatically.

    Cancer

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

    CRPS has no dedicated adult listing. SSR 03-2p explains how SSA establishes it as a medically determinable impairment and then considers medical equivalence or residual functional capacity. Intense pain reports without clinical signs are not enough.

    Musculoskeletal

  • 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

  • Cystic Fibrosis

    Listing 3.04 evaluates documented cystic fibrosis by specified spirometry, hospitalizations, pneumothorax, respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulse oximetry, or combined exacerbations including CF-related diabetes. A genetic diagnosis is not an approval.

    Respiratory

  • 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

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

    There is no adult listing titled Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. SSA evaluates the documented joint, vascular, skin, or autonomic effects under the affected body systems. A Beighton score is not an approval.

    Congenital and Rare Diseases

  • 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

  • Frontotemporal Dementia

    SSA evaluates frontotemporal dementia primarily as a neurocognitive disorder under Listing 12.02. Adult FTD / Pick’s disease Type A appears on the current CAL list. A personality-change complaint without a clinical diagnosis is not an approval.

    Mental Health

  • Gastroparesis

    Gastroparesis has no dedicated adult listing. SSA may use Listing 5.08 for specified weight loss, Listing 5.07 when intestinal-failure parenteral-nutrition criteria are met, or residual functional capacity for nausea, vomiting, and attendance. A gastric-emptying study is not an approval.

    Digestive

  • Hearing Loss

    Hearing loss may qualify for SSDI or SSI when audiometric findings meet Listing 2.10 or 2.11, or when communication limits prevent sustained work. A hearing-aid prescription is not an approval.

    Special Senses and Speech

  • Hepatitis

    There is no adult listing titled hepatitis. SSA evaluates chronic viral or autoimmune hepatitis under Listing 5.05 when it causes chronic liver disease, and otherwise through residual functional capacity and extrahepatic complications.

    Digestive

  • 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

  • Hip or Knee Replacement

    Listing 1.17 evaluates reconstructive surgery or fusion of a major weight-bearing joint when lasting musculoskeletal limits and a documented need for a two-handed walking device persist. A completed hip or knee replacement is not an approval.

    Musculoskeletal

  • HIV

    SSA evaluates documented HIV infection under Listing 14.11. A positive test is not an approval. The listing requires specified manifestations or repeated complications with marked functional limits.

    Immune System

  • Huntington’s Disease

    SSA evaluates Huntington’s disease under Listing 11.17. Adult-onset and juvenile-onset Huntington disease appear on the current CAL list. A positive gene test is not by itself an approval.

    Neurological

  • 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

  • Intellectual Disorder

    Adult Listing 12.05 requires significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, current adaptive deficits, and onset before age 22. An IQ score alone is not an approval.

    Mental Health

  • Long COVID

    Long COVID has no dedicated listing. SSA evaluates medically determinable post-COVID impairments by body system and RFC, following current COVID-19 evaluation instructions, including duration.

    Immune System

  • Lung Cancer

    SSA evaluates lung cancer under Listing 13.14. Small-cell carcinoma and some non-small-cell presentations also appear on the current Compassionate Allowances list; verify the exact histology and extent.

    Cancer

  • 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

  • Lymphoma and Leukemia

    SSA evaluates lymphoma under Listing 13.05 and leukemia under Listing 13.06. Some named blood cancers appear on the current CAL list; indolent or well-controlled disease is not automatically a CAL condition.

    Cancer

  • 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

  • Muscular Dystrophy

    SSA evaluates muscular dystrophy under Listing 11.13 using extreme motor limits in two extremities or marked physical plus marked mental limitation. Some named dystrophies appear on the current CAL list; not every MD diagnosis does.

    Neurological

  • Myasthenia Gravis

    Listing 11.12 evaluates myasthenia gravis despite adherence to prescribed treatment for at least three months. A positive antibody test is not an approval.

    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

  • Pancreatic Cancer

    SSA evaluates pancreatic carcinoma under Listing 13.20. Pancreatic cancer appears on the current Compassionate Allowances list. Islet-cell carcinoma has a narrower listing pathway. A diagnosis still requires medical evidence.

    Cancer

  • 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

  • Sickle Cell Disease

    SSA evaluates sickle cell disease under Listing 7.05 as a hemolytic anemia. Specified crises, hospitalizations, or hemoglobin findings can meet the listing; other cases are decided on complications and RFC.

    Hematological

  • Sleep Apnea

    Sleep apnea has no dedicated adult listing. SSA evaluates the medically documented sleep disorder and daytime limits—and any listing-level heart, lung, or neurologic complications—rather than an AHI number alone.

    Respiratory

  • Spinal Cord Injury

    SSA evaluates spinal cord disorders under Listing 11.08. Complete loss of function or specified motor and mental limits must persist three consecutive months after the disorder.

    Neurological

  • Spinal Stenosis

    Narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings. Lumbar stenosis with cauda equina compromise may be evaluated under Listing 1.16.

    Musculoskeletal

  • Stroke

    SSA evaluates stroke as vascular insult to the brain under Listing 11.04 when specified communication, motor, or combined physical and mental limits persist at least three months after the insult.

    Neurological

  • 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

  • Ulcerative Colitis

    Ulcerative colitis is evaluated under Listing 5.06 for inflammatory bowel disease, the same listing that covers Crohn’s disease. Objective bowel evidence is required. The existing Crohn’s page and IBD article remain; this page is the UC-specific guide.

    Digestive

  • Vision Impairment

    SSA evaluates visual disorders under Listings 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04. Statutory blindness has a specific legal definition and is not the same as every listing-level visual disorder.

    Special Senses and Speech

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.