Neurological and Social Security Disability
Disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that can affect movement, sensation, speech, or cognition.
Neurological disorders can affect movement, sensation, speech, vision, seizures, or thinking. Some, such as ALS, have a specific listing and may also appear on the Compassionate Allowances list. Others, including migraine, have no dedicated listing and are evaluated through the medical evidence and residual functional capacity.
Adult Listing 11.00 covers neurological disorders. Meeting a listing generally requires documented clinical findings plus the functional criteria in that listing — not only a neurologist’s diagnosis. Social Security may also evaluate related mental limitations under Listing 12.00 when the neurological condition affects memory, concentration, or behavior.
Because many neurological conditions fluctuate, longitudinal records, specialist notes, and descriptions of off-days, recovery time, and medication side effects are often as important as a single examination.
Explore the neurological guides below, or return to the Disability Conditions Center.
Official SSA resource: Listing 11.00 — Neurological Disorders
Neurological condition guides
- 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.
- Epilepsy
A neurological disorder involving recurrent seizures. Listing 11.02 focuses on seizure type and frequency despite adherence to prescribed treatment.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings. Lumbar stenosis with cauda equina compromise may be evaluated under Listing 1.16.
- 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.
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.
