Neurological and Social Security Disability

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. The listing uses three-month persistence criteria for its communication, motor, and combined physical-and-mental pathways, while SSA's neurological guidance allows an earlier decision in some cases when the available evidence is sufficient.

• Huntington’s Disease

  SSA evaluates Huntington's disease under Listing 11.17. Adult-onset and juvenile-onset Huntington disease are currently Compassionate Allowances conditions. SSA considers the documented motor, cognitive, behavioral, and other functional effects under the applicable disability criteria.

• 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. The listing contains three-month persistence requirements, but SSA may allow some claims sooner; documented total cord transection with loss of motor and sensory function below the injury is an express example.

• Cerebral Palsy

  Adult Listing 11.07 evaluates cerebral palsy through extreme motor limitation, a marked physical limitation together with a marked limitation in one specified area of mental functioning, or significant interference with communication due to a speech, hearing, or visual deficit. If the listing is not met, SSA considers the remaining functional limitations.

• Cluster Headache

  Cluster headache has no dedicated listing. Under SSR 19-4p, a medically determinable primary headache disorder may medically equal Listing 11.02 in appropriate cases; otherwise SSA considers the documented attacks, recovery time, treatment, and functional effects through residual functional capacity.

• 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.

• Aneurysm

  Listing 4.10 covers aneurysm of the aorta or major branches with dissection not controlled by prescribed treatment. A brain aneurysm is not 4.10; SSA evaluates neurologic complications under 11.00. An imaging report is not an approval.

• Cancer

  SSA evaluates cancer under site- and type-specific listings in Chapter 13.00, considering the primary site, extent of disease, treatment and response, recurrence or persistence when applicable, and significant residual effects. Some specifically named cancers also qualify for Compassionate Allowances fast-track processing.

• 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.

• Cervical Myelopathy

  Cervical myelopathy involves spinal cord dysfunction in the neck. SSA may evaluate qualifying spinal cord impairment under Listing 11.08 or apply Listing 1.15 when separate nerve-root criteria are met. Listing 1.16 applies specifically to lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in compromise of the cauda equina.

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

  CRPS has no dedicated adult listing. SSR 03-2p explains how SSA determines whether CRPS is a medically determinable impairment and then considers medical equivalence or residual functional capacity based on the documented symptoms, signs, and functional limitations.

• 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.

• 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.

• Hearing Loss

  SSA evaluates hearing loss under Listing 2.10 when it is not treated with cochlear implantation and under Listing 2.11 when a cochlear implant is involved. When the listing criteria are not met, SSA considers documented communication, safety, and other work-related limitations.

• 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 HIV infection under Listing 14.11 through several pathways involving specified manifestations, laboratory findings, hospitalizations, or repeated manifestations with the required functional limitation. If the listing is not met, SSA considers the documented effects of HIV and treatment through the remaining disability evaluation.

• Long COVID

  Long COVID has no dedicated listing. SSA may establish COVID-19, including its long-term effects, as a medically determinable impairment when supported by objective medical evidence. SSA then considers medical equivalence, any new or worsened impairments caused by COVID-19, and residual functional capacity. SSA's disability duration requirement is generally 12 months.

• 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.

• Respiratory Failure

  Listing 3.14 evaluates respiratory failure caused by a chronic respiratory disorder other than cystic fibrosis when qualifying invasive ventilation or BiPAP is required twice in 12 months under the listing's timing rules. Cystic-fibrosis-related respiratory failure is evaluated under Listing 3.04D, and CPAP does not substitute for qualifying ventilation.

• Sickle Cell Disease

  SSA evaluates sickle cell disease under Listing 7.05. Specified crises, hospitalizations, hemoglobin findings, or transfusion-related criteria may satisfy the listing. If the listing is not met, SSA considers documented complications and remaining functional limitations.

• 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.