The Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability publishes a book titled “Disability Evaluation under Social Security”. It is often referred to as the Blue Book. This book contains the official List of Impairments and is used to determine if a claimant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible for disability benefits.
Each disability in the List of Impairments has a section that describes what symptoms a person must exhibit in order to qualify for disability under that listing. Listings are essentially physical and mental conditions for which specific disability approval criteria have been defined. The listings are grouped into categories, and they are: musculoskeletal, special senses and speech, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, genito-urinary, hematological, skin, endocrine, multiple body, neurological, mental, neoplastic, and immune.
The List of Impairments is primarily used by those who make decisions on disability claims including disability examiners, medical doctor consultants, and administrative law judges.
The List of Impairments contain many conditions, however, it is not a complete list. There are many serious disabilities that are not found in the List of Impairments. You can still be approved for Social Security Disability or SSI if your condition is not listed in the Social Security Disability List of Impairments. The majority of approved applicants do not have a disability that matches a listing; instead, they are given a medical vocational allowance.
If you have been denied disability benefits in the past, or if you are thinking about applying for SSDI or SSI, take advantage of free consultations offered by most disability attorneys. Click here to contact an experienced disability attorney in the San Diego or Los Angeles area (all of Southern California).