1. What Is the SSA Listing of Impairments?

The SSA’s Listing of Impairments includes severe medical conditions organized by body system. If your condition meets or equals a listed impairment’s specific requirements, SSA will consider you disabled at Step 3 of the five-step evaluation process, without assessing your ability to perform past work or other work.

However, even if your condition is listed, you must provide medical evidence proving your diagnosis meets SSA’s criteria.

2. Examples of Conditions That Often Qualify

Here are some common medical conditions in Oklahoma that may qualify for disability if their severity meets Blue Book standards:

a. Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Severe back conditions (e.g. spinal stenosis, herniated discs with nerve root compression)
• Joint dysfunction (e.g. severe osteoarthritis requiring joint replacement)
• Amputations affecting the ability to work

b. Cardiovascular Conditions

• Chronic heart failure with severe limitations
• Coronary artery disease resulting in repeated angina or surgical intervention
• Peripheral artery disease causing significant walking limitations

c. Neurological Disorders

• Epilepsy with frequent, uncontrolled seizures despite treatment
• Stroke with lasting physical or cognitive impairments
• Multiple sclerosis with significant limitations in motor function or cognitive ability
• Parkinson’s disease with severe tremors and motor difficulties

d. Respiratory Disorders

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with very low lung function
• Cystic fibrosis with recurrent lung infections and hospitalization
• Severe asthma that remains uncontrolled despite treatment

e. Mental Disorders

• Schizophrenia with persistent delusions or hallucinations despite treatment
• Bipolar disorder with severe manic and depressive episodes limiting function
• Major depressive disorder with minimal improvement despite therapy and medication
• Autism spectrum disorder with significant limitations in social and occupational functioning

f. Immune System Disorders

• HIV/AIDS with severe complications or opportunistic infections
• Lupus affecting multiple body systems and causing marked functional limitations
• Rheumatoid arthritis causing significant joint deformities or inability to ambulate effectively

g. Cancer

• Certain aggressive cancers (e.g. esophageal, pancreatic, liver cancer)
• Any cancer that has metastasized or is inoperable
• Leukemia and lymphoma under specific diagnostic criteria

3. Compassionate Allowances Program

SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program quickly identifies severe conditions that clearly meet disability standards, expediting approval. Examples include:

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
• Certain late-stage or aggressive cancers
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
• Certain rare childhood disorders

If your condition qualifies under CAL, your claim will be fast-tracked for approval.

4. Do These Conditions Guarantee Approval?

While these conditions may “automatically qualify” if you meet the listing criteria, SSA still requires:

• Comprehensive medical documentation, including diagnostic tests, clinical notes, and treatment history
• Proof that your condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
• Evidence of functional limitations that prevent substantial gainful activity (SGA)

If your condition does not meet a listing exactly, you may still qualify based on Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) if SSA determines your limitations prevent all work.

5. How to Strengthen Your Disability Application

To improve your chances of approval:

• Review SSA’s Blue Book listings for your condition to understand criteria
• Work with your doctors to gather detailed medical records and written statements describing how your condition limits daily activities and work capacity
• Include hospitalization records, specialist evaluations, and lab or imaging results supporting your diagnosis
• Ensure your application clearly explains why you cannot perform your past work or adjust to other work