List of Impairments for SSDI and SSI Benefits

There is a published list from the SSA showing all impairments that fit for SSDI & SSI benefits. You possibly have heard this listing of impairments referred to as the “blue book”. That is because the printed version always had a blue cover to it and the name stuck ever since. That said, you may be asking what the actual listings are. These are the approved standards for all of the physical and mental impairments that are listed. That said, if a disability claimant has medical history that describes and reciprocates the information on one of the listings, that will get them approved.

Will the label of being approved for a listing, it infers that you can not work and earn an income. Keeping that in mind, if you were to work during or go back to work after you awarded these benefits and you cross that line of the maximum monthly income allowed, you then will no longer receive any disability benefits.

Bluebook

The bluebook is full of over 100 listings of impairments by the Social Security Administration under the category of “disabling”. Within this category are plenty of others sub-categories including neoplastic, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, skin, genitor-urinary, cardiovascular, neurological, multiple body, hemic-lymphatic, immune, special senses and musculoskeletal. Some examples are Neoplastic conditions which include cancers affecting all of the body’s systems. Endocrine disorders include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Respiratory impairments include asthmatic illness, sleep apnea and emphysema. Digestive system disorders include chronic liver disease, hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease,gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, and liver transplantation. Skin disorders consists of ichthyosis and hidradenitis suppurativa. Genitor-urinary system conditions are kidney disease and transplantation. Cardiovascular disorders are coronary artery disease. Chronic heart disease, valvular defects and arrhythmias. Neurological conditions include grand mal seizures, petit mal seizures, TBI, CVA and ALS. Multiple body system conditions include down syndrome. Hematological system conditions include polycythemia, granulocytopenia and anemia. Immune system disorders – inflammatory arthritis, scleroderma, HIV, sjogren’s syndrome and lupus. Special senses/speech disorders  – speech pathology, hearing deficits, loss of visual acuity and efficiency, and contraction of visual fields. Musculoskeletal conditions – consists of soft tissue injuries, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, osteoarthritis, scoliosis and fractures.

Mental impairments are anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar, somatoform disorders, autism, personality disorders and loss of cognition, 

Is your medical condition not listed in the blue book?

The list of impairments is used by all disability examiners. That said, regardless of what state you reside in, each condition will be treated the same when it comes to the severity level. States that would approve for benefits at a certain severity level will apply to every other state, making it so it is no longer state specific for your condition. If your condition is not listed in the blue book do not worry! You can still apply for disability benefits. That said, many common conditions are not even listed in the blue book. Most people awarded benefits are from these conditions that are not even posted in the blue book.