SSA Listings & Rulings, in Plain English
If a decision letter cites a number — 12.04, 11.14, SSR 12-2p — this is what it means, what SSA is actually looking for under it, and the mistakes that get claims denied. The authoritative text is SSA's; the plain-English part is ours.
Social Security Rulings
- SSR 12-2p — Evaluation of FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia has no listing in the Blue Book. SSR 12-2p is the ruling SSA uses instead, and it is why fibromyalgia claims are decided differently from almost anything else.
- SSR 19-4p — Evaluation of Primary Headache DisordersThere is no migraine listing. SSR 19-4p is the ruling that tells SSA how to handle primary headache disorders, including chronic migraine.
Blue Book listings
- 1.00 — Musculoskeletal DisordersThe body system covering back, spine and joint claims — the largest single category of disability applications.
- 12.04 — Depressive, Bipolar and Related DisordersThe mental listing covering depression and bipolar disorder. Mental listings work differently from physical ones, which is why claims fail here for reasons that surprise people.
- 12.06 — Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive DisordersThe mental listing covering anxiety disorders, panic disorder and OCD.
- 12.15 — Trauma and Stressor-Related DisordersThe listing PTSD is assessed under, added when SSA revised the mental disorders.
- 11.14 — Peripheral NeuropathyThe neurological listing for nerve damage in the limbs.
- 11.02 — EpilepsyThe seizure listing, and one of the few that turns on counting.
- 11.09 — Multiple SclerosisThe MS listing, and a hard one because of how MS behaves.
- 11.06 — Parkinsonian SyndromeThe listing covering Parkinson's disease.
- 11.04 — Vascular Insult to the BrainThe stroke listing.
- 3.02 — Chronic Respiratory DisordersThe COPD listing, and one of the few where a single test can decide a claim.
- 3.03 — AsthmaThe asthma listing, with two routes rather than one.
- 4.02 — Chronic Heart FailureThe listing congestive heart failure is assessed under.
- 4.04 — Ischemic Heart DiseaseThe coronary artery disease listing.
- 5.06 — Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseThe listing covering Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- 6.00 — Genitourinary DisordersThe body system covering chronic kidney disease.
- 9.00 — Endocrine DisordersHow diabetes is handled — and the single most misunderstood answer in the Blue Book.
- 13.00 — Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)The cancer listings, where outcomes vary more than anywhere else in the Blue Book.
- 14.00 — Immune System DisordersThe listing rheumatoid arthritis is assessed under — as an immune disorder, not a joint problem.
- 2.02–2.04 — Special Senses and SpeechThe visual listings, among the most objective in the Blue Book.
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