Disability claims, organized by body system.

Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease

Most SSDI claims based on back pain or degenerative disc disease are denied at the initial application — even when the MRI clearly shows damage. The cases …

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome by itself rarely meets a Listing — but it wins SSDI claims regularly at the Denver hearing office when paired with documented loss o…

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Cervical degenerative disc disease (cervical DDD) is one of the strongest musculoskeletal SSDI claim types when properly documented. Cervical disc damage wit…

Multiple Sclerosis

MS is one of the most well-defined SSDI conditions in the Blue Book — but approval still hinges on the documentation. Cases win on objective MRI evidence o…

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease SSDI claims are won at the intersection of motor symptoms (tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability) and non-motor symp…

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy SSDI claims are won on objective nerve-conduction studies plus documented motor or sensory loss that prevents sustained standing, walki…

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) SSDI claims hinge on the timing of evaluation and the specificity of cognitive and behavioral documentation. The Listing disting…

Cancer Patients

Many cancer diagnoses qualify for SSDI on a Compassionate Allowance fast-track — approval in weeks rather than years. Others require the standard analysis …

Crohn’s Disease and IBD

Crohn’s disease and severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can qualify for SSDI under Listing 5.06 — but the documentation has to address either obs…

Limited Scleroderma (CREST Syndrome)

Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis — historically called CREST Syndrome (Calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, T…

Lupus (SLE)

Lupus SSDI claims hinge on the multi-system nature of the disease. The Listing recognizes lupus that involves at least two body systems with at least one sev…

Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is a chronic autoimmune disease with high SSDI approval rates when properly documented. Listing 14.04 recognizes either orga…

Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Conditions

Diabetes and Diabetic Complications

Diabetes alone rarely qualifies for SSDI — the Endocrine Listing was substantially restructured in 2011 and most diabetes claims now win on the complicatio…

Severe Asthma and Respiratory Conditions

Severe asthma SSDI claims hinge on hospitalization frequency, pulmonary function test results, and documented response (or lack thereof) to optimized medical…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is an evaluated under SSR 14-1p — a Social Security Ruling that provides a specific framework…

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia SSDI claims are winnable when the record meets SSR 12-2p: rheumatologist diagnosis, documented exclusion of other conditions, 12+ months of cons…

Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis

Chronic liver disease SSDI claims are won at the intersection of objective testing (MELD score, ascites, varices, encephalopathy) and documented functional i…

Kidney Failure (ESRD/CKD)

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation is one of the strongest SSDI claim types — Listing 6.03 is essentially …

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major Depressive Disorder can qualify for SSDI under Listing 12.04 when documented severity prevents sustained work for at least 12 months. The case requires…

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD qualifies for SSDI under Listing 12.15 when documented symptoms (intrusive recollection, avoidance, hypervigilance, negative mood/cognition changes) plu…

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders typically qualify for SSDI when properly documented under Listing 12.03. The diagnosis itself, when established…