Social Security Administration

SSA Blue Book Listings by Body System

The Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, often called the Blue Book, describes medical criteria SSA uses at Step 3 of its disability process. A condition that meets or medically equals a listing can result in a disability finding without moving on to the work steps.

Meeting or medically equaling a listing means SSA finds the impairment severe enough to satisfy Step 3. The criteria are specific, and most claimants do not meet a listing. Not meeting one is not an automatic denial: SSA continues to assess residual functional capacity (RFC) and work at Steps 4 and 5.

All 14 Blue Book body systems

  1. 1.00 Musculoskeletal Disorders

    Spine, joint, and other disorders affecting movement and use of the body.

  2. 2.00 Special Senses and Speech

    Vision, hearing, balance, and speech impairments.

  3. 3.00 Respiratory Disorders

    COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other breathing disorders.

  4. 4.00 Cardiovascular Disorders

    Heart, artery, vein, and circulatory system conditions.

  5. 5.00 Digestive Disorders

    Liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal failure, and related conditions.

  6. 6.00 Genitourinary Disorders

    Chronic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome, and related disorders.

  7. 7.00 Hematological Disorders

    Blood, clotting, bone marrow, and related disorders.

  8. 8.00 Skin Disorders

    Severe chronic skin conditions, burns, and genetic photosensitivity disorders.

  9. 9.00 Endocrine Disorders

    Diabetes and hormonal disorders, often evaluated through complications in other systems.

  10. 10.00 Congenital Disorders Affecting Multiple Body Systems

    Congenital conditions, including the adult listing for non-mosaic Down syndrome.

  11. 11.00 Neurological Disorders

    Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonian syndromes, stroke, and other disorders.

  12. 12.00 Mental Disorders

    Mental impairments evaluated through the adult mental-disorder listings.

  13. 13.00 Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)

    Cancer listings organized by site, type, extent, and response to treatment.

  14. 14.00 Immune System Disorders

    Lupus, HIV, inflammatory arthritis, and other immune-system disorders.

Other SSA evaluation guides

  • Fibromyalgia — How SSA evaluates fibromyalgia under its policy ruling when there is no dedicated Blue Book listing.
  • Migraines and Headaches — How SSA evaluates headache disorders under its policy ruling and through functional limits.

Related resources

For the complete regulatory criteria, read the official SSA Blue Book. These pages summarize the rules and do not reproduce the full listings.

This page provides general information, not medical or legal advice. It is not a determination of whether any person qualifies for benefits.