SSA Blue Book · Section 5.00

All Blue Book listings / Digestive Disorders

Digestive Listings: Liver Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Section 5.00 evaluates digestive disorders using the specific medical findings and complications described in each listing. Records over time may be important because some criteria require recurring or persistent problems.

Conditions covered

The section includes chronic liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, intestinal failure, digestive-related weight loss, and certain transplants or bleeding complications.

Key listings in Section 5.00

  • 5.05 — Chronic liver disease

    Covers chronic liver disease through specified complications and objective findings.

  • 5.06 — Inflammatory bowel disease

    Evaluates IBD using the listing’s required clinical findings, treatment response, and complications.

  • 5.07 — Intestinal failure

    Addresses intestinal failure and its documented treatment requirements.

  • 5.08 — Weight loss due to a digestive disorder

    Considers qualifying weight loss attributable to a digestive impairment.

These are plain-language summaries, not the full regulatory criteria. Review the official Blue Book for the complete requirements and definitions.

Evidence SSA may consider

  • Medical evidence can include laboratory results, endoscopy and biopsy reports, imaging, operative records, and specialist assessments.
  • Documented hospitalizations, complications, treatment attempts, nutritional support, and weight measurements can be relevant to the specific listing.
  • Organize records by date so SSA can see whether findings and complications occurred with the timing and frequency required by a listing.

If the listing is not met

When the listing criteria are not met or medically equaled, SSA still evaluates the combined effects of pain, fatigue, urgency, bathroom access, nutrition needs, and treatment-related absences if supported by the record.

Those limits are considered in the RFC and at Steps 4 and 5. A claimant may be found unable to sustain past work or other work even without meeting a digestive listing.

Related resources

Read the official SSA Blue Book for Section 5.00

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