What is the BlueBook used by the SSA, and how does it work?

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If you’re planning on applying for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to consult the SSA’s Blue Book to determine your medical condition. There is a list of medical illnesses that result in severe disabilities that qualify for disability benefits in the Blue Book listings. As long as your medical condition is identified, there should be no delay in receiving disability compensation.

How did the Blue Book come to be?

The Blue Book contains a list of impairments that the Social Security Administration (SSA) deems severe enough to prevent an individual from working. It details the medical criteria used to evaluate whether an individual is eligible for disability compensation.

Examiners at the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluate applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the SSA’s two disability benefit programs, as well as medical professionals who provide evidence to support their patients’ disability claims.

If a condition is listed in the Blue Book, it satisfies the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability. This is an accident or sickness that prevents you from engaging in “substantial gainful activity” for at least 12 months or that will almost certainly result in your death. Being diagnosed with a condition listed in the Blue Book does not automatically qualify you for SSDI or SSI.

Additionally, the Blue Book contains a full explanation of the symptoms and test findings that demonstrate your disability is severe enough to be disabling, as well as the medical records and documentation required to establish your disability. Numerous sections comprise the Blue Book.

The Blue Book’s Sections

The Adult Listings in the Blue Book contain 14 sections that contain medical criteria for evaluating impairments in adults aged 18 years and older, as well as criteria for evaluating conditions in kids under the age of 18 years if the condition has a similar effect on adults and younger children. The sections are as follows:

1.00 Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System
2.00 Extrasensory Perception and Speech
3.00 Disorders of the Respiratory System
4.00 Circulatory System
5.00 Digestion
6.00 Disorders of the Genitourinary System
7.00 Blood Disorders
9.00 Dermatological Disorders
9.0 Endocrine Disturbances
10.00 Birth Defects Affecting Multiple Body Systems
11.00 Nervous System Disorders
12.00 Mental Disabilities
13.00 Oncology (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
14.00 Disorders of the Immune System
The following section includes the following subheadings:
Description of the Program;
Disability Definition;
Children with Disabilities;
What does it mean to have a “Medically Determinable Impairment”?
The Process of Disability Determination;
Field Offices of Social Security;
State Services for Disability Determination;
Operation of the Hearing Office;
The Health Professional’s Role;
Medical Sources Provided by the Claimant;
DDS Consultative Examiners;
Medical and psychological consultants for the program;
Experts in Medicine;
Records Confidentiality;
Social Security Disability Programs: Frequently Asked Questions;
Who qualifies for Social Security disability benefits?
How is the determination of disability made?
When do disability benefits become effective?
What is an individual’s recourse if he or she objects to the determination?
Individuals receiving disability benefits or payments are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.
What about Medicaid coverage?
Is it possible to work and receive disability payments at the same time?

When evaluating a claimant’s pain or other symptoms, the SSA takes into account all of the considerations listed above. It is critical that medical sources mention these issues in their findings.

How to Use the Blue Book to Assist in Making a Social Security Disability Claim

The Blue Book offers a list of all medical conditions for which Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are available. Your medical condition must be within the guidelines of the Blue Book. Additionally, the Blue Book will notify you of the medical evidence that will be necessary to support your SSD claim. If you are having difficulty locating your medical issue, your doctor may be able to assist you in understanding it, locating it, and assembling the medical proof necessary to support your SSD claim.

Obtain Assistance in Comprehending the SSA’s Blue Book

A lawyer can assist you in utilizing the Blue Book. They may be able to determine if you fulfill the requirements of a Blue Book listing or what medical proof you must give in order to be accepted for benefits. The attorney can determine your eligibility for disability benefits, saving you time. Today, you can obtain a no-cost case evaluation.