Musculoskeletal conditions
Spine disorders, arthritis, joint disease, injuries, chronic pain, and related limitations in lifting, walking, standing, sitting, reaching, or handling.
Physical and mental impairments
Social Security evaluates limitations, duration, and vocational effect—not diagnosis alone.
A person may have one severe condition or a combination of physical and mental impairments. The claim should address all medically determinable impairments because their combined effect may be greater than any diagnosis considered separately.
Cardiac and vascular disease
Heart failure, coronary disease, arrhythmias, vascular disease, edema, fatigue, and exertional intolerance.
Pulmonary disease
COPD, asthma, interstitial disease, oxygen dependence, sleep-related breathing disorders, and environmental restrictions.
Neurological disorders
Seizures, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, stroke effects, headaches, tremors, and cognitive changes.
Mental health conditions
Depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and limits in concentration, interaction, or adaptation.
Cancer and treatment effects
Active disease, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, recurrence risk, fatigue, neuropathy, pain, and recovery periods.
Endocrine and immune disorders
Diabetes complications, autoimmune disease, inflammatory conditions, and systemic symptoms.
Kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal disease
Dialysis, organ dysfunction, ostomies, frequent treatment, pain, fatigue, and unpredictable symptoms.
Multiple impairments
The combined impact of obesity, pain, medication, mental symptoms, fatigue, and other conditions should be evaluated together.
Listing-level disability and residual functional capacity.
Some claims meet or medically equal criteria in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments. Many approved claims do not. When a listing is not met, SSA assesses residual functional capacity and asks whether the claimant can perform past relevant work or adjust to other work.
That is why the record should describe what a claimant can do repeatedly, reliably, and on a sustained basis—not merely what can be done once on a good day.
Official sources and further reading
Links open official government resources. This page provides general information and is not a substitute for advice about an individual claim.
When winning means everything
Talk with an Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer.
Call about an application, denial, appeal, hearing, or deadline. Do not send a Social Security number through the website form.
