How is Medical Equivalence defined for Social Security Disability Claims?

In disability law, a number of individuals pose questions concerning the medical equivalency of their specific disability case in comparison with those listed as viable disability claims recognized by the Social Security Administration. In practice, the only reliable determination of whether your condition actually meets the medical equivalency requirements of the SSA can be made through direct consultation with a disability lawyer, often alongside medical documentation and independent medical opinions outlining the nature of the medical condition creating disability.

Since 2006, the Social Security Administration has used the following criteria for establishing Medical Equivalence Social Security Disability Claims, including:

• Applicant must have listed impairment, but the nature or documentation supporting the impairment does not specifically meet all the requisite findings outlined by the SSA, or in certain cases, the severity of the requisite element is insufficient. If applicant has aforementioned alongside other findings that equally relevant to the specific disability criteria, a viable claim for medical equivalence may exist.

• If the applicant has an unlisted impairment, but the nature of the impairment is similar to another listed impairment, based on the nature of the requisite findings, a claim for medical equivalency might exist.

• If the applicant possesses multiple impairments, which if taken alone or together are insufficient to met the listing criteria acknowledged by the SSA, but when compared to other criteria, are found to have at least medical equivalency and significance in a given category, the applicant may also have a viable claim.

Medical equivalency claims, in virtually all instances, will require the insight and representation of a disability lawyer during the initial claim filing, as well as during any ensuring appeals hearings. For more information, consult with a disability lawyer in your state of residence about your disability case today.