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Here are some
of the signs and symptoms your Disability
Examiner will be looking to find in your
medical records file in order to "allow", ie
approve, your claim for Social Security
Disability / SSI Benefits for Arthritis
and or other joint diseases and impairments of
a musculoskeletal nature.
Listing of
Impairments (Blue Book) Section 1.02 and
1.04
(January 2005
Edition)
1.01 Category of
Impairments, Musculoskeletal
1.02 Major dysfunction of a joint(s) (due to
any cause): Characterized by gross anatomical
deformity (e.g., subluxation, contracture, bony
or fibrous ankylosis,
instability) and chronic joint pain and
stiffness with signs of limitation of motion or
other abnormal motion of the affected joint(s),
and findings on appropriate medically
acceptable imaging of joint space narrowing,
bony destruction, or ankylosis of the affected
joint(s). With:
A. Involvement of one major peripheral
weight-bearing joint (i.e., hip, knee, or
ankle), resulting in inability to ambulate
effectively, as defined in 1.00B2b;
OR
B. Involvement of one major peripheral joint in
each upper extremity (i.e., shoulder, elbow, or
wrist-hand), resulting in inability to perform
fine and gross movements effectively, as
defined in 1.00B2c.
1.03 Reconstructive surgery or surgical
arthrodesis of a major weight- bearing joint,
with inability to ambulate effectively, as
defined in 1.00B2b, and return to effective
ambulation did not occur, or is not expected to
occur, within 12 months of onset.
1.04 Disorders of the spine (e.g., herniated
nucleus pulposus, spinal arachnoiditis, spinal
stenosis, osteoarthritis,
degenerative disc disease, facet
arthritis, vertebral fracture),
resulting in compromise of a nerve root
(including the cauda equina) or the spinal
cord. With:
A. Evidence of nerve root compression
characterized by neuro-anatomic distribution of
pain, limitation of motion of the spine, motor
loss (atrophy with associated muscle weakness
or muscle weakness) accompanied by sensory or
reflex loss and, if there is involvement of the
lower back, positive straight-leg raising test
(sitting and supine);
OR
B. Spinal arachnoiditis, confirmed by an
operative note or pathology report of tissue
biopsy, or by appropriate medically acceptable
imaging, manifested by severe burning or
painful dysesthesia, resulting in the need for
changes in position or posture more than once
every 2 hours;
or
C. Lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in
pseudoclaudication, established by findings on
appropriate medically acceptable imaging,
manifested by chronic nonradicular pain and
weakness, and resulting in inability to
ambulate effectively, as defined in
1.00B2b.
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