You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if you have a back injury. However, your condition must meet the strict rules of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book of medical listings. A successful application requires a deep understanding of specific medical requirements.
Why your diagnosis is not enough
Under Listing 1.15 in the Blue Book, you must have pain, numbness or muscle fatigue symptoms following a specific nerve path. The common diagnoses include herniated discs and degenerative disc disease. If you have one of these conditions, you need to have medical records to prove nerve root compression.
A physician must document that you experience muscle weakness, signs of nerve root irritation and sensory changes. Additionally, your X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results must show that a disc or bone is pressing a nerve.
How the functional test works
While medical proof shows your condition, the SSA looks for functional limitations. You need to demonstrate that your impairment has lasted or will last for at least 12 months and results in:
- A medical need for a walker or bilateral crutches
- An inability to use one arm to perform work tasks, combined with a medical need for a one-handed assistive device that requires the use of the other hand
- An inability to use both arms or hands for initiating or completing fine and gross work movements
Meeting even one of these functional criteria significantly strengthens your SSDI claim under Listing 1.15.
Documentation is your best defense
The SSA and Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) deny applicants due to insufficient documentation. That is why you need to have a consistent treatment record, which includes notes from your physical therapist and doctors.
Navigating federal regulations while managing a chronic back condition can be difficult. An attorney can offer guidance to help you meet the SSA’s requirements.
