Social Security has proposed changing to its listings for musculoskeletal disorders. Social Security’s listings are impairments used by Social Security in making disability determinations by judging the severity of impairments. We will be presenting a series on the proposed changes, first looking at the current listing Social Security considers, followed by the proposed new listing. Next up is listing 1.06, a listing that would be replaced by 1.22.
1.06 Fracture of lemur, tibia, pelvis or tarsal bones (Current listing)
1.06 Fracture of the femur, tibia, pelvis, or one or more of the tarsal bones. With:
- Solid union not evident on appropriate medically acceptable imaging and not clinically solid;
and
- 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.
1.22 Non-Healing or complex fracture (New listing)
101.22 Non-healing or complex fracture of the femur, tibia, pelvis, or one or more of the
tarsal bones (see 101.00M), documented by A and B and C:
- Solid union not evident on appropriate medically acceptable imaging and not clinically solid;
AND
- Impairment-related physical limitation of musculoskeletal functioning that has lasted, or can be expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months,
AND
- A documented medical need for a walker, bilateral canes, or bilateral crutches (see 101.00E).
These listings, both the current listing and the proposed listing deal with broken bones in the lower extremities that do not heal properly. Having one or more of these conditions does not necessarily qualify someone for disability benefits. As the listings suggest, it is more how severe the limitations are as a result of the condition that Social Security will consider during the processing of a disability claim.
