Blood Disorders

Just as there are a variety of different types of immune system disorders, there are also a variety of blood disorders that can impact a person’s ability to work. Below is the criteria Social Security uses to analyze the severity of different types of blood disorders to determine if a condition is severe enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

  1. What hematological disorders do we evaluate under these listings?

Social Security evaluates non-malignant (non-cancerous) hematological disorders, such as hemolytic anemias (7.05), disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis (7.08), and disorders of bone marrow failure (7.10). These disorders disrupt the normal development and function of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and clotting-factor proteins (factors).

The agency evaluates malignant (cancerous) hematological disorders, such as lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, under the appropriate listings in 13.00, except for two lymphomas associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We evaluate primary central nervous system lymphoma associated with HIV infection under 14.11B, and primary effusion lymphoma associated with HIV infection under 14.11C.

  1. What evidence does Social Security need to document that you have a hematological disorder? We need the following evidence to document that you have a hematological disorder:

A laboratory report of a definitive test that establishes a hematological disorder, signed by a physician; or

A laboratory report of a definitive test that establishes a hematological disorder that is not signed by a physician and a report from a physician that states you have the disorder; or

When Social Security does not have a laboratory report of a definitive test, a persuasive report from a physician that a diagnosis of your hematological disorder was confirmed by appropriate laboratory analysis or other diagnostic method(s). To be persuasive, this report must state that you had the appropriate definitive laboratory test or tests for diagnosing your disorder and provide the results, or explain how your diagnosis was established by other diagnostic method(s) consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge and clinical practice.

Social Security is expected to make every reasonable effort to obtain the results of appropriate laboratory testing you have had. But, Social Security will not purchase complex, costly, or invasive tests, such as tests of clotting-factor proteins, and bone marrow aspirations.