Diabetes Mellitus

Effective today, June 2, 2014, Social Security issued a new ruling on Diabetes, Social Security Ruling (SSR) 14-2p.  The ruling applies to adult and children’s applications.

Social Security Rulings (SSR) can be found at http://ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/ or, by an Internet search for a specific ruling.

Diabetes is not a “listed” impairment, but the new ruling discusses how, “the effects of DM, either alone or in combination with another impairment(s), may meet or medically equal the criteria of a listing in an affected body system(s).” [Footnote omitted.]

The ruling lists the following complications:

• Amputation of an extremity, under the musculoskeletal system listings (1.00).
• Diabetic retinopathy, under the special senses and speech listings (2.00).
• Hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure, under the cardiovascular system listings (4.00).
• Gastroparesis and ischemic bowel disease (intestinal necrosis), under the digestive system listings (5.00).
• Diabetic nephropathy, under the genitourinary impairments listings (6.00).
• Slow-healing bacterial and fungal infections, under the skin disorders listings (8.00).
• Diabetic neuropathy, under the neurological listings (11.00).
• Cognitive impairments, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, under the mental disorders listings (12.00).

 

The ruling notes that, “[t]he combined effects of DM and another impairment(s) can be greater than the effects of each of the impairments considered separately” for purposes of determining an applicant’s residual functional capacity.

See:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/02/2014-12601/social-security-ruling-ssr-14-2p-titles-ii-and-xvi-evaluating-diabetes-mellitus#h-18