Endocrine and Social Security Disability
Hormone-related disorders. Social Security generally evaluates the effects on other body systems rather than the diagnosis alone.
Adult Listing 9.00 explains that SSA evaluates impairments resulting from endocrine disorders under the listings for the affected body systems. Thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pituitary, pancreatic, and other endocrine disorders can produce complications involving the heart, kidneys, digestive system, nervous system, vision, musculoskeletal system, mental functioning, and other body systems.
If those effects do not meet or medically equal another listing, SSA proceeds to residual functional capacity and the later steps of the disability evaluation. For diabetes, an A1C value can help describe glucose control, but it does not by itself determine disability; SSA evaluates the documented complications, treatment demands, and resulting functional limitations.
See endocrine condition pages below, or return to the Disability Conditions Center.
Official SSA resource: Listing 9.00 — Endocrine Disorders
Endocrine condition guides
- Diabetes
Diabetes has no standalone adult listing. SSA evaluates its documented effects on other body systems and the combined functional limits those complications cause.
- Thyroid Disorders
There is no adult listing titled thyroid disease. Listing 9.00 evaluates thyroid disorders by their effects on other body systems—heart rhythm, weight, stroke, vision, or mood—not by a TSH value alone.
- Adrenal Disorders
There is no adult listing titled Addison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome. Listing 9.00 and SSR 14-3p evaluate adrenal disorders by their effects on bone, heart, weight, and mood—not by a cortisol value alone.
- Amputation
SSA evaluates amputation under Listing 1.20. What matters is the level of the residual limb, whether a prosthesis can actually be used, and whether a documented two-handed walking or wheeled device is needed. A healed below-knee amputation with a usable prosthesis may miss the listing and still be an RFC case.
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Current Listing 6.00 includes separate pathways for ongoing dialysis, kidney transplant, impaired kidney function with complications, and repeated CKD hospitalizations.
- Coronary Artery Disease
Narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries may cause myocardial ischemia. Listing 4.04 applies only when its prescribed-treatment and severity criteria are documented.
- Cystic Fibrosis
Listing 3.04 evaluates documented cystic fibrosis by specified spirometry, hospitalizations, pneumothorax, respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulse oximetry, or combined exacerbations including CF-related diabetes. A genetic diagnosis is not an approval.
- Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis has no dedicated adult listing. SSA may use Listing 5.08 for specified weight loss, Listing 5.07 when intestinal-failure parenteral-nutrition criteria are met, or residual functional capacity for nausea, vomiting, and attendance. A gastric-emptying study is not an approval.
- Peripheral Neuropathy
Damage to peripheral nerves that may cause pain, numbness, weakness, or balance problems. Listing 11.14 applies only when its specified functional criteria are met.
- Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea has no dedicated adult listing. SSA evaluates the medically documented sleep disorder and daytime limits—and any listing-level heart, lung, or neurologic complications—rather than an AHI number alone.
- Vision Impairment
SSA evaluates visual disorders under Listings 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04. Statutory blindness has a specific legal definition and is not the same as every listing-level visual disorder.
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This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
