Have you suffered a serious injury or developed a major, chronic health condition that has limited your ability to work? If so, you might be entitled to benefits through the Social Security Administration. However, the SSA has strict definitions for what constitutes a “disability” that qualifies for financial benefits. Read on to learn what conditions qualify for disability in Oklahoma.
What Medical Conditions Qualify for Disability in Oklahoma?
The SSA maintains a list of conditions that may become severe enough for a person to qualify for disability benefits. This list, popularly known as the “Blue Book,” includes medical and mental health conditions such as the following.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Traumatic injuries and chronic, degenerative conditions can lead to significant damage to joints, bones, and muscles, causing physical impairment to a person’s ability to perform physical work tasks. Musculoskeletal conditions that may lead to SSD benefits include the following:
- Spinal stenosis
- Radiculopathy
- Pathological fractures occurring at least three times in 12 months
- Amputation
- Soft tissue injuries requiring continued surgical management
- Non-healing complex fractures
Mental Health and Cognitive Conditions
Mental health and cognitive conditions can cause symptoms severe enough to disable a person from working, as they can impair the ability to remember, follow instructions, or interact with co-workers or customers. Examples of mental health conditions that may give rise to a disability benefits application include the following:
- Neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or traumatic brain injury-related disorders
- Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and delusional disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Severe intellectual disorders
- Major anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Eating disorders
- PTSD
Neurological Conditions
Disorders and illnesses of the neurological system can also have severe, debilitating symptoms. Examples of neurological conditions that could support a disability benefits application include the following:
- Epilepsy that causes recurring seizures despite treatment
- Benign brain tumors
- Spinal cord disorders
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Huntington’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Conditions
Severe health conditions affecting the heart, respiratory system, or circulatory system can make performing basic work tasks extremely difficult or dangerous for some individuals, potentially qualifying them for disability benefits. Common conditions include the following:
- Chronic heart failure
- Ischemic heart disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Arterial disease
- COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Asthma
- Chronic pulmonary hypertension
Digestive Disorders
Conditions of the digestive or gastrointestinal system can also cause symptoms that disable a person from working, such as the following:
- Chronic liver disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome, chronic motility disorders, or other conditions
Immune System Disorders
Various immune conditions may also qualify a person for disability benefits, such as the following:
- Lupus
- Scleroderma
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Connective tissue disease
- HIV infection with complications
Other Conditions
Other medical conditions that impair an individual’s ability to work may also qualify them for Social Security disability benefits. Examples of other common conditions that may qualify for disability include:
- Chronic kidney disease that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant
- Cancers, including skin cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, and cancers of the reproductive organs
- Blood disorders, such as anemia, hemophilia, or bone marrow failure
- Endocrine disorders that cause hormonal imbalances, including diabetes, pituitary gland disorders, thyroid disorders, and adrenal gland disorders
How SSA Determines If You Qualify
The SSA uses a five-step sequential process to evaluate whether a person who has applied for disability benefits has a qualifying disability.
First, the SSA asks whether an applicant still works. At this stage, the SSA considers an applicant’s earnings from employment and self-employment to determine whether their work meets the threshold for substantial gainful activity (SGA). The SSA deems anyone who performs SGA not disabled. A person meets the SGA threshold if they earn more than a specific amount of monthly income (with blind individuals having a higher threshold). The SSA increases this amount periodically due to inflation. If an applicant does not earn more than the SGA threshold, the SSA sends their application to a Disability Determination Services (DDS) office to determine whether they have a qualifying disability.
At the second step, DDS will review an applicant’s medical evidence to determine whether they have a “severe” condition. The SSA considers a condition “severe” if it restricts a person from performing basic work tasks like standing, walking, sitting, lifting, or remembering. A severe condition must also have lasted for at least 12 months, or medical experts expect the condition to last for at least 12 months or result in the applicant’s death.
When an applicant has a “severe” condition, DDS proceeds to the third step, which checks whether the applicant has a condition on the Social Security Administration’s list of medical conditions, known as the “Blue Book.” When DDS finds that an applicant has a listed condition or another condition equal in severity to a listed condition, it will deem the applicant disabled and qualified for benefits. Otherwise, DDS proceeds to the fourth step.
At the fourth step, DDS considers whether an applicant’s condition precludes them from performing any past work they have done in their career. If an applicant can perform one or more of their past jobs, the SSA will consider them not disabled. Otherwise, DDS proceeds to the fifth and final step.
At step five, DDS evaluates whether an applicant can perform other work despite their medical condition. Examiners will consider an applicant’s condition(s), limitations, age, education, past work experience, and transferable skills. If an applicant cannot do any other type of job, the SSA will deem them qualified for disability benefits.
Contact a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Oklahoma Today
If you have a physical, cognitive, or mental health condition that interferes with your ability to work, you might have a claim to disability compensation from the Social Security Administration. Contact Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons today for a free, no-obligation, fully confidential consultation with a knowledgeable SSD attorney. We’ll advise you on whether you meet the qualifications for disability from the Social Security Administration and discuss how our firm in Oklahoma can help you pursue your claim.
This post was originally published in January 2023 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in September 2026.
