What Are the Most Approved Disabilities for Social Security?

If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you might wonder which Social Security disability gets approved the most. What are your chances, and will your disability likely get approved?

While every case is unique, some conditions are more commonly approved because they meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) strict criteria for disability.

Here’s a look at the most commonly approved disabilities for Social Security and why they tend to qualify.

1. Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders are some of the most commonly approved disabilities because they often lead to significant physical limitations.

Examples include:

  • Severe back injuries
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis

These conditions can make it impossible to sit, stand, walk, or lift objects for extended periods of time – essential skills for most jobs.

Approval often hinges on medical imaging. So ideally you’ll want to submit MRIs or X-rays that clearly show the severity of your condition.

2. Cardiovascular Conditions

Cardiovascular conditions can severely limit a person’s endurance and their ability to perform physical tasks.

Examples include:

  • Chronic heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Arrhythmias
  • Peripheral arterial disease

The SSA looks at how these conditions impact your daily activities and work capabilities. They often rely on test results like stress tests, echocardiograms, or angiograms.

3. Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders can qualify for SSDI if they severely impair a person’s ability to function in a work setting.

Examples include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

These conditions are often harder to prove than physical disabilities because they rely heavily on medical records from therapists, psychiatrists, or psychologists. In your application, make sure to show a consistent treatment history and detailed documentation from your medical providers.

4. Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders commonly get approved (and often fast-tracked) because they can cause widespread, debilitating symptoms.

Examples include:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Epilepsy
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
  • Traumatic brain injuries

Symptoms can include loss of mobility, coordination, or cognitive function. To evaluate the severity of these conditions, the SSA relies on neurological exams, imaging, and treatment records.

5. Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory disorders can qualify for SSDI if they make it difficult to breathe, especially during physical activities.

Examples include:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Severe asthma
  • Pulmonary fibrosis

In your application, make sure to include as much documentation as possible, including pulmonary function tests and any records of treatment or hospitalization due to breathing issues.

6. Cancer

Cancers that are advanced, inoperable, or have metastasized are more likely to be approved – including through the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, which fast-tracks severe cases.

Examples include:

  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Pancreatic cancer

Approval will depend on pathology reports, imaging, and treatment records.

7. Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders often cause chronic pain, fatigue, and other disabling symptoms that interfere with daily life and work.

Examples include:

  • Lupus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Scleroderma

Approval usually requires thorough medical records from specialists. In your application, include any evidence to show how your symptoms significantly limit your work capacity.

Why the SSA Commonly Approves These Disabilities

The most commonly-approved disabilities share one key factor: they can be clearly documented with objective medical evidence. Conditions that have consistent medical records, test results, and treatment histories are easier for the SSA to evaluate.

As a result, in your application, you should always include as much medical evidence as you can. You can also support the evidence with testimonies from your doctors and employers about how your condition impacts your ability to work.

Darrell CastleLegal Help to Make Sure Your Social Security Disability Gets Approved

Even if your disability is one of the most commonly approved, the SSDI process is rarely straightforward.

Denials happen all the time. In fact, the SSA denies the majority of claims on the first try.

Incomplete applications, insufficient medical evidence, or errors in documentation all lower your chances. That’s where an experienced SSDI lawyer can make all the difference.

We help you gather medical evidence, including working with your doctors to collect and organize the necessary documentation.

Then, we build a strong case for you. We help make sure your application clearly shows how your condition meets the SSA’s criteria.

And if the SSA denies your claim, as they so often do? We guide you through the appeals process and represent you at hearings.

Getting Started and Costs to Consider

As a Memphis SSDI lawyer, I understand how critical these benefits are to your financial and physical well-being.

Our team is dedicated to helping you navigate the SSDI process and get the benefits you need.

And we don’t get paid anything unless and until we win your case. (Even then, we only receive a small fraction of your past-due benefits. You keep everything moving forward.)

If you’re ready to apply for SSDI or need help with a denial, contact us today for a free consultation.