Easy Approach to the Musculoskeletal Listings
An easy approach to the Musculoskeletal Listings is to focus on the issues of effective hand ambulation or effective hand function.
- Once the medical evidence has shown there is loss of effective hand or ambulatory function, the claim may be an allowance by either meeting or equaling a listing, or by a medical-vocational allowance (especially if both hands are equally affected).
- The majority of these listings boil down to whether a claimant has effective hand or ambulatory function.
- Loss of effective ambulation is a requirement for Listings 1.02 A., 1.03, 1.04 C., 1.05 B., 1.05 C., and 1.06.
- Loss of effective hand function is a requirement for Listing 1.02 B.
- While not specifically stated as ineffective hand function, Listing 1.05 A. results in loss of bilateral hand function due to amputation of both hands, and Listing 1.07 requires that “functional use of the upper extremity” not be restored due to non-union of a fracture in the upper extremity.
- Listing 1.08 requires that “major function” not be restored due to a soft tissue injury of the upper or lower extremity, trunk or face.
- Only Listings 1.04 A., 1.04 B., and 1.05 D. do not require a documented specific loss of function.