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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: FS 5 2210.0310.02 Verification of Disability (FS) The eligibility specialist must verify disability as defined in passage 2210.0310.01. Acceptable verification is discussed in passages 2210.0310.03 through 2210.0310.07. 2210.0310.03 Verification of Veteran's Disability (FS) For an individual to be considered disabled due to a service connected or non-service connected disability, he must present a statement from the Veterans Administration (VA) which clearly indicates that the disabled individual is receiving VA disability benefits for a service connected disability or that the disability is rated as total or paid at the total rate by VA. 2210.0310.04 Verification of Aid and Attendance (FS) For an individual to be considered disabled due to need of aid and attendance by the VA, documentation that the disabled individual is receiving VA disability benefits must be obtained. 2210.0310.05 Verification of Surviving Spouse or Child (FS) For an individual to be considered disabled as a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran or due to a permanent disability under Section 221(i) of the Social Security Act, the eligibility specialist must use SSA’s most current list of disabilities considered permanent under the Social Security Act for verifying disability. If it is obvious to the eligibility specialist that the individual has one of the disabilities listed in passage 2210.0310.06, then the individual is considered to have a disability. If the disability is not obvious to the eligibility specialist, the individual must provide a statement from a physician or licensed or certified psychologist certifying that the individual has one of the non-obvious disabilities listed by the SSA. 2210.0310.06 Permanent Disability (FS) The SSA has developed a listing of conditions/impairments that constitute permanent disabilities. This same list is also used to determine VA disabilities. The following list of conditions/impairments was extracted from the SSA listing. These conditions/impairments are those that might be obvious. There are many other conditions/impairments included in the complete SSA listing. If an individual claims permanent disability and the disability is not obvious to the eligibility specialist, appropriate verification must be requested. Potentially obvious disabling conditions/impairments are as follows:

1. permanent loss of use of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot;

2. amputation of leg at hip;

3. amputation of leg or foot because of diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular diseases;

4. total deafness, not correctable by surgery or hearing aid;

5. statutory blindness, except if due to cataracts or detached retina;

6. IQ of 59 or less, established after attaining age 16;

7. spinal cord or nerve root lesions resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia;

8. multiple sclerosis in which there is damage of the nervous system because of scattered areas of recurring inflammation that has progressed to varied interference with the function of the nervous system, including severe muscle weakness, paralysis, and vision and speech defects;

9. muscular dystrophy with irreversible wasting of the muscles with a significant effect on the ability to use the arms and/or legs;