The DDS must obtain a verbatim translation of the individual’s complete medical history,
as defined in DI 22505.001A.3., and any other relevant medical and nonmedical evidence. However, translation of
the complete medical history does not have to be completed if the translator is an
authorized SSA translator and has the expertise (e.g., the translator is a disability
examiner, disability hearing officer, or medical or psychological consultant) to determine
that the evidence that already has been translated indicates that a fully favorable
determination can be made, and there is no conflicting evidence in the remaining untranslated
documents that must be resolved. The translator should make a notation indicating
that there is no conflicting evidence in the remaining documents.
Documents that are not relevant to the determination do not have to be translated
if the authorized SSA translator has the expertise (i.e., the translator is a disability
examiner, disability hearing officer, or medical or psychological consultant) to determine
which documents are not relevant. However, the translator should provide a summary
or description of the untranslated documents and explain why the documents are not
relevant to the determination.
Non-SSA translators generally lack the necessary expertise to determine whether the
evidence is relevant or conflicting and must, therefore, do a verbatim translation
of all the documents identified for them by the DDS. The DDS may specify that only
evidence covering a certain period of time should be translated.