TN 35 (07-24)

DI 34005.105 Digestive Disorders

105.00 DIGESTIVE DISORDERS (Effective Date: 10/06/2023)

A. Which digestive disorders do we evaluate in this body system? We evaluate digestive disorders that result in severe dysfunction of the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract (the large, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, where the movement of muscles, along with the release of hormones and enzymes, allows for the digestion of food) in this body system. Examples of these disorders and the listings we use to evaluate them include chronic liver disease (105.05), inflammatory bowel disease (105.06), and intestinal failure (105.07). We also use this body system to evaluate gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from any cause (105.02), growth failure due to any digestive disorder (105.08), liver transplantation (105.09), need for supplemental daily enteral feeding via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy due to any cause for children who have not attained age 3 (105.10), small intestine transplantation (105.11), and pancreas transplantation (105.12). We evaluate cancers affecting the digestive system under the listings in 113.00.

B. What evidence do we need to evaluate your digestive disorder?

1. General. To establish that you have a digestive disorder, we need medical evidence about the existence of your digestive disorder and its severity. Medical evidence should include your medical history, physical examination findings, operative reports, and relevant laboratory findings.

2. Laboratory findings. We need laboratory reports such as results of imaging (see 105.00B3), endoscopy, and other diagnostic procedures. We may also need clinical laboratory and pathology results.

3. Imaging refers to medical imaging techniques, such as x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computerized tomography. The imaging must be consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge and clinical practice as a proper technique to support the evaluation of the disorder.

C. What is chronic liver disease (CLD), and how do we evaluate it under 105.05?

1. General. CLD is loss of liver function with cell necrosis (cell death), inflammation, or scarring of the liver that persists for more than 6 months. Common causes of CLD in children include chronic infection with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus, autoimmune hepatitis, and metabolic disease.

a. We will evaluate your signs of CLD, such as jaundice, changes in size of the liver and spleen, ascites, peripheral edema, and altered mental status. We will also evaluate your symptoms of CLD, such as pruritus (itching), fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances when we assess the severity of your impairment(s) and how it affects your ability to function. In the absence of evidence of a chronic liver impairment, episodes of acute liver disease do not meet the requirements of 105.05.

b. Laboratory findings of your CLD may include decreased serum albumin, increased International Normalized Ratio (INR), arterial deoxygenation (hypoxemia), increased serum creatinine, oliguria (reduced urine output), or sodium retention. Another laboratory finding that may be included in the evidence is a liver biopsy. If you have had a liver biopsy, we will make every reasonable effort to obtain the results; however, we will not purchase a liver biopsy.

2. Manifestations of CLD.

a. Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging (105.05A), as a consequence of cirrhosis and high pressure in the liver's portal venous system, may occur from varices (dilated veins in the esophagus or the stomach) or from portal hypertensive gastropathy (abnormal mucosal changes in the stomach). When gastrointestinal hemorrhaging is due to a cause other than CLD, we evaluate it under 105.02. The phrase “consider under a disability for 1 year” in 105.02 and 105.05A does not refer to the date on which your disability began, only to the date on which we must reevaluate whether your impairment(s) continues to meet a listing or is otherwise disabling. We determine the onset of your disability based on the facts of your case.

b. Ascites or hydrothorax (105.05B) is a pathologic accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (ascites) or pleural space (hydrothorax). Ascites or hydrothorax may be diagnosed by removing some of the fluid with needle aspiration (paracentesis or thoracentesis), physical examination, or imaging. The most common causes of ascites are portal hypertension and low serum albumin resulting from CLD. We evaluate other causes of ascites and hydrothorax that are unrelated to CLD, such as congestive heart failure and cancer, under the listings in the affected body systems.

c. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (105.05C) is an acute bacterial infection of peritoneal fluid and is most commonly associated with CLD. SBP is diagnosed by laboratory analysis of peritoneal fluid (obtained by paracentesis) that contains a neutrophil count (also called absolute neutrophil count) of at least 250 cells/mm³. 105.05C is satisfied with one evaluation documenting peritoneal infection. We evaluate other causes of peritonitis that are unrelated to CLD, such as tuberculosis, malignancy, and perforated bowel, under the listings in the affected body systems.

d. Hepatorenal syndrome (105.05D) is renal failure associated with CLD in the absence of underlying kidney pathology. Findings associated with hepatorenal syndrome include elevation of serum creatinine, sodium retention with low urinary sodium excretion, and oliguria. We evaluate renal dysfunction with known underlying kidney pathology, such as glomerulonephritis, tubular necrosis, and renal infections, under the listings in 106.00.

e. Hepatopulmonary syndrome (105.05E) is arterial deoxygenation due to intrapulmonary vascular dilation and arteriovenous shunting associated with CLD. Clinical findings of hepatopulmonary syndrome include platypnea (shortness of breath relieved when lying down) and orthodeoxia (low arterial blood oxygen while in the upright position), when presenting in the context of CLD. We evaluate pulmonary dysfunction with known underlying respiratory pathology, such as asthma, pneumonia, and pulmonary infections, under the listings in 103.00.

(i) Under 105.05E1, we require a resting arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement obtained while you are breathing room air; that is, without oxygen supplementation. The ABG report must include the P_aO₂ value, your name, the date of the test, and either the altitude or both the city and State of the test site.

(ii) We will not purchase the specialized imaging techniques described in 105.05E2; however, if you have had the test(s) at a time relevant to your claim, we will make every reasonable effort to obtain the report.

f. Hepatic encephalopathy (105.05F), also known as portosystemic encephalopathy, is a recurrent or chronic neuropsychiatric disorder associated with CLD.

(i) Under 105.05F2, we require documentation of a mental impairment associated with hepatic encephalopathy. A mental impairment can include abnormal behavior, changes in mental status, or an altered state of consciousness. Reports of abnormal behavior may show that you are experiencing delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations. Reports of changes in mental status may show change in sleep patterns, personality or mood changes, poor concentration, or poor judgment or cognitive dysfunction (for example, impaired memory, poor problem-solving ability, or attention deficits). Reports of altered state of consciousness may show that you are experiencing confusion, delirium, or stupor.

(ii) Signs and laboratory findings that document the severity of hepatic encephalopathy when not attributable to other causes may include a “flapping tremor” (asterixis), characteristic abnormalities found on an electroencephalogram (EEG), or abnormal serum albumin or coagulation values. We will not purchase an EEG; however, if you have had this test at a time relevant to your claim, we will make every reasonable effort to obtain the report for the purpose of establishing whether your impairment meets the criteria of 105.05F.

(iii) We will not evaluate acute encephalopathy under 105.05F if it results from conditions other than CLD. For example, we will evaluate acute encephalopathy caused by vascular events under the listings in 111.00 and acute encephalopathy caused by cancer under the listings in 113.00.

3. SSA Chronic Liver Disease (SSA CLD) and SSA Chronic Liver Disease-Pediatric (SSA CLD–P) scores (105.05G). Listing 105.05G1 requires two SSA CLD scores, each requiring three or four laboratory values. Listing 105.05G2 requires one SSA CLD–P score, which requires four parameters (three laboratory values and growth failure). The “date of the SSA CLD score” is the date of the earliest of the three or four laboratory values used for its calculation. The “date of the SSA CLD–P score” is the date of the earliest of the three laboratory values used for its calculation. For 105.05G1, the date of the second SSA CLD score must be at least 60 days after the date of the first SSA CLD score and both scores must be within the required 12-month period. If you have the two SSA CLD scores required by 105.05G1, we will find that your impairment meets the criteria of the listing from at least the date of the first SSA CLD score. [We provide the SSA CLD Calculator to calculate the SSA CLD scores as described in 105.00C3a below and the SSA CLD-P Calculator to calculate the SSA CLD-P score as described in 105.00C3b below.]

a. SSA CLD score.

(i) If you are age 12 or older, we will calculate the SSA CLD score using a formula that includes up to four laboratory values: Serum creatinine (mg/dL), total bilirubin (mg/dL), INR, and under certain conditions, serum sodium (mmol/L). The SSA CLD score calculation contains at least one, and sometimes two, parts, as described in (a) and (b).

(a) The initial calculation is:

SSA CLD_i =

9.57 × [log_e(serum creatinine mg/dL)]

+ 3.78 × [log_e(serum total bilirubin mg/dL)]

+ 11.2 × [log_e(INR)]

+ 6.43

rounded to the nearest whole integer.

(b) If the value from the initial calculation is 11 or below, the SSA CLD score will be the SSA CLD_i value. If the value from the initial calculation is greater than 11, the SSA CLD score will be re-calculated as:

SSA CLD =

SSA CLD_i

+ 1.32 × (137 − serum sodium mmol/L)

− [0.033 × SSA CLD_i × (137 − serum sodium mmol/L)]

(c) We round the results of your SSA CLD score calculation to the nearest whole integer to arrive at your SSA CLD score.

(ii) For any SSA CLD score calculation, all of the required laboratory values (serum creatinine, serum total bilirubin, INR, and serum sodium) must have been obtained within a continuous 30-day period.

(a) We round values for serum creatinine (mg/dL), serum total bilirubin (mg/dL), or INR less than 1.0 up to 1.0 to calculate your SSA CLD score.

(b) We round values for serum creatinine (mg/dL) greater than 4.0 down to 4.0 to calculate your SSA CLD score.

(c) If there are multiple laboratory values within the 30-day interval for serum creatinine (mg/dL), serum total bilirubin (mg/dL), or INR, we use the highest value to calculate your SSA CLD score. We will not use any INR values derived from testing done while you are on anticoagulant treatment in our SSA CLD calculation.

(d) If there are multiple laboratory values within the 30-day interval for serum sodium (mmol/L), we use the lowest value to calculate your SSA CLD score.

(e) If you are in renal failure or on renal dialysis within a week of any serum creatinine test in the period used for the SSA CLD calculation, we will use a serum creatinine value of 4.0, which is the maximum serum creatinine level allowed in the calculation, to calculate your SSA CLD score.

(f) If your serum sodium is less than 125 mmol/L, we will set your serum sodium to 125 mmol/L for purposes of calculation of the SSA CLD score. If your serum sodium is higher than 137 mmol/L, we will set your serum sodium to 137 mmol/L for purposes of calculation of the SSA CLD score.

(iii) When we indicate “log_e” (also abbreviated “ln”) in the formula for the SSA CLD score calculation, we mean the “base e logarithm” or “natural logarithm” of the numerical laboratory value, not the “base 10 logarithm” or “common logarithm” (log) of the laboratory value, and not the actual laboratory value. For example, if a person has laboratory values of serum creatinine 1.4 mg/dL, serum total bilirubin 1.3 mg/dL, INR 1.32, and serum sodium 119 mmol/L, we compute the SSA CLD score as follows:

SSA CLD_i =

9.57 × [log_e(serum creatinine 1.4 mg/dL) = 0.336]

+ 3.78 × [log_e(serum total bilirubin 1.3 mg/dL) = 0.262]

+ 11.2 × [log_e(INR 1.32) = .278]

+ 6.43

= 3.22 + 0.99 + 3.11 + 6.43

= 13.75, which we round to an SSA CLD_i score of 14.

Because the SSA CLD_i score is over 11, we then move to the second step of calculating the SSA CLD:

SSA CLD =

14

+ 1.32 × (137−serum sodium 125 mmol/L)

−[0.033 × SSA CLD_i 14 × (137−serum sodium 125 mmol/L)

= 14 + 15.84−5.54

= 24.3, which we round to an SSA CLD score of 24.

b. SSA CLD–P score

(i) We calculate the SSA CLD–P score using a formula that includes four parameters: Serum total bilirubin (mg/dL), INR, serum albumin (g/dL), and whether you have growth failure. The formula for the SSA CLD–P score calculation is:

4.80 × [log_e(serum total bilirubin mg/dL)]

+ 18.57 × [log_e(INR)]

−6.87 × [log_e(serum albumin g/dL)]

+ 6.67 if you have growth failure (<−2 standard deviations for weight or height)

(ii) When we indicate “log_e” in the formula for the SSA CLD–P score calculation, we mean the “base e logarithm” or “natural logarithm” (log_e) of a numerical laboratory value, not the “base 10 logarithm” or “common logarithm” (log) of the laboratory value, and not the actual laboratory value. For example, if a female child is 4.0 years old, has growth failure, and has laboratory values of serum total bilirubin 2.2 mg/dL, INR 1.0, and serum albumin 3.5 g/dL, we compute the SSA CLD–P score as follows:

4.80 × [log_e(serum total bilirubin 2.2 mg/dL) = 0.788]

+ 18.57 × [log_e(INR 1.0) = 0]

−6.87 × [log_e(serum albumin 3.5 g/dL) = 1.253]

+ 6.67

= 3.78 + 0−8.61 + 6.67

= 1.84, which we round to an SSA CLD–P score of 2.

(iii) For an SSA CLD–P score calculation, all of the required laboratory values (serum total bilirubin, INR, and serum albumin) must have been obtained within a continuous 30-day period. We round any of the required laboratory values less than 1.0 up to 1.0 to calculate your SSA CLD–P score. If there are multiple laboratory values within the 30-day interval for any given laboratory test, we use the highest serum total bilirubin and INR values and the lowest serum albumin value to calculate the SSA CLD–P score. We will not use any INR values derived from testing done while you are on anticoagulant treatment in our SSA CLD–P calculation. We will not purchase INR values for children who have not attained age 12. If there is no INR value for a child under 12 within the applicable period, we will use an INR value of 1.1 to calculate the SSA CLD–P score. We round the results of your SSA CLD–P score calculation to the nearest whole integer to arrive at your SSA CLD–P score.

(iv) The weight and length/height measurements used for the calculation must be obtained within the same 30-day period as the laboratory values.

4. Extrahepatic biliary atresia (105.05H) presents itself in the first 2 months of life with persistent jaundice. To satisfy 105.05H, the diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia must be confirmed by liver biopsy or intraoperative cholangiogram that shows obliteration of the extrahepatic biliary tree. Biliary atresia is usually treated surgically by portoenterostomy (for example, Kasai procedure). If this surgery is not performed in the first months of life or is not completely successful, liver transplantation is indicated. If you have received a liver transplant, we will evaluate your impairment under 105.09. The phrase “consider under a disability for 1 year” in 105.05H does not refer to the date on which your disability began, only to the date on which we must reevaluate whether your impairment(s) continues to meet a listing or is otherwise disabling. We determine the onset of your disability based on the facts of your case.

D. What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and how do we evaluate it under 105.06?

1. IBD is a group of inflammatory conditions of the small intestine and colon. The most common IBD disorders are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Remissions and exacerbations of variable duration are a hallmark of IBD.

2. We evaluate your signs and symptoms of IBD, such as diarrhea, fecal incontinence, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia, abdominal tenderness, palpable abdominal mass (usually inflamed loops of bowel), and perianal disease (for example, fissure, fistulas, abscesses, or anal canal stenosis), when we assess the severity of your impairment(s). You may require supplemental daily nutrition due to IBD. There are two forms of supplemental daily nutrition we consider under 105.06B5: enteral nutrition (delivered directly to a part of your digestive system) via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy, and parenteral nutrition delivered via a central venous catheter. Enteral tube feedings delivered via nasal or oral tubes do not satisfy the requirement in 105.06B5.

3. Surgical diversion of the intestinal tract, including ileostomy and colostomy, does not very seriously interfere with age-appropriate functioning if you are able to maintain adequate nutrition and function of the stoma. However, if you are not able to maintain adequate nutrition, we will evaluate your impairment under 105.08.

4. IBD may be associated with significant extraintestinal manifestations in a variety of body systems. These include, but are not limited to, involvement of the eye (for example, uveitis, episcleritis, or iritis); hepatobiliary disease (for example, gallstones or primary sclerosing cholangitis); urologic disease (for example, kidney stones or obstructive hydronephrosis); skin involvement (for example, erythema nodosum or pyoderma gangrenosum); or non-destructive inflammatory arthritis. You may also have associated thromboembolic disorders or vascular disease. These manifestations may not correlate with the severity of your IBD. If your impairment does not meet any of the criteria of 105.06, we will consider the effects of your extraintestinal manifestations in determining whether you have an impairment(s) that meets or medically equals another listing, and when we determine whether your impairment(s) functionally equals the listings.

5. Examples of complications of IBD that may result in hospitalization include abscesses, intestinal perforation, toxic megacolon, infectious colitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, ureteral obstruction, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and hypercoagulable state (which may lead to thromboses or embolism).

E. What is intestinal failure, and how do we evaluate it under 105.07?

1. Intestinal failure is a condition resulting in gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients or water and electrolytes, resulting in a requirement for intravenous supplementation ( i.e., parenteral nutrition) to maintain health. Examples of conditions that may result in intestinal failure include short bowel syndrome, extensive small bowel mucosal disease, and chronic motility disorders.

2. Short bowel syndrome is a malabsorption disorder that occurs when ischemic vascular insults (caused, for example, by volvulus or necrotizing enterocolitis), trauma, or IBD complications require(s) surgical resection of any amount of the small intestine, resulting in chronic malnutrition.

3. Extensive small bowel mucosal disease means that the mucosal surface of the small bowel does not efficiently absorb nutrients or loses nutrients. Common causes of small bowel mucosal disease include microvillous inclusion disease and tufting enteropathy.

4. Chronic motility disorder refers to a chronic disorder of the propulsion of gut content without fixed obstructions, causing intolerance to oral nutrition and inadequate nutritional intake. This type of disorder may also be known as a chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), because the gut dysfunction mimics that of an obstructed intestine, but without evidence of an actual obstruction. Primary CIPO may have an unknown underlying cause. Chronic motility disorders may also result from congenital, neuromuscular, or autoimmune conditions, such as gastroschisis, omphalocele, long segment Hirschprung's disease, Crohn's disease, and mitochondrial disorders.

5. For short bowel syndrome, we require a copy of the operative report that includes details of the surgical findings, or postoperative imaging indicating a resection of the small intestine. If we cannot get one of these reports, we need other medical reports that include details of the surgical findings. For other chronic motility disorders or extensive small bowel mucosal disease, we need medical reports that include details of your intestinal dysfunction. For any impairment evaluated under 105.07, we also need medical documentation that you are dependent on daily parenteral nutrition to provide most of your nutritional requirements.

F. How do we evaluate growth failure due to any digestive disorder under 105.08?

1. To evaluate growth failure due to any digestive disorder, we require documentation of the laboratory findings of chronic nutritional deficiency described in 105.08A and the growth measurements in 105.08B within the same consecutive 12-month period. The dates of laboratory findings may be different from the dates of growth measurements. Impairments other than digestive disorders that cause weight loss should be evaluated under the appropriate body system. For instance, weight loss as a result of chronic kidney disease should be evaluated under our rules for genitourinary disorders (see 106.00), and weight loss as the result of an eating disorder should be evaluated under our rules for mental disorders (see 112.00). However, if you develop a digestive disorder as the result of your other impairment, we will evaluate the acquired digestive disorder under our rules for digestive disorders.

2. Under 105.08B, we evaluate a child's growth failure by using the appropriate table for age and gender.

a. For children from birth to attainment of age 2, we use the weight-for-length table (see Table I or Table II).

b. For children age 2 to attainment of age 18, we use the body mass index (BMI)-for-age table (see Table III or Table IV).

c. BMI is the ratio of your weight to the square of your height. We calculate BMI using one of the following formulas:

English Formula

BMI = [Weight in Pounds/(Height in Inches × Height in Inches)] × 703

Metric Formulas

BMI = Weight in Kilograms/(Height in Meters × Height in Meters)

BMI = [Weight in Kilograms/(Height in Centimeters × Height in Centimeters)] × 10,000

G. How do we evaluate digestive organ transplantation? If you receive a liver (105.09), small intestine (105.11), or pancreas (105.12) transplant, we will consider you disabled under the listing for 1 year from the date of the transplant. After that, we evaluate your residual impairment(s) by considering the adequacy of your post-transplant function, the frequency and severity of any rejection episodes you have, complications in other body systems, and adverse treatment effects. People who receive digestive organ transplants generally have impairments that meet our definition of disability before they undergo transplantation. The phrase “consider under a disability for 1 year” in 105.09, 105.11, and 105.12 does not refer to the date on which your disability began, only to the date on which we must reevaluate whether your impairment(s) continues to meet a listing or is otherwise disabling. We determine the onset of your disability based on the facts of your case.

H. How do we evaluate the need for supplemental daily enteral feeding via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy? We evaluate the need for supplemental daily enteral feeding via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy in children who have not attained age 3 under 105.10 regardless of the medical reason for the stoma. Enteral tube feedings delivered via nasal or oral tubes do not satisfy the requirement in 105.10. After a child attains age 3, we evaluate growth failure due to any digestive disorder under 105.08, IBD requiring supplemental daily enteral or parenteral nutrition under 105.06, or other medical or developmental disorders under another digestive disorders listing or under a listing in an affected body system(s).

I. How do we evaluate esophageal stricture or stenosis? Esophageal stricture or stenosis (narrowing) from congenital atresia (absence or abnormal closure of a tubular body organ) or destructive esophagitis may result in malnutrition or the need for gastrostomy placement, which we evaluate under 105.08 or 105.10. Esophageal stricture or stenosis may also result in complications such as pneumonias due to frequent aspiration, or difficulty in maintaining nutritional status short of listing level severity. While these individual complications usually do not meet the listing criteria, a combination of your impairments may medically equal a listing or functionally equal the listings.

J. How do we evaluate your digestive disorder if there is no record of ongoing treatment? If there is no record of ongoing treatment despite the existence of a severe impairment(s), we will assess the severity and duration of your digestive disorder based on the current medical and other evidence in your case record. If there is no record of ongoing treatment, you may not be able to show an impairment that meets a digestive disorders listing, but your impairment may medically equal a listing, or be disabling based on our rules for functional equivalence.

K. How do we evaluate your digestive disorder if there is evidence establishing a substance use disorder? If we find that you are disabled and there is medical evidence in your case record establishing that you have a substance use disorder, we will determine whether your substance use disorder is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. See § 416.935 of this chapter. Digestive disorders resulting from drug or alcohol use are often chronic in nature and will not necessarily improve with cessation in drug or alcohol use.

L. How do we evaluate digestive disorders that do not meet one of these listings?

1. These listings are only examples of common digestive disorders that we consider severe enough to result in marked and severe functional limitations. If your impairment(s) does not meet the criteria of any of these listings, we must also consider whether you have an impairment(s) that satisfies the criteria of a listing in another body system.

2. If you have a severe medically determinable impairment(s) that does not meet a listing, we will determine whether your impairment(s) medically equals a listing. See § 416.926 of this chapter. Digestive disorders may be associated with disorders in other body systems, and we consider the combined effects of multiple impairments when we determine whether they medically equal a listing. If your impairment(s) does not meet or medically equal a listing, we will also consider whether it functionally equals the listings. See § 416.926a of this chapter. We use the rules in § 416.994a of this chapter when we decide whether you continue to be disabled.

105.01 Category of Impairments, Digestive Disorders

105.02 Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from any cause, requiring three blood transfusions of at least 10 cc of blood/kg of body weight per transfusion, within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 30 days apart. Consider under a disability for 1 year following the last documented transfusion; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

105.03-105.04 [Reserved]

105.05 Chronic liver disease (CLD) (see 105.00C) with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or H:

A. Hemorrhaging from esophageal, gastric, or ectopic varices, or from portal hypertensive gastropathy (see 105.00C2a), documented by imaging (see 105.00B3); resulting in 1 and 2:

1. Hemodynamic instability indicated by signs such as pallor (pale skin), diaphoresis (profuse perspiration), rapid pulse, low blood pressure, postural hypotension (pronounced fall in blood pressure when arising to an upright position from lying down), or syncope (fainting); and

2. Requiring hospitalization for transfusion of at least 10 cc of blood/kg of body weight. Consider under a disability for 1 year following the documented transfusion; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

OR

B. Ascites or hydrothorax not attributable to other causes (see 105.00C2b), present on two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart. Each evaluation must document the ascites or hydrothorax by 1, 2, or 3:

1. Paracentesis; or

2. Thoracentesis; or

3. Imaging or physical examination with a or b:

a. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less; or

b. INR of at least 1.5.

OR

C. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (see 105.00C2c) documented by peritoneal fluid containing a neutrophil count of at least 250 cells/mm³.

OR

D. Hepatorenal syndrome (see 105.00C2d) documented by 1, 2, or 3:

1. Serum creatinine elevation of at least 2 mg/dL; or

2. Oliguria with 24-hour urine output less than 1 mL/kg/hr; or

3. Sodium retention with urine sodium less than 10 mEq per liter.

OR

E. Hepatopulmonary syndrome (see 105.00C2e) documented by 1 or 2:

1. Arterial P_aO₂ measured by an ABG test, while at rest, breathing room air, less than or equal to:

a. 60 mm Hg, at test sites less than 3,000 feet above sea level; or

b. 55 mm Hg, at test sites from 3,000 through 6,000 feet above sea level; or

c. 50 mm Hg, at test sites over 6,000 feet above sea level; or

2. Intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting as shown on contrast-enhanced echocardiography or macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scan.

OR

F. Hepatic encephalopathy (see 105.00C2f) with documentation of abnormal behavior, cognitive dysfunction, changes in mental status, or altered state of consciousness (for example, confusion, delirium, stupor, or coma), present on two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart and either 1 or 2:

1. History of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or other surgical portosystemic shunt; or

2. One of the following on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart within the same consecutive 12-month period as in F:

a. Asterixis or other fluctuating physical neurological abnormalities; or

b. EEG demonstrating triphasic slow wave activity; or

c. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less; or

d. INR of 1.5 or greater.

OR

G. SSA CLD or SSA CLD–P scores (see 105.00C3) [ SSA CLD Calculator and SSA CLD-P Calculator ]:

1. For children age 12 or older, two SSA CLD scores of at least 20 within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart. Consider under a disability from at least the date of the first score; or

2. For children who have not attained age 12, one SSA CLD–P score of at least 11.

OR

H. Extrahepatic biliary atresia as diagnosed on liver biopsy or intraoperative cholangiogram (see 105.00C4). Consider under a disability for 1 year following diagnosis; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

105.06 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (see 105.00D) documented by endoscopy, biopsy, imaging, or operative findings and demonstrated by A or B:

A. Obstruction of stenotic areas (not adhesions) in the small intestine or colon with proximal dilatation, confirmed by imaging or in surgery, requiring two hospitalizations for intestinal decompression or for surgery, within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart.

OR

B. Two of the following occurring within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart:

1. Anemia with hemoglobin less than 10.0 g/dL, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

2. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less, present on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart; or

3. Clinically documented tender abdominal mass palpable on physical examination with abdominal pain or cramping; or

4. Perianal disease with a draining abscess or fistula; or

5. Need for supplemental daily enteral nutrition via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy, or daily parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter (see 105.10 for children who have not attained age 3).

105.07 Intestinal failure (see 105.00E) due to short bowel syndrome, chronic motility disorders, or extensive small bowel mucosal disease, resulting in dependence on daily parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter for at least 12 months.

105.08 Growth failure due to any digestive disorder (see 105.00F), documented by A and B:

A. Chronic nutritional deficiency present on two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart documented by 1 or 2:

1. Anemia with hemoglobin less than 10.0 g/dL; or

2. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less.

AND

B. Growth failure as required in 1 or 2:

1. For children from birth to attainment of age 2, three weight-for-length measurements that are:

a. Within a consecutive 12-month period; and

b. At least 60 days apart; and

c. Less than the third percentile values in Table I or Table II; or

2. For children age 2 to attainment of age 18, three BMI-for-age measurements that are:

 

1. a. 

   Within a consecutive 12-month period; and

2. b. 

   At least 60 days apart; and

3. c. 

   Less than the third percentile value in Table III or Table IV.

105.09 Liver transplantation (see 105.00G). Consider under a disability for 1 year from the date of the transplant; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

105.10 Need for supplemental daily enteral feeding via a gastrostomy, duodenostomy, or jejunostomy (see 105.00H) due to any cause, for children who have not attained age 3; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

105.11 Small intestine transplantation (see 105.00G). Consider under a disability for 1 year from the date of the transplant; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

105.12 Pancreas transplantation (see 105.00G). Consider under a disability for 1 year from the date of the transplant; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).