TN 38 (09-15)
Generally, when an individual is hospitalized or a medical source significantly restricts
an individual's activities, the symptoms, signs and laboratory findings establish
that the impairment(s) is still disabling. Hospitalization, prescribed therapy that
interferes with functioning, or the judgment by the medical source that the individual
should not work are not, in themselves, sufficient evidence to support a finding of
continuance.
Disability examiners must consider the evidence provided by the individual's medical
source in making an independent judgment as to:
-
•
An individual's medical improvement.
-
•
An individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful activity.
-
•
Whether the current impairment(s) causes significant functional limitations in a Title
XVI child case.
Carefully consider the possibility that the medical source has additional evidence
not reflected in the file that might support a finding of continuance. For procedures
on obtaining evidence from medical sources, see DI 22505.001.