For Title II and adult Title XVI cases, an impairment is not severe if it has no more
than a minimal effect on an individual's physical or mental ability(ies) to do basic
work activities. For a Title XVI child case, an impairment is not severe if it is
only a slight abnormality or a combination of slight abnormalities that causes no
more than minimal functional limitations.
It is possible that several non-severe impairments could combine to produce a severe
impairment. Disability Determination Services (DDS) must consider the combined effect
of all the individual's impairments in determining whether the impairments are severe.
The adjudicative team will assess the impact of the combination of those impairments
on the person's ability to function, rather than assess separately the contribution
of each impairment to the restriction of their activity as if each impairment existed
alone. When there is a combination of non-severe impairments, the rationale must show
consideration the impact of the combination of those impairments on the person's ability
to function.
If the impairment(s), when considered singly or in combination, is determined to be
non-severe, the rationale will state this fact. For a rationale example, see DI 28090.300D or DI 28090.300Q.
NOTE: The concept of a non-severe impairment(s) does not apply if it has been determined
at an earlier step in the continuing disability review (CDR) evaluation process that
the current impairment(s) imposes a significant restriction on the ability to perform
basic work activities. In this case, the rationale must state that the impairment
is severe.