Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is performed for a variety of cancers. We
require the transplantation to occur before we evaluate it under these listings. We
do not need to restrict our determination of the onset of disability to the date of
the transplantation (13.05, 13.06, or 13.07) or the date of first treatment under
the treatment plan that includes transplantation (13.28). We may be able to establish
an earlier onset date of disability due to your transplantation if the evidence in
your case record supports such a finding.
1. Acute leukemia (including T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma) or accelerated or blast
phase of CML. If you undergo bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for any of these disorders,
we will consider you to be disabled until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis
or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of transplantation, whichever is later.
2. Lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or chronic phase of CML. If you undergo bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for any of these disorders,
we will consider you to be disabled until at least 12 months from the date of transplantation.
3. Other cancers. We will evaluate any other cancer treated with bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
under 13.28 , regardless of whether there is another listing that addresses that impairment.
The length of time we will consider you to be disabled depends on whether you undergo
allogeneic or autologous transplantation.
a. Allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. If you undergo allogeneic transplantation (transplantation from an unrelated donor
or a related donor other than an identical twin), we will consider you to be disabled
until at least 12 months from the date of transplantation.
b. Autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.If you undergo autologous transplantation (transplantation of your own cells or cells
from your identical twin (syngeneic transplantation)), we will consider you to be
disabled until at least 12 months from the date of the first treatment under the treatment
plan that includes transplantation. The first treatment usually refers to the initial
therapy given to prepare you for transplantation.
4. Evaluating disability after the appropriate time period has elapsed. We consider any residual impairment(s), such as complications arising from:
a. Graft-versus-host (GVH) disease.
b. Immunosuppressant therapy, such as frequent infections.
c. Significant deterioration of other organ systems.
13.01 Category of Impairments, Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
13.02 Soft tissue cancers of the head and neck (except salivary glands--13.08 --and thyroid gland--13.09).
A. Inoperable or unresectable.
OR
B. Persistent or recurrent disease following initial anticancer therapy, except persistence
or recurrence in the true vocal cord.
OR
C. With metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
D. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
OR
E. Soft tissue cancers originating in the head and neck treated with multimodal anticancer
therapy (see 13.00E3c). Consider under a disability until at least 18 months from
the date of diagnosis. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria
for the affected body system.
13.03 Skin (except malignant melanoma – 13.29).
A. Sarcoma or carcinoma with metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
B. Carcinoma invading deep extradermal structures (for example, skeletal muscle, cartilage,
or bone).
13.04 Soft tissue sarcoma.
A. With regional or distant metastases.
OR
B. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
13.05 Lymphoma (including mycosis fungoides, but excluding T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma--13.06).
(See 13.00K1 and 13.00K2c.)
A. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as described in 1 or 2:
1. Aggressive lymphoma (including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) persistent or recurrent
following initial anticancer therapy.
2. Indolent lymphoma (including mycosis fungoides and follicular small cleaved cell)
requiring initiation of more than one (single mode or multimodal) anticancer treatment
regimen within a period of 12 consecutive months. Consider under a disability from
at least the date of initiation of the treatment regimen that failed within 12 months.
OR
B. Hodgkin lymphoma with failure to achieve clinically complete remission, or recurrent
lymphoma within 12 months of completing initial anticancer therapy.
OR
C. With bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Consider under a disability until
at least 12 months from the date of transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual
impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
OR
D. Mantle cell lymphoma.
13.06 Leukemia. (See 13.00K2.)
A. Acute leukemia (including T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma). Consider under a disability
until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months
from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter,
evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
OR
B. Chronic myelogenous leukemia, as described in 1 or 2:
1. Accelerated or blast phase (see 13.00K2b). Consider under a disability until at
least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from
the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter,
evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
2. Chronic phase, as described in a or b:
a. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow
or stem cell transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under
the criteria for the affected body system.
b. Progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy.
13.07 Multiple myeloma (confirmed by appropriate serum or urine protein electrophoresis and bone marrow
findings).
A. Failure to respond or progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
B. With bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Consider under a disability until
at least 12 months from the date of transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual
impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
13.08 Salivary glands--carcinoma or sarcoma with metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
13.09 Thyroid gland.
A. Anaplastic (undifferentiated) carcinoma.
OR
B. Carcinoma with metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes progressive despite radioactive
iodine therapy.
OR
C. Medullary carcinoma with metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
13.10 Breast (except sarcoma--13.04 ). (See 13.00K4.)
A. Locally advanced cancer (inflammatory carcinoma, cancer of any size with direct
extension to the chest wall or skin, or cancer of any size with metastases to the
ipsilateral internal mammary nodes).
OR
B. Carcinoma with metastases to the supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, to 10
or more axillary nodes, or with distant metastases.
OR
C. Recurrent carcinoma, except local recurrence that remits with anticancer therapy.
OR
D. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
OR
E. With secondary lymphedema that is caused by anticancer therapy and treated by surgery
to salvage or restore the functioning of an upper extremity. (See 13.00K4b.) Consider
under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of the surgery that treated
the secondary lymphedema. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the
criteria for the affected body system.
13.11 Skeletal system--sarcoma.
A. Inoperable or unresectable.
OR
B. Recurrent cancer (except local recurrence) after initial anticancer therapy.
OR
C. With distant metastases.
OR
D. All other cancers originating in bone with multimodal anticancer therapy (see 13.00E3c).
Consider under a disability for 12 months from the date of diagnosis. Thereafter,
evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
13.12 Maxilla, orbit, or temporal fossa.
A. Sarcoma or carcinoma of any type with regional or distant metastases.
OR
B. Carcinoma of the antrum with extension into the orbit or ethmoid or sphenoid sinus.
OR
C. Cancer with extension to the orbit, meninges, sinuses, or base of the skull.
13.13 Nervous system. (See 13.00K6.)
A. Primary central nervous system (CNS; that is, brain and spinal cord) cancers, as
described in 1, 2, or 3:
1. Glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoblastoma, and diffuse intrinsic brain stem gliomas
(see 13.00K6a).
2. Any Grade III or Grade IV CNS cancer (see 13.00K6b), including astrocytomas, sarcomas,
and medulloblastoma and other primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs).
3. Any primary CNS cancer, as described in a or b:
a. Metastatic.
b. Progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
B. Primary peripheral nerve or spinal root cancers, as described in 1 or 2:
1. Metastatic.
2. Progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
13.14 Lungs.
A. Non-small-cell carcinoma--inoperable, unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic disease
to or beyond the hilar nodes.
OR
B. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
OR
C. Carcinoma of the superior sulcus (including Pancoast tumors) with multimodal anticancer
therapy (see 13.00E3c). Consider under a disability until at least 18 months from
the date of diagnosis. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria
for the affected body system.
13.15 Pleura or mediastinum.
A. Malignant mesothelioma of pleura.
OR
B. Tumors of the mediastinum, as described in 1 or 2:
1. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.16 Esophagus or stomach.
A. Carcinoma or sarcoma of the esophagus.
OR
B. Carcinoma or sarcoma of the stomach, as described in 1 or 2:
1. Inoperable, unresectable, extending to surrounding structures, or recurrent.
2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.17 Small intestine--carcinoma, sarcoma, or carcinoid.
A. Inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent.
OR
B. With metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.18 Large intestine (from ileocecal valve to and including anal canal).
A. Adenocarcinoma that is inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent.
OR
B. Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, recurrent after surgery.
OR
C. With metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
D. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.19 Liver or gallbladder--cancer of the liver, gallbladder, or bile ducts.
13.20 Pancreas.
A. Carcinoma (except islet cell carcinoma).
OR
B. Islet cell carcinoma that is physiologically active and is either inoperable or
unresectable.
13.21 Kidneys, adrenal glands, or ureters--carcinoma.
A. Inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent.
OR
B. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
13.22 Urinary bladder--carcinoma.
A. With infiltration beyond the bladder wall.
OR
B. Recurrent after total cystectomy.
OR
C. Inoperable or unresectable.
OR
D. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
E. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.23 Cancers of the female genital tract--carcinoma or sarcoma (including primary peritoneal carcinoma).
A. Uterus (corpus), as described in 1, 2, or 3:
1. Invading adjoining organs.
2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
3. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
B. Uterine cervix, as described in 1, 2, or 3:
1. Extending to the pelvic wall, lower portion of the vagina, or adjacent or distant
organs.
2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
3. With metastases to distant (for example, para-aortic or supraclavicular) lymph
nodes.
OR
C. Vulva or vagina, as described in 1, 2, or 3:
1. Invading adjoining organs.
2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
3. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
D. Fallopian tubes, as described in 1 or 2:
1. Extending to the serosa or beyond.
2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
E. Ovaries, as described in 1 or 2:
1. All cancers except germ-cell cancers, with at least one of the following:
a. Extension beyond the pelvis; for example, implants on, or direct extension to,
peritoneal, omental, or bowel surfaces.
b. Metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
c. Recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
2. Germ-cell tumors--progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
F. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.24 Prostate gland--carcinoma.
A. Progressive or recurrent (not including biochemical recurrence) despite initial
hormonal intervention. (See 13.00K8.)
OR
B. With visceral metastases (metastases to internal organs).
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
13.25 Testicles--cancer with metastatic disease progressive or recurrent following initial chemotherapy.
13.26 Penis--carcinoma with metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
13.27 Primary site unknown after appropriate search for primary--metastatic carcinoma or sarcoma, except for
squamous cell carcinoma confined to the neck nodes.
13.28 Cancer treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. (See 13.00L.)
A. Allogeneic transplantation. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months
from the date of transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s)
under the criteria for the affected body system.
OR
B. Autologous transplantation. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months
from the date of the first treatment under the treatment plan that includes transplantation.
Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected
body system.
13.29 Malignant melanoma (including skin, ocular, or mucosal melanomas), as described in either A, B, or C:
A. Recurrent (except an additional primary melanoma at a different site, which is
not considered to be recurrent disease) following either 1 or 2:
1. Wide excision (skin melanoma).
2. Enucleation of the eye (ocular melanoma).
OR
B. With metastases as described in 1, 2, or 3:
1. Metastases to one or more clinically apparent nodes; that is, nodes that are detected
by imaging studies (excluding lymphoscintigraphy) or by clinical evaluation (palpable).
2. If the nodes are not clinically apparent, with metastases to four or more nodes.
3. Metastases to adjacent skin (satellite lesions) or distant sites (for example,
liver, lung, or brain).
OR
C. Mucosal melanoma.