Listing 5.05 · Digestive disorders
Chronic liver disease
To be approved under this listing, a claim must meet any one of the criteria below — and the medical records have to prove it.
- A
Hemorrhaging from esophageal, gastric, or ectopic varices requiring hospitalization for transfusion ≥3 times within 12 months.
In plain terms: Have you had repeated hospitalizations for variceal bleeding requiring transfusion?
Evidence required:Hospitalization record - B
Ascites or hydrothorax not attributable to other causes, present despite treatment.
In plain terms: Do you have ongoing ascites (fluid in the abdomen) or hydrothorax despite treatment?
Evidence required:Treating physician report - C
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis OR hepatic encephalopathy with documented neurological signs.
In plain terms: Have you had episodes of hepatic encephalopathy — confusion, disorientation, or coma — from your liver disease?
Evidence required:Hospitalization recordTreating physician report - D
End-stage liver disease (MELD ≥22).
In plain terms: What's your most recent MELD score from your liver doctor?
Evidence required:Lab panelTreating physician report
Estimate the odds
Historical approval rates for a claim like this — by state, age, and stage.
Approval odds by condition
How claims for this body system fare through the process.
Other digestive disorders listings
Source: SSA Listing of Impairments (Blue Book), 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 · Updated 2026-06-18. Criteria paraphrased for readability; see the official SSA text linked above. Not legal or medical advice — whether a specific medical record meets Listing 5.05 is an individualized judgment SSA makes on the evidence.