Degenerative spondylosis, often called spinal osteoarthritis, is the general wear and tear affecting the spine’s joints, discs, and vertebrae. This age-related condition involves the breakdown of intervertebral discs, which lose cushioning, and the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes) on the edges of the vertebrae. A diagnosis of spondylosis alone is not automatically considered a disability. However, it can qualify if the resulting symptoms are severe enough to prevent a person from performing substantial work. The core issue is whether the physical changes lead to significant, long-lasting functional limitations that meet strict disability criteria.
Understanding Degenerative Spondylosis and Functional Limitations
Degenerative spondylosis symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the affected spinal area and the degree of nerve involvement. The most common symptoms include chronic pain and stiffness in the neck or lower back. However, pain alone is rarely sufficient to establish a disability claim.
A claim is stronger when spinal changes cause nerve root compression and neurological symptoms. This compression results in radiculopathy, characterized by shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness radiating down the arms or legs. When the condition affects the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) spine, these symptoms create measurable functional limitations.
These limitations are the focus of a disability assessment, defining a person’s inability to perform work-related activities. Lumbar spondylosis can make it difficult to stand or walk for prolonged periods, limit lifting, or make sitting for an entire workday unbearable. Cervical spondylosis limits neck range of motion and can cause upper extremity weakness, preventing fine motor tasks. Documenting these specific restrictions is necessary to prove the inability to maintain employment.
Meeting the Criteria for Disability Qualification
The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates degenerative spondylosis under musculoskeletal disorder criteria. There are two main pathways to qualify for benefits: meeting a specific Listing in the SSA’s “Blue Book,” or demonstrating that the condition limits a person’s overall Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).
To meet a specific Listing, degenerative changes must be extremely severe, documented as a skeletal spine disorder compromising a nerve root. This requires objective medical evidence of nerve root compression, along with associated neurological deficits like muscle weakness, sensory loss, or a loss of reflexes. For example, a claimant might need to show severe motor loss that requires the use of an assistive device to walk. Meeting this high threshold is challenging, and many individuals do not qualify based on the specific Listing requirements.
Most successful claims are approved through the RFC assessment process. The RFC evaluates the maximum amount of work a person can still do despite their limitations. This involves a detailed look at physical restrictions, such as how long the claimant can stand, sit, walk, lift, balance, stoop, or reach.
If RFC limitations prevent the claimant from performing past relevant work, the SSA determines if they can do any other type of work. For many with significant spinal disorders, chronic pain and reduced ability to lift limit them to sedentary work or rule out all substantial gainful activity. The RFC process provides a flexible framework for demonstrating how the condition functionally disables a person.
Proving Disability Through Medical Evidence
Submitting comprehensive medical evidence is necessary to substantiate a disability claim. This evidence must establish that the condition is “medically determinable” and has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 continuous months.
Objective medical evidence is paramount and includes diagnostic imaging tests. X-rays, CT scans, or MRI results must show structural changes like disc degeneration, bone spur formation, or nerve root compression. However, imaging results alone are insufficient, as abnormalities may not correlate with the actual severity of symptoms or functional loss.
A longitudinal treatment history is also necessary, documenting consistent medical care and the onset of symptoms. This includes records of attempted treatments, such as physical therapy, medication, and injections, and the lack of sustained improvement.
The most important evidence is a detailed statement from the treating physician regarding the patient’s functional capacity. The physician’s report must clearly detail specific restrictions, such as maximum weight lifted or duration of sitting or standing. This translates medical findings into concrete, work-related limitations for the disability examiner.