I was in a very serious accident this year that caused burns to 60 % of my body and need to file for Social Security disability benefits. How does SSA evaluate burns?
SSA’s guidelines state that since electrical, chemical, or thermal burns can affect other body systems (musculoskeletal, special senses and speech, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, or mental), it will evaluate burns the same way it evaluates other disorders that can affect the skin and other body systems, which is, to use the listing for the predominant feature of the claimant’s impairment. If the soft tissue injuries require continuing surgical management, SSA will evaluate the impairment under section 1.08 of the Blue Book; if the burns do not meet the requirements of 1.08 and the claimant has extension skin lesions that result in a very serious limitation that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months, SSA will evaluate them under 8.08 of the Blue Book.
