Joint Dysfunction

Major Dysfunction of a Joint can be caused by any sever functional loss regardless of the diagnosis. The most common reason for joint dysfunction is a severe traumatic event. Generally some type of automobile accident or industrial work related accident. Inflammatory processes, such as psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis can lead to bone destruction and joints becoming deformed. Children can also qualify with a dysfunction of the joints. To qualify a child must have an obvious deformity and must have a history of chronic joint pain as well as a loss of some basic movement.

For this condition to be severe enough to meet the Social Security Administration's listing the claimant must have:

• An obvious or gross deformity;
• A history of chronic joint pain and stiffness;
• Loss of motion or some other kind of abnormal movement;
• Some documentation in the form of an x-ray etc; AND
  One of the following must apply:
• Involvement of one hip, knee or ankle joint that results in extreme limitation in the claimant’s ability to walk, OR
• Involvement of one major joint in each upper extremity that results in extreme limitation in your ability to perform various types of movements