Blue Book Listing 13.04

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Malignant tumors of connective tissues (muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves).

What you have to prove

Meet listing via: (1) inoperable or unresectable; OR (2) with regional or distant metastases; OR (3) recurrent despite prescribed treatment.

Medical evidence SSA expects

Pathology, imaging (MRI, CT, PET), surgical records, and oncology notes.

Common misconceptions

Sarcomas vary greatly by subtype. Low-grade sarcomas treated with wide local excision often don't qualify; high-grade and pediatric sarcomas (rhabdomyosarcoma) typically do.

Didn't meet the listing? You can still qualify via a Medical-Vocational Allowance — SSA's determination that your residual functional capacity, combined with your age, education, and work history, leaves no jobs you can do. See our appeals guide for what to do after an initial denial.