What to document for HIV
Organize disability evidence for labs, opportunistic infections, treatment, side effects, and functional limits.
| Evidence area | What makes the record more useful |
|---|---|
| Labs | Keep dated labs results and the provider interpretation, not only a reference to the test. |
| Opportunistic Infections | Document opportunistic infections with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Treatment | Show the history of treatment, response, side effects, and whether the treatment changed day-to-day function. |
| Side Effects | Document side effects with dates, source records, and a short explanation of why it matters to the current disability issue. |
| Functional Limits | Connect functional limits to specific activities and work demands instead of using a conclusion without examples. |
How HIV affects work function
Describe function in concrete terms that match this condition and the person's actual work history. Useful records may address reliability, pace, attendance, safety, physical tolerance, communication, concentration, or adaptation depending on the symptoms documented in the file.
- Use examples from treatment records and daily activity rather than a diagnosis label alone.
- Identify how often a limitation occurs and how long recovery takes.
- Separate limitations caused by this condition from other impairments when the records allow it.
- Explain treatment gaps, side effects, or inconsistent findings instead of ignoring them.
SSA medical sources for HIV
The Listing of Impairments is one part of disability evaluation. A claim can also turn on the combined medical record, residual functional capacity, past work, and other steps in Social Security's evaluation process.
Questions before an appeal or hearing
- Which labs records cover the period SSA is reviewing?
- Do the records explain opportunistic infections with enough detail to show frequency or severity?
- How does functional limits affect the claimant's past job duties or reliable attendance?
- What recent record has not yet been added to the disability file?