Listing code
13.26
Adult (Part A)
Body system
13.00
Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Penis -carcinoma with metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
This listing has no lettered subsections. The diagnosis itself, supported by the medical evidence described in the body-system overview, is what SSA evaluates.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 13.26. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 13.26 usually fail
One pitfall is submitting evidence that shows cancer in the penis but not the extent of spread to the regional lymph nodes or beyond. Another pitfall is lacking the information needed to document the type, extent, and site of the lesion, since cancer listings require medical evidence that specifies those items. A further failure mode is relying on operative or biopsy evidence that is missing either the operative note or the pathology report when those documents are available. Another pitfall is when the primary site cannot be identified, but the evidence used does not match the correct evaluation approach for metastatic sites.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical evidence must specify the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion. For diagnosis through operative procedures (such as biopsy or needle aspiration), SSA generally needs a copy of both the operative note and the pathology report. If those documents cannot be obtained, SSA accepts summaries of hospitalization or other medical reports, and those summaries should include details of surgical findings and, when appropriate, pathological findings. If there is progression, recurrence, or significant residuals, SSA may also need evidence about those issues, plus response to anticancer therapy.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the evidence does not show penis carcinoma with metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes, this specific listing is not the best match. The claim can still proceed through the remaining steps of the disability process by assessing the overall cancer impairment using the evidence available, including how much cancer spread occurred and what residual effects remain after treatment. Under the cancer framework, the extent of involvement and the effects of post-therapeutic residuals are key factors in how SSA evaluates cancer.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
Before SSA can approve benefits based on disability, any work activity must be below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level for the period relevant to the claim. For a cancer case like 13.26, which centers on penis carcinoma with spread to regional lymph nodes or beyond, the typical level of impairment described by the listing criteria is often the kind of evidence that supports not being able to sustain work at SGA-level activity, but the final decision still depends on the medical evidence and any functional effects. If approved, Trial Work Period rules apply first, followed by Extended Period of Eligibility for those who meet the approval criteria. The listing criteria focus on lymph node metastases (regional lymph nodes or beyond) rather than on a work-capacity dollar threshold.
Listing 13.26 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for penis -carcinoma with metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes disability claims.