Listing code
13.11
Adult (Part A)
Body system
13.00
Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
Subsections
4
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Skeletal system -- sarcoma.
Subsection A
Inoperable or unresectable. OR
Subsection B
Recurrent cancer (except local recurrence) after initial anticancer therapy. OR
Subsection C
With distant metastases. OR
Subsection D
All other cancer originating in bone with multimodal anticancer therapy (see 13.00E3c ). Consider under a disability for 12 months from the date of diagnosis. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 13.11. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 13.11 usually fail
One pitfall is assuming that any sarcoma in bone automatically qualifies; 13.11 requires inoperable or unresectable disease (A), a qualifying recurrence pattern (B), distant metastases (C), or the specific multimodal therapy pathway for other bone-origin sarcomas (D). Another pitfall is documenting treatment but not the disease status details SSA needs for 13.00B, such as the extent and site of the lesion (primary, recurrent, or metastatic). A further pitfall is missing the recurrence timing and exception in 13.11 B by using wording that does not fit 'recurrent cancer (except local recurrence) after initial anticancer therapy.' Another common failure mode is not providing evidence that ties the cancer to the skeletal system origin and supports the stage of disease (for example, the presence of distant metastases for 13.11 C).
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
SSA needs medical evidence that specifies the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion (13.00B1). For any procedure such as a biopsy or needle aspiration, SSA generally needs both the operative note and the pathology report (13.00B2). When those documents cannot be obtained, SSA accepts summaries of hospitalization or other medical reports, but these should include details of the surgical findings and, when appropriate, the pathological findings (13.00B3). If the case involves recurrence, persistence, or progression, the response to therapy, and any significant residual impairments, SSA may need evidence about those factors (13.00B4).
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
Step 4 and Step 5 still matter even if 13.11 does not fit exactly. After the listing evaluation, the claim moves to assessing the person's residual impairments and what work activities remain possible. This is where limitations from cancer status and post-therapy residuals are considered, even if the strict criteria in 13.11 A, B, C, or D are not met. (If the claim proceeds through the remaining steps, the outcome depends on the overall functional picture, not only whether 13.11 matches.)
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
At the start of an SSDI claim, SSA looks at whether the person is engaging in substantial work activity, before considering disability under the medical listings. For sarcoma under 13.11, the criteria emphasize severe disease states such as inoperable or unresectable cancer (13.11 A) or distant metastases (13.11 C), which generally reflects major functional limits, but the actual work analysis still depends on functional abilities. If approved under 13.11 D (bone-origin sarcoma treated with multimodal anticancer therapy), disability is considered for 12 months from the date of diagnosis, and afterward residual impairments are evaluated under the criteria for the affected body system.
Listing 13.11 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for skeletal system -- sarcoma disability claims.