Listing code
111.18
Children (Part B)
Body system
111.00
Neurological disorders (children)
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Traumatic brain injury , characterized by disorganization of motor function in two extremities (see 111.00D1 ), resulting in an extreme limitation (see 111.00D2 ) in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities, persisting for at least 3 consecutive months after the injury.
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 111.18. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 111.18 usually fail
Missing the required pattern is a frequent problem, since this listing is specifically about disorganization of motor function in two extremities. Another failure mode is focusing on the injury without showing the required extreme limitation in standing up, balance while standing or walking, and/or use of the upper extremities. A third pitfall is not documenting that the limitations persist for at least 3 consecutive months after the injury. A fourth is treating imaging or other test results as standalone proof, when the evaluation also needs to connect medical findings to the functional limits described.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical evidence needs to include medical history and examination findings, relevant laboratory findings, and imaging results such as x-ray, CT, MRI, and EEG when they are used to support the neurological disorder. Documentation should also include descriptions of prescribed treatment and the child's response to it, because treatment response can be part of how the effects are assessed. Non-medical evidence can also be used, including statements from the child and others about impairments, restrictions, and daily activities, and for an adolescent, efforts to work.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the exact pattern in 111.18 is not met, SSA still evaluates how the neurological disorder affects functioning through the broader rules for functional equivalence. That can include using both medical evidence (signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings, plus imaging) and non-medical evidence (statements about restrictions and daily activities) to assess the impact on physical and mental functioning. Many claims that miss a specific listing requirement still get approved if the overall functional impact is serious enough under the evaluation rules.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
SSDI work-activity rules apply at the start of the claim, but the main issue for this condition is whether the child's post-injury motor disorganization and the extreme limitations in standing, balance, or upper-extremity use are severe enough to support a finding. If approved, the usual continuing eligibility rules apply after the decision, and work activity after approval is generally not the same as work activity before approval, so staying within the child disability framework is what matters for continued eligibility. The clinical target here is the persistent, post-injury disorganization of motor function in two extremities with extreme limitation lasting at least 3 consecutive months.
Listing 111.18 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for traumatic brain injury , characterized by disorganization of motor function in two extremities disability claims.