Listing code
11.20
Adult (Part A)
Body system
11.00
Neurological disorders
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Coma or persistent vegetative state , persisting for at least 1 month .
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 11.20. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 11.20 usually fail
One pitfall is focusing only on the cause of the brain problem instead of the specific diagnosis of coma or persistent vegetative state (PVS). Another pitfall is the timing, because the requirement is persistence for at least 1 month. A third pitfall is mixing a different neurological condition (for example, a disorder mainly affecting motor coordination or bulbar dysfunction) with coma/PVS criteria without clear evidence of the qualifying state. A fourth pitfall is assuming mental symptoms alone qualify under this neurological listing; if the neurological disorder results in only mental impairment, mental impairments are evaluated under the mental disorders body system.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
The medical evidence must support the diagnosis of coma or persistent vegetative state (PVS) and show it persisted for at least 1 month. Because this listing has no lettered subsections, SSA's focus is on the diagnosis itself and the duration, consistent with the neurological disorders evaluated under 11.00.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the required diagnosis of coma or PVS and the at least 1 month persistence are not present, the claim typically moves to step 4 and step 5 to determine whether residual functional capacity allows work. In other words, even if the listing level is not met, the remaining physical and mental effects of the neurological disorder still have to be evaluated for what work can be done. If the condition is a neurological disorder that creates limitations in physical and mental functioning, those functional limits are evaluated using the listing system's criteria structure for neurological disorders, but not under this coma/PVS listing if the coma/PVS requirement is missing.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, SGA work activity is a gate at the start of the claim, meaning eligibility generally depends on whether work amounts rise to substantial work activity while applying for benefits. A person with a coma or a persistent vegetative state (PVS) lasting at least 1 month typically would not be able to sustain work activity, but SGA rules are still applied based on actual work activity at the time of filing. If disability is approved, the usual rules apply for trial work period and extended period of eligibility for people who later do some work. The clinical anchor for this listing is the coma/PVS diagnosis and the at least 1 month persistence requirement.
Listing 11.20 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for coma or persistent vegetative state , persisting for at least 1 month disability claims.