Listing code
3.02
Adult (Part A)
Body system
3.00
Respiratory disorders
Subsections
4
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Chronic respiratory disorders due to any cause except CF (for CF, see 3.04 ) with A, B, C, or D:
Subsection A
FEV 1 (see 3.00E ) less than or equal to the value in Table I-A or I-B for your age, sex, and height without shoes (see 3.00E3a ). Table I: FEV 1 Criteria for 3.02A Height without shoes (centimeters) < means less than Height without shoes (inches) < means less than Table I-A Table I-B Age 18 to attainment of age 20 Age 20 or older Females FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Males FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Females FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Males FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) <153.0 <60.25 1.20 1.45 1.05 1.20 153.0 to <159.0 60.25 to <62.50 1.30 1.55 1.15 1.35 159.0 to <164.0 62.50 to <64.50 1.40 1.65 1.25 1.40 164.0 to <169.0 64.50 to <66.50 1.45 1.75 1.35 1.50 169.0 to <174.0 66.50 to <68.50 1.55 1.85 1.45 1.60 174.0 to <180.0 68.50 to <70.75 1.65 2.00 1.55 1.75 180.0 to <185.0 70.75 to <72.75 1.75 2.10 1.65 1.85 185.0 or more 72.75 or more 1.80 2.15 1.70 1.90 OR
Subsection B
FVC (see 3.00E ) less than or equal to the value in Table II-A or II-B for your age, sex, and height without shoes (see 3.00E3a ). Table II: FVC Criteria for 3.02B Height without shoes (centimeters) < means less than Height without shoes (inches) < means less than Table II-A Table II-B Age 18 to attainment of age 20 Age 20 or older Females FVC less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Males FVC less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Females FVC less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Males FVC less than or equal to (L, BTPS) <153.0 <60.25 1.35 1.65 1.30 1.50 153.0 to <159.0 60.25 to <62.50 1.50 1.80 1.40 1.65 159.0 to <164.0 62.50 to <64.50 1.60 1.90 1.50 1.75 164.0 to <169.0 64.50 to <66.50 1.70 2.05 1.60 1.90 169.0 to <174.0 66.50 to <68.50 1.80 2.20 1.70 2.00 174.0 to <180.0 68.50 to <70.75 1.90 2.35 1.85 2.20 180.0 to <185.0 70.75 to <72.75 2.05 2.50 1.95 2.30 185.0 or more 72.75 or more 2.10 2.60 2.00 2.40 OR
Subsection C
Chronic impairment of gas exchange demonstrated by 1, 2, or 3: Average of two unadjusted, single-breath DLCO measurements (see 3.00F ) less than or equal to the value in Table III for your sex and height without shoes (see 3.00F3a ); or Table III: DLCO Criteria for 3.02C1 Height without shoes (centimeters) < means less than Height without shoes (inches) < means less than Females DLCO Less than or equal to (mL CO (STPD)/min/mmHg) Males DLCO Less than or equal to (mL CO (STPD)/min/mmHg) <153.0 <60.25 8.0 9.0 153.0 to <159.0 60.25 to <62.50 8.5 9.5 159.0 to <164.0 62.50 to <64.50 9.0 10.0 164.0 to <169.0 64.50 to <66.50 9.5 10.5 169.0 to <174.0 66.50 to <68.50 10.0 11.0 174.0 to <180.0 68.50 to <70.75 10.5 11.5 180.0 to <185.0 70.75 to <72.75 11.0 12.0 185.0 or more 72.75 or more 11.5 12.5 Arterial PaO 2 and PaCO 2 measured concurrently by an ABG test, while at rest or during steady state exercise, breathing room air (see 3.00G3b ), less than or equal to the applicable values in Table IV-A, IV-B, or IV-C; or Tables IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C: ABG Criteria for 3.02C2 Table IV-A (Applicable at test sites less than 3,000 feet above sea level) Arterial PaCO 2 (mm Hg) and Arterial PaO 2 less than or equal to (mm Hg) 30 or below 65 31 64 32 63 33 62 34 61 35 60 36 59 37 58 38 57 39 56 40 or above 55 Table IV-B (Applicable at test sites from 3,000 through 6,000 feet above sea level) Arterial PaCO 2 (mm Hg) and Arterial PaO 2 less than or equal to (mm Hg) 30 or below 60 31 59 32 58 33 57 34 56 35 55 36 54 37 53 38 52 39 51 40 or above 50 Table IV-C (Applicable at test sites over 6,000 feet above sea level) Arterial PaCO 2 (mm Hg) and Arterial PaO 2 less than or equal to (mm Hg) 30 or below 55 31 54 32 53 33 52 34 51 35 50 36 49 37 48 38 47 39 46 40 or above 45 SpO 2 measured by pulse oximetry (see 3.00H2 ) either at rest, during a 6MWT, or after a 6MWT, less than or equal to the value in Table V. Table V: SpO 2 Criteria for 3.02C3 Test site altitude (feet above sea level) SpO 2 less than or equal to Less than 3,000 87 percent 3,000 through 6,000 85 percent Over 6,000 83 percent OR
Subsection D
Exacerbations or complications requiring three hospitalizations within a 12-month period and at least 30 days apart (the 12-month period must occur within the period we are considering in connection with your application or continuing disability review). Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, including hours in a hospital emergency department immediately before the hospitalization.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 3.02. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 3.02 usually fail
A frequent failure mode is using breathing-test results without matching them to the correct measure in the criteria, like confusing FEV 1 (3.02A) with FVC (3.02B), or using DLCO values that do not match the 'average of two unadjusted, single-breath DLCO measurements' requirement in 3.02C1. Another pitfall is missing the qualifying gas-exchange test details in 3.02C2 or 3.02C3, such as having ABG results without concurrent PaO 2 and PaCO 2, not using room air, or not meeting the SpO 2 threshold tied to the test setting and altitude. Some claims fail because they satisfy only part of the hospitalization rule in 3.02D, since the rule requires three hospitalizations in 12 months, at least 30 days apart, each lasting at least 48 hours including an emergency department period right before admission. Another common issue is using CF-related disease where 3.04 would apply instead, because 3.02 excludes CF.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
For 3.02A and 3.02B, the medical record needs FEV 1 or FVC testing with the listed reference to age, sex, and height without shoes, because the qualifying cutoffs come from the Table I and Table II values. For 3.02C1, documentation must show gas-exchange impairment using an average of two unadjusted, single-breath DLCO measurements, with the result compared to the Table III DLCO values for sex and height without shoes. For 3.02C2, documentation must include an ABG test showing PaO 2 and PaCO 2 measured concurrently while at rest or during steady state exercise, while breathing room air, with the results compared to the Table IV-A, IV-B, or IV-C values. For 3.02C3, documentation must show SpO 2 measured by pulse oximetry either at rest, during a 6MWT, or after a 6MWT, and the record should reflect the test-site altitude so the Table V SpO 2 threshold can be applied. For 3.02D, documentation should show three separate hospitalizations within the relevant 12-month window, each at least 48 hours long (including the emergency department hours immediately before admission) and separated by
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the A, B, C, or D criteria are not fully met, the claim still may be decided using a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment. That assessment looks at how breathing and gas exchange limitations translate into functional limits for work. A separate step then compares those limits to the kinds of work a person can still do, rather than focusing only on whether a listing test number is met.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, the work-activity issue is handled first, before the listing is considered. If work activity does not qualify as substantial gainful activity (SGA), the claim can proceed to medical evaluation under 3.02. If 3.02 is met or medically equaled, the person can qualify based on the listing findings tied to 3.02A (FEV 1), 3.02B (FVC), 3.02C (DLCO, ABG, or SpO 2 thresholds), or 3.02D (three qualifying hospitalizations). After approval, benefits continue based on ongoing rules for work activity and disability status during the trial work period and extended period of eligibility, rather than re-testing the same 3.02(A, B, C, D) numbers at every step.
Listing 3.02 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for chronic respiratory disorders due to any cause except cf (for cf, see 3.04 ) with a, b, c, or d disability claims.