Listing code
3.11
Adult (Part A)
Body system
3.00
Respiratory disorders
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Lung transplantation (see 3.00M ). Consider under a disability for 3 years from the date of the transplant; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).
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 3.11. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 3.11 usually fail
Missing the transplant documentation is a common failure mode for 3.11, because this listing has no lettered subsections to substitute for the diagnosis. Another pitfall is assuming that any shortness of breath after surgery automatically matches the listing, even when there is no clear medical record showing a lung transplant. Some people also try to lump in other respiratory conditions like COPD (3.02), cystic fibrosis (3.04), or chronic pulmonary hypertension (3.09) instead of using 3.11 for the transplant itself. Finally, claims often miss the timing rule: 3.11 is considered for 3 years from the date of the transplant, and after that SSA evaluates residual impairment(s) rather than only the transplant event.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
To support Blue Book 3.11, the medical evidence should document the lung transplant and tie it to the transplant date. Evidence that commonly matters for the transplant event is medical documentation from the transplant center covering the procedure and hospitalization. After the post-transplant period, medical evidence also needs to describe the residual impairments, using the kinds of respiratory symptoms and signs SSA tracks in this body system, such as dyspnea (shortness of breath) and other respiratory symptoms like coughing, chest pain, wheezing, hemoptysis, or rapid breathing.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
Because Blue Book 3.11 has no lettered subsections, the listing is not something that is partially met based on symptoms alone. If the lung transplant requirement is not supported, the claim can still be evaluated under other respiratory listings in this body system that fit the actual diagnosis and findings (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 3.02, cystic fibrosis 3.04, or chronic pulmonary hypertension 3.09). In claims where the transplant happened but the period covered by 3.11 is over, SSA evaluates the residual impairment(s), meaning the remaining limitations after the transplant are the main focus.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, the SGA work activity gate applies at the start of the claim, so working at the SGA level can affect eligibility even when a lung transplant has occurred. Blue Book 3.11 considers disability for 3 years from the date of the transplant; during that period, the transplant condition is the central basis for evaluation. After those 3 years, SSA evaluates residual impairment(s), so the ability to sustain work depends on the remaining functional problems after the transplant, not just the fact that the surgery happened. Trial work period and extended period of eligibility apply if a person is approved, regardless of the transplant diagnosis being the original basis for entitlement.
Listing 3.11 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for lung transplantation disability claims.