BASIC (03-17)

A. Definition of other medical evidence

Other medical evidence is all other evidence from a medical source that is not objective medical evidence or medical opinion. This includes judgments about the nature and severity of the claimant’s impairments, medical history, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment prescribed with response, or prognosis. For claims filed before March 27, 2017, other medical evidence does not include the nature and severity of an individual’s impairments, diagnosis, or prognosis. For more information, see DI 24503.005B.3. For more information about how to determine the filing date of a claim, see DI 24503.050 Determining the Filing Date for Evaluating Evidence.

B. Sources of other medical evidence

All medical sources, not just acceptable medical sources (AMSs), can submit evidence we categorize as other medical evidence.

C. How we evaluate other medical evidence

Do not consider other medical evidence when establishing a medically determinable impairment (MDI). However, once an MDI is established, consider other medical evidence for all other findings in a claim, as appropriate.

D. Articulation requirements for other medical evidence

1. General policy

Do not include the consideration of other medical evidence in the analysis about establishing an MDI(s). When other medical evidence is material to other analyses or conclusions in a claim, articulate that in the determination.

For example, reports from the claimant’s physical therapist may be material to your symptom evaluation, which may support your conclusions about the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC).

2. Statement on an issue reserved to the Commissioner

If a medical source makes a statement on an issue reserved to the Commissioner, the articulation requirement differs based on the claim’s filing date. For more information, see DI 24503.040 Evaluating a Statement on an Issue Reserved to the Commissioner.