POMS Reference

DI 25025: Medical-Vocational Guidelines

TN 6 (02-15)

Follow this link to view the complete contents of Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2. See the charts below for The Medical-Vocational Guidelines.

A. 201.00 Maximum sustained work capability limited to sedentary work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s)

Table No. 1 - Residual functional capacity: Maximum sustained work capability limited to sedentary work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s).

Rule

Age

Education

Previous work
experience

Decision

201.01

Advanced age

Limited or less

Unskilled or none

Disabled

201.02

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

201.03

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.04

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Disabled

201.05

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.06

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

201.07

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.08

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

201.09

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Unskilled or none

Disabled

201.10

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

201.11

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.12

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Disabled

201.13

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.14

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

201.15

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.16

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

201.17

Younger individual age 45-49

Illiterate or unable to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Disabled

201.18

Younger individual age 45-49

Limited or less - at least literate and able to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.19

Younger individual age 45-49

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable.

Not disabled

201.20

Younger individual age 45-49

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.21

Younger individual age 45-49

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable.

Not disabled

201.22

Younger individual age 45-49

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled-skills transferable

Not disabled

201.23

Younger individual age 18-44

Illiterate or unable to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.24

Younger individual age 18-44

Limited or less - at least literate and able to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.25

Younger individual age 18-44

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

201.26

Younger individual age 18-44

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

201.27

Younger individual age 18-44

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

201.28

Younger individual age 18-44

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

201.29

Younger individual age 18-44

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

B. 202.00 Maximum sustained work capability limited to light work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s)

Table No. 2 - Residual functional capacity: Maximum sustained work capability limited to light work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s).

Rule

Age

Education

Previous work
experience

Decision

202.01

Advanced age

Limited or less

Unskilled or none

Disabled

202.02

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

202.03

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

202.04

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Disabled

202.05

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.06

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Disabled

202.07

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

202.08

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

202.09

Closely approaching advanced age

Illiterate or unable to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Disabled

202.10

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less - at least literate and able to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.11

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

202.12

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

202.13

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.14

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

202.15

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

202.16

Younger individual

Illiterate or unable to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.17

Younger individual

Limited or less - at least literate and able to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.18

Younger individual

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

202.19

Younger individual

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

202.20

Younger individual

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

202.21

Younger individual

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

202.22

Younger individual

High school graduate or more

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

C. 203.00 Maximum sustained work capability limited to medium work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s)

Table No. 3 - Residual functional capacity: Maximum sustained work capability limited to medium work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s).

Rule

Age

Education

Previous work
experience

Decision

203.01

Closely approaching retirement age

Marginal or none

Unskilled or none

Disabled

203.02

Closely approaching retirement age

Limited or less

None

Disabled

203.03

Closely approaching retirement age

Limited

Unskilled

Not disabled

203.04

Closely approaching retirement age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.05

Closely approaching retirement age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.06

Closely approaching retirement age

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.07

Closely approaching retirement age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.08

Closely approaching retirement age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.09

Closely approaching retirement age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.10

Advanced age

Limited or less

None

Disabled

203.11

Advanced age

Limited or less

Unskilled

Not disabled

203.12

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.13

Advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.14

Advanced age

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.15

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.16

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.17

Advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.18

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.19

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.20

Closely approaching advanced age

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.21

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.22

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.23

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.24

Closely approaching advanced age

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.25

Younger individual

Limited or less

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.26

Younger individual

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.27

Younger individual

Limited or less

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.28

Younger individual

High school graduate or more

Unskilled or none

Not disabled

203.29

Younger individual

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills not transferable

Not disabled

203.30

Younger individual

High school graduate or more - does not provide for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled - skills transferable

Not disabled

203.31

Younger individual

High school graduate or more - provides for direct entry into skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled skills not transferable

Not disabled

D. 204.00 Maximum sustained work capability limited to heavy work (or very heavy work) as a result of severe medically determinable impairment(s)

The residual functional capacity to perform “heavy work” or “very heavy work” includes the functional capability for “work at the lesser functional levels” as well, and represents “substantial work capability” for jobs in the national economy at all skill and physical demand levels. Individuals who retain the functional capacity to perform “heavy work” (or “very heavy work”) ordinarily will not have a severe impairment, or will be able to do their past work-either of which would have already provided a basis for a decision of not disabled. Environmental restrictions ordinarily would not significantly affect the range of work existing in the national economy for “heavy work” (or “very heavy work”). Thus, an impairment which does not preclude “heavy work” (or “very heavy work”) would not ordinarily be the primary reason for unemployment, and generally is sufficient for a finding of not disabled, even though age, education, and skill level of prior work experience may be considered adverse.