---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 404.1521"
title: "20"
number: "404.1521"
heading: "Establishing that you have a medically determinable impairment(s)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/404.1521"
---

# §404.1521. Establishing that you have a medically determinable impairment(s).


If you are not doing substantial gainful activity, we will then determine whether you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) (see [§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii)](/cfr/20/404.1520.md?p=a-4-ii)). Your impairment(s) must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. Therefore, a physical or mental impairment must be established by objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source. We will not use your statement of symptoms, a diagnosis, or a medical opinion to establish the existence of an impairment(s). After we establish that you have a medically determinable impairment(s), then we determine whether your impairment(s) is severe.


## Notes

### Amendments

[82 FR 5868, Jan. 18, 2017]

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 402, 405(a)-(b) and (d)-(h), 416(i), 421(a) and (h)-(j), 422(c), 423, 425, 902(a)(5), and 1320e-3; sec. 211(b), Pub. L. 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105, 2189; sec. 202, Pub. L. 108-203, 118 Stat. 509 (42 U.S.C. 902 note).

### Source

Source: 45 FR 55584, Aug. 20, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[82 FR 5868, Jan. 18, 2017]