---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 416.921"
title: "20"
number: "416.921"
heading: "Establishing that you have a medically determinable impairment(s)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/416.921"
---

# §416.921. 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 [§ 416.920(a)(4)(ii)](/cfr/20/416.920.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 5879, Jan. 18, 2017]

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 421(m), 902(a)(5), 1382, 1382c, 1382h, 1383, and 1383b; secs. 4(c) and 5, 6(c)-(e), 14(a), and 15, Pub. L. 98-460, 98 Stat. 1794, 1801, 1802, and 1808 (42 U.S.C. 421 note, 423 note, and 1382h note).

### Source

Source: 45 FR 55621, Aug. 20, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[82 FR 5879, Jan. 18, 2017]