20 CFR § 220.27 - What is needed to show an impairment.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s220.27"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 220.27 - What is needed to show an impairment."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "220.27"
section_name: "What is needed to show an impairment."
chapter_name: "RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT"
part_number: "220"
part_name: "DETERMINING DISABILITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "45 U.S.C. 231a; 45 U.S.C. 231f."
regulatory_source: "56 FR 12980, Mar. 28, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "220"
---
# 220.27 What is needed to show an impairment.
A physical or mental impairment must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A physical or mental impairment must be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings, not only by the claimant's statement of symptoms. (See § 220.113 for further information about what is meant by symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings.) (See also § 220.112 for the effect of a medical opinion about whether or not a claimant is disabled.)