If the Veterans Administration Finds You 100% Disabled, the Social Security Administration Must Take Heed

Veterans found to be 100% disabled and unemployable by the VA may then have a better chance winning their Social Security Disability (“SSD”) claims according to Herndon Virginia Social Security lawyer Doug Landau

“Usually the Social Security Administration is not bound by the disability decisions of the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission (“VWC”), the DC Office of Workers Compensation (“OWC”), or even a state judge or jury’s verdict in a disabled wage earner’s case,” notes Herndon disability lawyer Doug Landau.  “I have had Federal Social Security judges tell me that they were not impressed by the findings of the state comp board or the civil judge or jury.  Injured clients who have won their state disability claims or personal injury cases are stunned when the Administrative Law Judges state that these results are not binding on them.”

However, a recent decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals may help some Social Security Disability applicants. The appellate court held that in cases where the Veterans Administration has found a veteran to be 100% disabled and unemployable, the Social Security Administration must give that finding significant weight.

The 4th Circuit Court issued this decision in the case of Bird v. Astrue. In other words, where clients of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU are also veterans, it will help their Social Security Disability claims if they are found to be unemployable by the Veterans Administration (“VA”). A review of the claimant’s VA disability claims may reveal if they should be receiving unemployability benefits. If you or someone you know or care for has become disabled as the result of an on the job accident or a car, truck, bicycle or motorcycle crash and there are questions about Social Security laws, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once.