At Disability Law Group, we take pride in advocating for our clients and never backing down, even in the face of repeated denials. Our recent success story involves a 48-year-old veteran from Warren, Michigan, who fought a long and difficult battle to obtain his rightful disability benefits. This case is a testament to the perseverance and expertise of our legal team, including attorneys Erika Riggs and Mandy Kelly, who worked tirelessly to secure a positive outcome.
Our client, a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 80%, filed for Disability Insurance Benefits (SSD) on May 19, 2020, after being unable to work due to a combination of severe physical and mental health impairments. Despite having a college education and a work history as a delivery driver and medical assistant, his conditions made it impossible for him to continue working. His disability claim was initially denied multiple times, leading to a lengthy legal process that included an appeal to the U.S. District Court and a remand order from the Court then the Appeals Council.
The claimant, had alleged disability back to 2019, but what complicated his case most was that his work credits expired back in 2022, meaning his disability must be proven back to that date, at a minimum, for him to be eligible. His case was complicated by a variety of medically determinable impairments, including asthma, degenerative lumbar disc disease, post-laminectomy and fusion, bilateral knee osteoarthrosis, bipolar II disorder, anxiety disorder, and more. These conditions resulted in severe pain, limited mobility, and significant mental health challenges that severely impacted his ability to work.
After the case was remanded by the Appeals Council in June 2023, attorney Erika Riggs represented our client in a subsequent hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ reviewed new medical evidence, including updated MRI results, orthopedic treatment records, and mental health treatment notes, all of which demonstrated the worsening of our client’s conditions. His physical impairments were so severe that they required him to use a cane for ambulation, and he was scheduled for a total knee replacement due to debilitating osteoarthritis.
Attorney Riggs effectively argued that the combination of our client’s impairments, including chronic back and knee pain, numbness and tingling in the lower extremities, shortness of breath, and severe mental health symptoms, rendered him incapable of performing any work on a sustained basis. The ALJ agreed with our assessment and found that our client was indeed disabled. Remarkably, the ALJ awarded benefits without needing any testimony from a Vocational Expert (VE), recognizing the overwhelming evidence of our client’s limitations.
As a result of this favorable decision, our client was awarded more than $85,000 in backpay, a life-changing amount that will provide much-needed financial stability in addition to health insurance and validation of his health journey.
But the story doesn’t end there. While attorney Riggs was fighting for our client’s SSD benefits, attorney and Disability Law Group partner Mandy Kelly has been simultaneously working on his VA disability case. Through her diligent efforts, our client was also awarded additional VA disability benefits, further acknowledging the severity of his service-connected conditions. She continues to fight to secure his 100% Permanent and Total disability benefits through the VA.
This case exemplifies the importance of persistence and the value of having a dedicated legal team by your side. Our client faced numerous setbacks and denials, but with the unwavering support of Disability Law Group, he was able to secure the benefits he deserved. We are proud to have been a part of his journey and to have helped him achieve the justice he was seeking.
At Disability Law Group, we understand that every case is unique, and we are committed to providing personalized, compassionate representation to each of our clients. If you or someone you know is struggling to obtain disability benefits, our experienced team is here to help.
