We are proud to share a recent victory on behalf of our client, a veteran of the United States Air Force from Garden City, Michigan, who has now been found disabled under the Social Security Act as of October 1, 2019.
Our client, who honorably served in Kuwait and was discharged in 2014, suffers from multiple severe impairments including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. These conditions significantly interfered with his ability to function in daily life and perform even simple work tasks.
He faced serious limitations in both physical and mental domains, reporting chronic back pain, nerve damage in his dominant hand, and difficulty with basic tasks like standing, sitting, or using a cell phone due to cramps and fatigue. Mentally, he experienced frequent panic attacks, memory impairment, depressed mood, and intrusive thoughts related to his military trauma.
Despite his 100% Permanent & Total (P&T) VA service-connected disability rating for PTSD and depression, the Social Security disability process presented unique challenges. While this VA rating helped expedite the claim under SSA’s rules, an expedited review does not guarantee approval. SSA applies different legal standards and must still evaluate how the individual meets or equals its own medical listings.
In our client’s case, the SSA considered listings for PTSD and other mental health conditions. Even though the claimant did not fully meet or medically equal a specific listing, our team demonstrated that at Step 5 of the evaluation process, his impairments were so severe that he could not perform any work in the national economy, making him eligible for benefits based on residual functional capacity (RFC).
At the hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) carefully reviewed extensive medical records, VA findings, and testimony from both the claimant and a vocational expert. The ALJ issued a fully favorable decision, finding our client disabled. He will now receive long-overdue Social Security benefits, retroactive to the onset of his disability in 2019.
This case underscores the importance of thorough documentation, consistent treatment, and skilled legal advocacy, especially for veterans navigating both VA and SSA systems. At Disability Law Group, we are proud to serve those who have served and ensure they receive the benefits they have earned.
