There is a double edged sword with the lower tiers "following the book" per sei. I would think there is a not unsubstantial amount of people who make a habbit of applying for benefits via a shotgun method, I have known lower tier scientists/research assistants who make a living off grants, they apply for about 20 a year and might get 2 or 3, they do the work, produce results etc. but they are in my mind mercenary scientists. The lower tier evaluators are the "first line of defense" against these folks. The side effect being that to reduce fraud, latitude is removed from the lower tiered worker. They follow the grid, if it does not line up perfectly, they deny period end of story. Whereas an ALJ, can take much more in to account even if it is only 90% compliant etc. its like 100% scheduler vs 100% TDIU, your case may be obvious that you cannot be employed, but the percentages do not add up for whatever reason.
you may see numbers like "65%" of all cases going to ALJ get approved, but how many are weeded out in the process getting there? where they just discouraged? where they able to work but just barely?, where they purposely committing fraud? who knows. In my case, if the full law was applied by the initial claims people, it should have been slam dunk, I had doctors, supervisors, therapists etc. all saying I could not work, I had convalescent and bed rest paperwork that would put me on average as "bed ridden" 10-12 days a month average. but they do not use the full law when initial application, they use the grid system, or a derivative there of. I don't blame the lawyers, the government, or the judges, I blame those with less than ideal integrity, be it the applicant, the doctors, the claims reviewers etc. that have made it so the system is what it is. every one of honor is punished because of the few.
you may see numbers like "65%" of all cases going to ALJ get approved, but how many are weeded out in the process getting there? where they just discouraged? where they able to work but just barely?, where they purposely committing fraud? who knows. In my case, if the full law was applied by the initial claims people, it should have been slam dunk, I had doctors, supervisors, therapists etc. all saying I could not work, I had convalescent and bed rest paperwork that would put me on average as "bed ridden" 10-12 days a month average. but they do not use the full law when initial application, they use the grid system, or a derivative there of. I don't blame the lawyers, the government, or the judges, I blame those with less than ideal integrity, be it the applicant, the doctors, the claims reviewers etc. that have made it so the system is what it is. every one of honor is punished because of the few.
