Instructions: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Benefit Rating Acceleration for
Veteran Entitlements Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY RATED AND CERTIFIED
AS TOTAL BY REASON OF UNEMPLOYABILITY BY THE SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS AS DISABILITY FOR PURPOSES OF TITLE II
OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.

(a) Disability for Purposes of Entitlement to Disability Insurance
Benefits and Other Benefits Based on Disability.--
(1) In general.--Section 223(d) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 423(d)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
''(7)(A) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this
subsection, any individual who has a service-connected disability rated
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as total by reason of
unemployability for purposes of benefits under chapter 11 of title 38,
United States Code, is expected by such Secretary to have such
disability for not less than one year, and presents written
certification of such rating determination to the Commissioner of
Social Security shall be deemed to be under a disability (within the
meaning of the preceding paragraphs of this subsection) for each
month--
''(i) beginning with the first month for which the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines the individual to have
such a rating, and
''(ii) ending with the earlier of--
''(I) any month during which certification is made
to the Commissioner pursuant to subparagraph (B) that
such service-connected disability has ceased, or
''(II) any month during which the Commissioner
determines that such individual is no longer entitled
to benefits under this title on the basis of being
disabled as a result of a continuing disability review
or a determination that the individual is able to
engage in substantial gainful activity.
''(B) In any case in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines that an individual who has been determined by such Secretary
to be totally disabled by reason of unemployability for purposes of
benefits under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, and with
respect to whom a certification has been made to the Commissioner
pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) that such individual has ceased to
be so disabled, such Secretary shall promptly certify to the
Commissioner such Secretary's determination that such individual has
ceased to be so disabled.
''(C) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude a
determination under this title that an individual who is not deemed to
be under a disability under subparagraph (A) is under a disability
(within the meaning of the preceding paragraphs of this subsection).
''(D) The Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall enter into such arrangements as are necessary
and appropriate for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this
paragraph. Such arrangements shall include requirements for--
''(i) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to--
''(I) include in the written certification required
under subparagraph (A) the dates of services which
resulted in the service connected disability of the
individual; and
''(II) immediately notify the Commissioner of
Social Security of any knowledge of such Secretary that
an individual who is deemed to be under a disability
under subparagraph (A) engages or is able to engage in
substantial gainful activity; and
''(ii) the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the names of each individual
deemed to be under a disability under subparagraph (A).
''(E) An individual who is deemed to be under a disability under
subparagraph (A) shall be notified of the requirement to immediately
notify the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs of any work activity engaged in by the individual that
results in earnings that exceed the level of earnings established by
the Commissioner of Social Security to represent substantial gainful
activity and that are not conducted during a period of trial work (as
defined in section 222(c)).''.
(2) Other benefits based on disability.--
(A) Child's insurance benefits.--Section 202(d)(1)
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended by adding
at the end the following new sentence: ''Under
regulations of the Commissioner of Social Security, the
provisions of section 223(d)(7) shall apply with
respect to benefits under this section (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to such benefits) in the
same manner and to the same extent as such provisions
apply with respect to benefits under section 223 (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to benefits under section
223).''.
(B) Widow's insurance benefits.--Section 202(e)(1)
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1)) is amended by adding
at the end the following new sentence: ''Under
regulations of the Commissioner of Social Security, the
provisions of section 223(d)(7) shall apply with
respect to benefits under this section (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to such benefits) in the
same manner and to the same extent as such provisions
apply with respect to benefits under section 223 (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to benefits under section
223).''.
(C) Widower's insurance benefits.--Section
202(f)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)) is amended
by adding at the end the following new sentence:
''Under regulations of the Commissioner of Social
Security, the provisions of section 223(d)(7) shall
apply with respect to benefits under this section (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to such benefits) in the
same manner and to the same extent as such provisions
apply with respect to benefits under section 223 (and
determinations of disability made for purposes of
determinations of entitlement to benefits under section
223).''.
(b) Determinations of Periods of Disability.--Section 216(i) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 416(i)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
''(4)(A) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), any individual who
has a service-connected disability rated by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs as total by reason of unemployability for purposes of benefits
under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, is expected by such
Secretary to have such disability for not less than one year, and
presents written certification of such rating determination to the
Commissioner of Social Security shall be deemed to be under a
disability (within the meaning of paragraph (1)) for each month--
''(i) beginning with the first month for which the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines the individual to have
such a rating, and
''(ii) ending with the earlier of--
''(I) any month during which certification is made
to the Commissioner pursuant to subparagraph (B) that
such service-connected disability has ceased, or
''(II) any month during which the Commissioner
determines that such individual is no longer entitled
to benefits under this title on the basis of being
disabled as a result of a continuing disability review
or a determination that the individual is able to
engage in substantial gainful activity.
''(B) In any case in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines that an individual who has been determined by such Secretary
to be totally disabled by reason of unemployability for purposes of
benefits under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, and with
respect to whom a certification has been made to the Commissioner
pursuant to subparagraph (A) that such individual has ceased to be so
disabled, such Secretary shall promptly certify to the Commissioner
such Secretary's determination that such individual has ceased to be so
disabled.
''(C) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude a
determination under this title that an individual who is not deemed to
be under a disability under subparagraph (A) is under a disability
(within the meaning of paragraph (1)).
''(D) The Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall enter into such arrangements as are necessary
and appropriate for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this
paragraph. Such arrangements shall include requirements for--
''(i) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to--
''(I) include in the written certification required
under subparagraph (A) the dates of services which
resulted in the service connected disability of the
individual; and
''(II) immediately notify the Commissioner of
Social Security of any knowledge of such Secretary that
an individual who is deemed to be under a disability
under subparagraph (A) engages or is able to engage in
substantial gainful activity; and
''(ii) the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the names of each individual
deemed to be under a disability under subparagraph (A).
''(E) An individual who is deemed to be under a disability under
subparagraph (A) shall be notified of the requirement to immediately
notify the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs of any work activity engaged in by the individual that
results in earnings that exceed the level of earnings established by
the Commissioner of Social Security to represent substantial gainful
activity and that are not conducted during a period of trial work (as
defined in section 222(c)).''.

SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF DISABILITY RATED AND CERTIFIED AS TOTAL BY REASON
OF UNEMPLOYABILITY BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
AS DISABILITY FOR PURPOSES OF TITLE XVI OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT.

Section 1614(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1382c(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
''(K) In making determinations with respect to
disability under this title, the provisions of section
223(d)(7) shall apply in the same manner as they apply
to determinations of disability under title II.''.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF MEDICAL FINDINGS BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITY FOR PURPOSES OF DISABILITY DETERMINATIONS
UNDER TITLES II AND XVI OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.

Section 223(d)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(5))
is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
''(C) In making any determination with respect to whether an
individual is under a disability or continues to be under a disability,
the medical findings of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including
any findings of physical limitations, regarding any individual who has
a service-connected disability certified by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs (without regard to whether such service-connected disability is
rated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as total by reason of
unemployability for purposes of benefits under chapter 11 of title 38,
United States Code, and is expected by such Secretary to have such
disability for not less than one year) shall be conclusive evidence of
disability.''.

SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF VETERANS DETERMINED DISABLED FOR PURPOSES OF THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AS VETERANS TOTALLY DISABLED BY
REASON OF INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY.

(a) In General.--Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
''Sec. 1164. Treatment of certain veterans as totally disabled by
reason of individual unemployability
''(a) In General.--A veteran who is determined by the Commissioner
of Social Security to be under a disability for purposes of title II or
XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.)
shall be treated for purposes of this chapter as being a veteran with a
disability or a combination of disabilities rated as 100 percent
disabling by reason of a determination of individual unemployability.
''(b) No Establishment of Service-Connection.--The requirement in
subsection (a) shall not be construed to establish a service-connection
or presumption of service-connection with respect to any disability of
a veteran.
''(c) Termination of Treatment.--(1) Subsection (a) shall cease to
apply to a veteran otherwise covered by that subsection upon either of
the following:
''(A) A reduction by the Secretary of the combined
disability rating of the veteran in accordance with a
determination by the Secretary that an improvement in one or
more of the veteran's disabilities has occurred.
''(B) A determination by the Commissioner of Social
Security that the veteran is no longer under a disability for
purposes of titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.
''(2) The Commissioner of Social Security shall promptly notify the
Secretary of each determination covered by paragraph (1)(B).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 11 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:

''1164. Treatment of certain veterans as totally disabled by reason of
individual unemployability.''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to
determinations of disability in connection with applications for
benefits or periods of disability filed or pending on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
Output:
Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2008 - Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to treat as a disability for OASDI and SSI disability payment purposes any service-connected disability rated and certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as total by reason of unemployability, and expected to last at least one year.

Applies the same treatment to related child's insurance and widow's and widower's insurance benefits.

Makes medical findings by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of total service-connected disability by reason of unemployability conclusive evidence of disability for OASDI and SSI purposes.

Requires treatment of any determination of a veteran's disability by the Commissioner of Social Security for OASDI and SSI purposes as a disability or a combination of disabilities rated as 100% disabling by reason of individual unemployability for veterans' benefits purposes. Cautions, however, that such requirement shall not be construed to establish a service-connection or presumption of service-connection with respect to any disability of a veteran.