Opinion ID: 3034974
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: VA award of disability

Text: The VA awarded Mooney 100% service-connected disability, but the ALJ rejected the VA’s 100% disability award because “the full record indicated the claimant was able to sustain work at the competitive level.” In this circuit, “an ALJ must ordinarily give great weight to a VA determination of disability.” See McCartey v. Massanari, 298 F.3d 1072, 1076 (9th Cir. 2002). Indeed, the ALJ must give “persuasive, specific, valid reasons” for giving less weight to the VA’s -4- disability rating. Id. Here, the ALJ’s reasoning was insufficient to overcome the VA’s determination. For the foregoing reasons, we REVERSE the district court with instructions to REMAND to the ALJ for the step five determination as to whether Mooney can engage in other types of substantial gainful work that exists in the national economy. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g), 416.920(g5). In doing so, the ALJ should give great weight to Dr. Turner’s opinion, the VA GAF scores, and the VA disability award, unless the ALJ can articulate clear and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence in the record for not doing so. REVERSED and REMANDED. -5-