text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Benefit Rating Acceleration for 
  Veteran Entitlements Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY RATED AND CERTIFIED 
                AS TOTAL 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 for purposes of benefits 
  under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 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 month during which such 
          certification is presented to the Commissioner, 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, subject to subparagraph (C), that such 
                  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 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) Any determination by the Commissioner under subparagraph 
  (A)(ii)(II) shall be made on the basis of evidence of earnings, without 
  consideration of any evidence of medical recovery.
      ``(D) 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).
      ``(E) 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.''.
              (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:
      ``(3)(A) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), any individual who 
  has a service-connected disability rated by the Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs as total for purposes of benefits under chapter 11 of title 38, 
  United States Code, 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 month during which such 
          certification is presented to the Commissioner, 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, subject to subparagraph (C), that such 
                  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 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) Any determination by the Commissioner under subparagraph 
  (A)(ii)(II) shall be made on the basis of evidence of earnings, without 
  consideration of any evidence of medical recovery.
      ``(D) 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)).
      ``(E) 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.''.
  
  SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF DISABILITY RATED AND CERTIFIED AS TOTAL 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:
                      ``(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. 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.
target: Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2007 - 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 total disability, as rated and certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  
  Applies the same treatment to related child's insurance and widow's and widower's insurance benefits.
feat_title: To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles.