Florida Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog

Randy Zeldin, Esq., has been admitted to practice law before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, D.C.. Randy Zeldin, Esq. was trained by the Veterans Consortium of Washington, D.C., in this very specialized area of Veterans Law.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), is an independent court, not part of the Veterans Administration. In the year 2010, over 4,000 appeals were filed by U.S. Veterans with the CAVC, seeking Veterans Disability Benefits. Many U.S. Veterans file CAVC appeals "pro se" or without an attorney. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Attorney and Lawyer will represent U.S. Veterans on a "pro bono" or no fee basis. If Randy Zeldin, Esq. prevails with your case at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the VA will pay attorney fees.

Does receipt of Social Security Disability (SSD) discourage work? According to a recent study from the RAND Corporation, the answer is "yes" for nearly one-fourth of new beneficiaries who are only "marginally" disabled. The study concludes that of all applicants for Social Security Disability, about 23% of applicants are "marginal" and that the disposition of their claim depends on whether the Social Security Examiner assigned to the case is "lenient" or "strict." The main finding of the study is that Social Security applicants with less severe impairment who are DENIED benefits, are 21% more likely to return to work, than are "marginal" applicants who are GRANTED benefits.

Social Security Disability attorney and lawyer, Randy Zeldin, Esq., is less confident of the findings of the RAND study. According to Social Security Disability attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq., the RAND study does not measure the "success" or "duration" of the so-called "marginal" applicants who do return to work. "Do 'marginal' applicants return to work for a week, a month or a year and how much do they earn?" questions attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq.. Much more research needs to be done before conclusions can be drawn.

The prestigious Workers' Compensation Research Institute, has issued a new report, detailing the impact of the ongoing recession on workers' compensation systems across the U.S.. The State of Florida has seen less impact, but here are some of the report's key findings:

1. Overall indemnity (lost wages) payments were increased by only 3% in 2009. Surprisingly, the dollar amount per lump sum settlement of workers' compensation cases in Florida, rose by 12%.
2. Also increasing by 12% for the year 2009, was the cost paid to workers' compensation defense attorneys in Florida.
3. Overall medical costs in workers' compensation rose by 7% in Florida.

Workers' compensation attorney and lawyer, Randy Zeldin, Esq., of Boca Raton, commented that he anticipates that the value of settlements and the dollar amount of indemnity being paid, has dropped steadily since 2009 through the present. Randy Zeldin, Esq. represents injured workers throughout South Florida, including Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

Many physicians in the State of Florida, have added the sale of prescriptions drugs, as a supplemental source of income. The sale of prescriptions medications by physicians, is commonly known as "repackaged prescriptions." This practice often results in exorbitant charges by physicians, to workers' compensation carriers in the State of Florida, according to NCCI Holdings, Inc., a Boca Raton based industry group.

The Florida Legislature is poised to strip away this practice, at the upcoming 2012 Legislative Session to commence in Tallahassee, Florida. H.B. 511, sponsored by Matt Hudson, R-Naples, already passed through Florida's House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee in December, which law would limit doctor dispensing charges.

According to workers' compensation attorney and lawyer Randy Zeldin, Esq. of Boca Raton, Florida, the focus of the Florida Legislature on cost savings, is a continuation of the long term trend favoring employers over the benefits of injured workers.