410.601—Determinations of disability.
(a) By State agencies.
In any State which has entered into an agreement with the Commissioner to provide determinations as to whether a miner is under a total disability (as defined in § 410.412) due to pneumoconiosis (as defined in § 410.110(n) ). Determinations as to the date total disability began, and as to the date total disability ceases, shall be made by the State agency or agencies designated in such agreement on behalf of the Commissioner for all individuals in such State, or for such class or classes of individuals in the State as may be designated in the agreement.
(b) By the Administration.
Determinations as to whether a miner is under a total disability (as defined in § 410.412) due to pneumoconiosis (as defined in § 410.110(n) ), as to the date the total disability began, and as to the date the total disability ceases, shall be made by the Administration on behalf of the Commissioner. The Administration shall make such determinations for individuals in any State which has not entered into an agreement to make such determinations, for any class or classes of individuals to which such an agreement is not applicable, or for any individuals outside the United States. In addition, all other determinations as to entitlement to and the amounts of benefits shall be made by the Administration on behalf of the Commissioner.
(c) Review by Administration of State agency determinations.
The Administration may review a determination made by a State agency that a miner is under a total disability and, as a result of such review, may determine that such individual is not under a total disability, or that the total disability began on a date later than that determined by the State agency, or that the total disability ceased on a date earlier than that determined by the State agency.
(d) Initial determinations as to entitlement or termination of entitlement.
After any determination as to whether an individual is under a total disability or has ceased to be under a total disability, the Administration shall make an initial determination (see § 410.610) with respect to entitlement to benefits.
(e) Simultaneous claims.
The adjudication of any claim under this part shall not be delayed for the adjudication of any other benefit claim by the same individual pending before the Administration.