SSDI Lawyers for Veterans
We help veterans across New England, including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, win the Social Security Disability benefits they earned, alongside their VA benefits.
VA Disability and SSDI Are Separate Benefits
Many veterans assume their VA rating decides their Social Security claim, or worse, that receiving VA compensation makes them ineligible for SSDI. Neither is true. SSDI is a separate program with its own definition of disability, and you can receive both benefits at the same time. We have represented service-disabled veterans, including an Iraq War veteran rated 100% by the VA after an IED injury, who won a Fully Favorable SSDI decision with significant backpay.
A denial is not the end of your claim.
Talk to a disability attorney now. Free consultation. No fees unless you win.
Call (617) 683-1983- Over 20 Years of Disability Law Experience
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What Veterans Should Know About SSDI
The SSDI process treats veterans differently in a few important ways, and knowing the rules can mean faster decisions and stronger claims.
Your VA Rating Is Evidence, Not the Decision
Social Security makes its own disability determination, but your VA records, ratings, and exam reports are powerful evidence. We know how to put them to work in an SSDI claim.
Expedited Processing for Veterans
Social Security expedites claims for veterans rated 100% permanent and total by the VA, and for service members who became disabled while on active duty. We make sure your claim is flagged for the faster track.
You Can Receive Both Benefits
VA disability compensation does not reduce your SSDI benefit. Veterans who qualify can collect both in full, and an SSDI award also brings Medicare eligibility after 24 months.
If your claim was denied, you have 60 days to appeal, and most claims are won at the appeal stage. Call us for a free review of your situation, whether you are applying for the first time or fighting a denial.
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VA Disability vs. SSDI: How the Two Programs Compare
A veteran can have a 90% or 100% VA rating and still be denied by Social Security. That doesn’t mean the veteran isn’t disabled. It means the claim was measured under a different rulebook.
| VA Disability Compensation | Social Security Disability (SSDI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Compensates veterans for service-connected conditions | Replaces income when you can no longer do substantial work |
| Who qualifies | Veterans with a service-connected condition | Workers with enough recent Social Security work credits |
| Disability standard | Service connection and a percentage rating | Inability to sustain full-time work (substantial gainful activity) |
| Does the cause matter? | Yes. It must be tied to military service | No. Any condition counts if it keeps you from working |
| Can you receive both? | Yes | Yes, and VA compensation doesn’t reduce your SSDI check |
| Does a high VA rating guarantee approval? | Not applicable | No. It’s strong evidence, but Social Security decides for itself |
What Carries Over From Your VA File
The rating decision is rarely the strongest part of a VA file for SSDI. The records underneath it usually carry more weight:
- Treatment history showing the condition persisted despite surgery, injections, therapy, or medication changes
- Imaging and testing for spine, joint, nerve, heart, or lung conditions
- C&P exam findings like reduced range of motion, weakness, gait problems, or grip loss
- Medication side effects such as drowsiness, slowed thinking, or dizziness
- Mental health records documenting limits in concentration, pace, and stress tolerance
SSDI for Veterans Over 50
If you’re 50 or older, Social Security’s grid rules can work in your favor. They recognize that it’s harder to move from physical work into a new, lighter job as you get older. For a veteran whose military service was followed by years of labor-heavy civilian work, the question often becomes simple: given your limits, is there realistically other work you could do?
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free case review from a New England disability team. You only pay if we win.
Call (617) 683-1983The strongest age-based claims usually involve some combination of back or neck disease, knee or hip damage, neurological problems, heart conditions, or the lasting effects of cancer treatment, paired with a work history that doesn’t transfer to a desk. See how the SSDI grid rules work by age.
“You can probably do a desk job” is the phrase that sinks many veterans’ claims. We answer it with specifics: whether you can sit long enough, use your hands reliably, stay on task through pain, and show up every day.
Why Experience Matters in Social Security Disability Law
An experienced disability attorney understands how Social Security regulations, rulings, and procedures are applied in real cases. This includes familiarity with hearing office practices, how Administrative Law Judges evaluate evidence, and how medical conditions translate into functional limitations under the law. Without this depth of knowledge, even valid disability claims can be denied.
Preparation Makes the Difference at Disability Hearings
Effective preparation involves a complete review of medical records, careful development of supporting evidence, and structured preparation of hearing testimony. Disability hearings require clear, logical arguments that are consistent with Social Security regulations and supported by the record. Anticipating a judge’s questions and addressing potential concerns in advance can significantly improve the strength of a case.
When vocational or medical experts are involved, preparation also includes understanding how expert testimony may affect the outcome and how unfavorable assumptions can be challenged through careful questioning and evidence-based arguments.
Our Strategic Approach to Building a Strong Disability Case
Strong medical evidence is essential. We review and organize medical records to ensure they accurately reflect the severity of your condition, your functional limitations, and how symptoms affect your ability to perform work-related activities on a sustained basis. When appropriate, we seek medical opinions that clearly connect diagnoses to functional restrictions recognized by Social Security.
Vocational evidence is equally important. Your work history, transferable skills, and residual functional capacity all factor into whether Social Security determines that you can perform past work or adjust to other work. By analyzing these factors and working with vocational experts when necessary, we present a realistic assessment of your ability to remain employed.
Applying Disability Law With Sound Legal Judgment
Knowing when to strengthen the record, when to adjust legal strategy, and when to pursue further appeals, including review by the Appeals Council or Federal District Court, is critical. Our role is to apply experience, legal knowledge, and careful judgment to each case so that it is presented clearly, consistently, and in accordance with disability law.
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No obligation. No pressure. Just honest advice about your case.
No Upfront Fees
We only get paid if we win your case. Your consultation is completely free.
Proven Success
Decades of experience winning cases at all levels of the appeals process.