Veterans and Social Security Disability Benefits

Disabled Veterans may be entitled to receive benefits.

Author Attorney Greg Reed:
Updated: 12/19/2023

Disability benefits are a financial lifeline to those who are unable to work. Social Security provides a safety net for those who become ill or injured and can no longer provide for themselves. Those who have served in the military, and especially those who became disabled in the line of duty, are entitled to additional benefits.

Veterans can get benefits for disability through both Social Security and the Veteran’s Administration. The agencies differ in how they determine disability.

Veterans can receive benefits for a disability through both Social Security and the Veteran’s Administration.

The two agencies have several differences in how they determine disability and calculate benefits.

Veterans who have been injured during their service may be entitled to benefits.

In order to be eligible for Veteran’s disability benefits an applicant must prove:

•    they have served in the armed forces,
•    were not dishonorably discharged, and
•    that the injury or illness was caused or aggravated during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.

However, veterans who were prisoners of war, veterans who were exposed to radiation, mustard gas, Lewisite (a chemical weapon), or certain herbicides such as Agent Orange may be able to waive the requirement to prove the disability was caused by service.

Unlike Social Security benefits, a veteran does not need to be totally disabled to collect benefits.

Veteran’s disability benefits are based on the degree of the disability. The disability will be ranked on a scale of 0% disabling to 100% disability depending on severity. It should be noted that the percentage is not a percentage of the maximum benefit. For example, in 2025 a single veteran with no children receives $3831.00/mo if they are 100% disabled, but only $2298.00/mo if they are 90% disabled.

The Social Security Administration will take into consideration the VA’s disability rating.

Veterans with a disability rating of 100% are very likely to also qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance. Unfortunately, the opposite is less true. Being approved for Social Security Disability Benefits is no guarantee you will be approved for Veteran’s benefits. Social Security’s approval will help prove you are disabled, but it will not show that the disability was incurred or aggravated during military service.

Veterans applying for Social Security should also be aware of the difficulty of obtaining medical records from VA medical facilities.

There are numerous reports of incomplete records being sent, records taking a long time to obtain, records being sent to the wrong people, and records simply missing.

Additionally, Veterans who have sustained an injury or illness on active duty after October 1, 2001 are eligible to have their disability claim expedited under the Wounded Warrior program.

Under this program, some veterans are able to have their claim processed more quickly. It should be noted that because Social Security benefits are granted on the basis of ability to work, the disabled individual should not apply for benefits until after they have left the military.

Author: Attorney Greg Reed has been practicing law for 29 years. He is Superlawyers rated by Thomson Reuters and is Top AV Preeminent® and Client Champion Gold rated by Martindale Hubbell. Through his extensive litigation Mr. Reed obtained board certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Greg is admitted to practice in the United States District Court – all Texas Districts and the United States Court of Appeals-Fifth Circuit. Mr. Reed is a member of the Travis County Bar Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, past Director of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, and an Associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Reed and all the members of Bemis, Roach & Reed have been active participants in the Travis County Lawyer referral service.