How Can a Person with a 100% Disability Rating from the V.A. get denied SSDI?
Category: Disability Law
- 08 Jul 2025
- Posted By WebSiteAdmin
The world of disability law can be complex and (at times) confusing. We have been practicing this kind law for many years now and have seen many hundreds of unique cases. Each and every time someone is approved or denied disability we learn from their case.
Today we want to discuss a topic which comes up from time to time. Namely, how is it that a person who is rated 100% disabled by Veteran’s Affairs can still be denied SSDI benefits from the Social Security Administration?
V.A. rating is based on how a service-connected condition affects your ability to function. The rating issued by this agency is on a 1-100% scale. A 100% rating means that the condition severely impacts the patient’s overall health, quality of life and ability to work. However, it does not necessarily mean that the individual is unable to work.
The SSA has a stricter definition, requiring that you cannot perform any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
The SSA requires medical evidence which proves you cannot work at all, and V.A. ratings may not be sufficient enough to meet these criteria. If your medical records don’t align with the SSA’s criteria (e.g., lack of objective evidence like imaging, test results, or detailed physician notes), your SSDI claim could be denied.
The SSA doesn’t accept V.A. ratings as binding, but they can be used to build a case for SSDI approval. Your disability attorney can advise you on how to properly build a case for the best chance at getting approved. Remember, you need to build a case which shows a clear timeline, treatment(s) and a doctor’s written narrative.
The folks at the SSA don’t know you and don’t know your story. They need to see it presented to them in a convincing fashion while all forms are properly filled out. As the old saying goes “cross every T and dot every I”.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to an attorney today. They will very quickly be able to tell you if you are a good match for the services they provide.
