VA TDIU (Individual Unemployability) Explained

TDIU pays you at the 100% rate when your service-connected conditions keep you from holding substantially gainful employment — even if your combined schedular rating is only 60% or 70%.

Schedular eligibility

• One condition rated at 60% or more, or
• A combined rating of 70% or more with at least one condition at 40% or more

Veterans who miss those thresholds can still be granted extraschedular TDIU under 38 CFR 4.16(b).

What "substantially gainful" means

Roughly, earnings above the federal poverty threshold for one person. Sheltered or "protected" employment — a job kept because a family member or sympathetic employer accommodates you — does not disqualify you.

Evidence that wins TDIU

1. VA Form 21-8940 completed carefully, with a full work history
2. VA Form 21-4192 from former employers documenting lost time and accommodations
3. A vocational expert opinion, when the medical record alone is ambiguous
4. Treating provider statements tying specific functional limits to specific jobs

Common mistakes

• Leaving the work history section vague
• Claiming inability to work while reporting full-time wages
• Failing to explain why your specific conditions rule out sedentary work

Frequently asked questions

Can I work at all on TDIU? Yes, marginal employment is allowed.

Is TDIU permanent? It can be, and permanent and total status unlocks CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 education benefits for dependents.