What TDIU is
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows some veterans to be paid at the 100% disability rate even when their schedular combined rating is lower, if service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment.
TDIU is about work capacity tied to service-connected conditions — not every tough job market or every medical problem. The VA looks at ratings, employment history, education, and medical evidence together.
Common schedular gates
Many TDIU claims discuss these rating patterns (educational summary — not a promise of entitlement):
- One disability rated 60% or higher, or
- A combined rating of 70% or higher with at least one disability at 40% or higher
- Extraschedular paths may exist with strong evidence even when percentages fall short — that is fact-specific
Employment evidence that usually matters
Expect questions about when you last worked, why you stopped or reduced hours, whether work was marginal, and how service-connected symptoms interfere with reliable employment. Statements from you, employers, or people who see your limitations day to day can matter as much as a rating percentage.
Simple reality check
If your combined rating is 40% and you work full-time at substantially gainful wages, TDIU is unlikely on those facts alone. If you are at 70% combined with a 50% mental health rating and cannot sustain competitive work because of those disabilities, TDIU may be worth a serious conversation with a VSO.
TDIU vs 100% schedular vs P&T
- 100% schedular — combined (or single) rating rounds to 100%
- TDIU — paid at 100% rate based on unemployability criteria
- P&T — separate finding that disabilities are permanent and total; can unlock other benefits
What to do next
Use the TDIU eligibility checker to walk common gates, confirm your combined rating math, and talk with an accredited VSO before filing. If you already have a decision, decode the letter for whether TDIU was granted, denied, or never decided.