VR&E requiring a feasibility study

Your VR&E counselor is initiating a standard, though often misunderstood, procedural step mandated by 38 CFR 21.57 - "Feasibility of a vocational goal." This regulation requires VR&E to assess whether your service-connected disabilities, combined with your employment history and current condition, permit you to achieve a vocational goal. The "feasibility study" is this assessment, and citing an unstable work history is a common trigger. The counselor must determine if you have the ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a "vocational goal") or if your disabilities are so severe that employment is not currently feasible, placing you into an "independent living" track. Relevant diagnostic codes from 38 CFR 4.130 for your mental health rating, particularly those noting occupational impairment, will be central to this evaluation. Case law like *Geib v. Shinseki* reinforces that VR&E must provide a thorough evaluation of individual capabilities and limitations.

Your actionable next steps are to proactively engage in this process. Cooperate fully with the study, which may involve additional assessments or appointments. Provide comprehensive documentation from your treating physicians detailing your current functional limitations and prognosis, specifically addressing your capacity for work or training. This evidence is crucial for the counselor to make a proper determination. If the outcome is unfavorable, you have the right to appeal that decision through a VR&E-specific review process. Remember, this is an educational overview of the process and regulations; for specific legal or claim-specific advice, consult an accredited VA attorney or claims agent.