TDIU pays you at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is under 100% — when service-connected conditions keep you from working. Check the schedular thresholds in seconds.
Estimate only, based on the schedular thresholds in 38 CFR §4.16. The VA makes the official determination. Not legal advice; VetAid is not VA-accredited.
VetAid builds the unemployability case — flagging which conditions support it, drafting the impact statements, and prepping the 21-8940 — including extra-schedular arguments.
Build my TDIU case free →TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) is the VA's way of paying you at the 100% rate when your service-connected disabilities prevent you from holding "substantially gainful" employment — even if your combined schedular rating is lower (often 70–90%).
You meet the schedular path if either:
…and your conditions keep you from substantially gainful work. The percentages alone don't grant TDIU — the inability to work is the heart of it.
Generally, earning above the federal poverty threshold for one person. Marginal employment (below that line) or a sheltered/protected job (a family business, accommodated work) doesn't count against you.
Don't hit the percentages? You can still qualify if your service-connected conditions genuinely prevent gainful work — but the case is referred to the Director of Compensation Service and needs strong vocational/medical evidence.
File VA Form 21-8940 (Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability), usually with VA Form 21-4192 from your former employers, plus evidence (a vocational opinion helps a lot) showing why you can't work.
One disability rated 60%+, OR combined 70%+ with one disability 40%+ — and an inability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions (38 CFR §4.16(a)).
It pays at the 100% disability rate even when your combined schedular rating is below 100%, because service-connected conditions keep you from working.
Work paying above the federal poverty threshold for one person. Marginal or sheltered employment below that line doesn't disqualify you.
Yes — extra-schedular TDIU (§4.16(b)) is possible when conditions clearly prevent gainful work, but it needs a stronger, referred case.
File VA Form 21-8940 (with 21-4192 from employers) and document why your conditions prevent substantially gainful work.