VA TDIU: 100% Pay When You Cannot Work
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability lets veterans below 100% schedular receive 100% compensation if service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment.
By The VivMetric Editorial Team · independent editorial research project
The basic rule
TDIU pays at the 100% rate when a veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities. The common path is a single 60% rating, or 70% combined with one condition at 40%+.
How it differs from schedular 100%
Schedular 100% is earned by the rating math; TDIU is earned by unemployability. Both pay the 100% rate, but TDIU is tied to work limitation and can be reviewed if you return to substantial employment.
Source
38 CFR 4.16 (TDIU). Data retrieved 2026-08-19.
Quick answers
Can I work and keep TDIU?
Marginal employment (below the poverty threshold) generally does not break TDIU. Substantially gainful employment above that line can trigger a review. Confirm with a VSO or VA regional office.