Great Lakes TDIU Attorney

Great Lakes TDIU Attorney

Fortunately, VA benefits are available to those who do not technically qualify as 100 percent disabled, but are unable to work as a result of their service-connected conditions. This benefit is referred to as Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and can play a crucial role in helping injured veterans pay necessary bills and receive medical care, so if you believe that you may qualify for TDIU benefits, you should consider speaking with an experienced Great Lakes veterans benefits attorney who can help you file a claim.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans who have been deemed disabled by the VA have the right to collect a tax-free monetary benefit if their injury or condition was incurred or aggravated during active military service. Disability compensation is provided on a monthly basis to the veteran and in some cases, his or her family as well. However, the amount that a veteran can receive will depend on the degree of his or her disability, which is rated on a scale of ten to 100 percent. Generally, to receive total coverage, a veteran must have sustained an injury rated at 100 percent disabling. However, there is an exception for veterans who don’t receive a 100 percent scheduler rating. Known as the TDIU benefit, this option allows veterans who are unable to work because of their service-related disability to be compensated at the 100 percent level.

Substantially Gainful Employment

Before a veteran can receive benefits on the basis of TDIU, he or she must be able to demonstrate an inability to engage in substantially gainful employment. According to the VA’s definition, this refers to employment that pays an amount that is at least equal to the poverty level, which in 2017 was $12,060. Marginal, temporary, and sporadic work does not qualify as substantially gainful. In fact, even if a veteran does exceed the poverty level, his or her employment can still fail to meet the VA’s definition of gainful employment, especially if the job is supplied by a family business.

Level of Disability

Once a veteran has established that he or she cannot maintain employment, it is still necessary to provide evidence of one of the following:

• The existence of a single service-connected condition or disability rated at no less than 60 percent; or
• The existence of two or more service-related disabilities, at least one of which is rated as at least 40 percent disabling, while the veteran’s combined rating is at least 70 percent.

Meeting this standard requires the submission of a significant amount of evidence, including medical records and employment history.

Contact an Experienced Veterans Benefits Lawyer

Please contact The Comerford Law Office, LLC at 312-863-8572 to speak with a dedicated Great Lakes attorney about your own claim for benefits. Initial consultations are conducted free of charge.