VIDEO: 100% or TDIU – Which is Better for Your VA Claim or Appeal? 

“Every case is different, but generally speaking, a TDIU rating is easier for veterans to obtain than 100% rating.” 

Is TDIU better than a 100% rating? 

“Hi, I’m Neil Woods, president of Woods and Woods. Today, we’re going to talk about why veterans might consider TDIU over a 100% rating. 

“The reason I want to talk about this is that a lot of clients come to me and say, ‘Hey, I want a 100% rating,’ and I get it. The 100% rating is the top pay you can get, but what a lot of veterans don’t realize is it’s actually a lot more difficult to get 100% rating than they realized.” 

What’s the difference between TDIU and 100%?  

“TDIU and 100% pay exactly the same. But for somebody that has a TDIU rating, they actually don’t have to get a 100% rating to get paid the same, and some of those veterans are receiving over $4,300 a month.                                                        

“First, let’s cover how veterans get a 100% rating. One way they can get 100% is by adding up all of their conditions, and those conditions, under VA math, equal a 100% rating. 

“VA math is very confusing. If you have any questions about how it works, you can use our VA disability rating calculator. You can go on there and play with ratings to see what it’s actually going to take you to get up to a 100% rating. I think that you’re going to find that veterans who receive a 100% rating have much greater barriers to get to that rating than a lot of other veterans. 

“TDIU stands for total disability based upon individual unemployability. Veterans get a TDIU rating because they can no longer work from their service-connected conditions. If you have questions about TDIU benefits, we have a lot of TDIU benefit videos on our YouTube channel, and blog posts on our website. Please make sure to check those out.” 

Can you work with TDIU? 

“With a 100% rating, you can work full time. You can work all you want. You can earn all you want. There are no restrictions on having a 100% rating and working. 

“With TDIU benefits, there are some restrictions on working. You actually can work a little bit, but it is easier to get TDIU benefits if you are not working. Even if you’re working a little bit and you’re going after TDIU, sometimes it can get pretty hairy to explain to the VA that you can’t work. 

“But under the law, with TDIU, you can earn income. For example, if you earn money from dividends from your stocks, or if you own a rental property and you’re not going into a physical office every day, that would not count, unless you are covered under marginal and sheltered employment. 

“Marginal and sheltered employment is where you have accommodations at work that no other workplace would allow you to have. Typically, where you find these situations are with veterans who work for friends and family members, and the friends and family members allow them to do whatever they want and leave whenever they want because they have these mental and physical conditions.” 

Which one is right for you? 

“Every case is different, but generally, it’s going to be easier for you as a veteran to receive a TDIU rating than a 100% rating if you’re not working.”