Published Aug 24, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
The rating on paper never changes. The paycheck does. Here's how the program works.
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Published Aug 24, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
A real gap is built into the Department of Veterans Affairs' disability rating system. A veteran can be rated at 70% or 80%, clearly and seriously disabled by any reasonable standard, and still fall short of the 100 percent rating that unlocks the largest monthly compensation. Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, shortened to TDIU, exists to close that gap for veterans whose service-connected conditions genuinely prevent them from working, regardless of what their combined rating says on paper.
