VA disability claims glossary

TDIU

Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability pays at the 100 percent rate when service connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment under VA rules.

Published 2026-04-02

Schedular and extraschedular concepts

Schedular TDIU generally requires certain combined rating thresholds or a single high rating. Extraschedular referral is for exceptional cases that do not fit the schedule but still impair employability.

Evidence focus

Vocational impact matters. Employment terminations, accommodations, and clinician opinions should tie limitations to service connected conditions.

Not the same as 100 percent schedular

A veteran can be paid at the 100 percent rate through TDIU without a combined 100 percent schedular rating, or vice versa. The paths differ even when payment amounts look similar.

More resources

Try the VA disability calculator, browse VA condition guides, or read in-depth articles.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Rating criteria are summarized from publicly available 38 CFR regulations. Consult a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or VA-accredited attorney for advice on your specific claim.

Questions about this term

Calculate Your Combined VA Rating

Use our free calculator to estimate combined disability percentage using the same VA math rules used for most claims.