Resources

TDIU tools and references, plainly explained.

VA forms, regulatory citations, key terms, and checklists — everything you need to understand and build a TDIU claim.

VA Forms

Key forms for TDIU claims

These are the primary VA forms used to initiate, support, and document a TDIU claim. All links go directly to VA.gov.

Form Name When to use it Link
VA 21-8940 Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability The primary TDIU application. Required to formally request TDIU consideration. VA.gov ↗
VA 21-4192 Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits Sent to the veteran's last employer to document work history and limitations. VA.gov ↗
VA 21-526EZ Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits Used to file or reopen a disability claim that can support a TDIU argument. VA.gov ↗
VA 10182 Decision Review Request: Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement) File a BVA appeal when the regional office denies TDIU. VA.gov ↗
VA 20-0995 Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim Submit new and relevant evidence — including a vocational opinion — after an initial denial. VA.gov ↗
VA 21-22 Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative Designate a VSO to help manage your claim. VA.gov ↗

Regulatory References

The rules that govern TDIU

TDIU decisions are governed by specific federal regulations. Understanding these citations helps you evaluate how a vocational opinion fits into the legal framework.

⚖️

38 CFR § 4.16 — Individual Unemployability

The core regulation governing TDIU. Subsection (a) covers the standard rating thresholds (60% single / 70% combined). Subsection (b) addresses extraschedular grants when circumstances are exceptional.

Read on eCFR
📄

38 CFR § 4.18 — Unemployability

Addresses age and whether it can be considered in conjunction with service-connected disabilities when determining unemployability. Often cited alongside § 4.16 in complex claims.

Read on eCFR
🏛️

M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual

The VA's internal adjudication manual. Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section F covers TDIU evaluation procedures — how raters are instructed to assess unemployability claims.

View M21-1
🔍

O*NET Occupational Database

The primary labor market database used by vocational experts to identify job demands, transferable skills, and whether specific occupations fall within a veteran's residual functional capacity.

Search O*NET
📚

Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)

The DOT classifies occupations by physical demand, skill level, and functional requirements. Used alongside O*NET in vocational assessments to match limitations to the job base.

Search DOT
📊

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Bureau of Labor Statistics data on job availability, growth projections, and employment numbers — used to assess whether specific occupations exist in significant numbers in the national economy.

BLS Handbook

Glossary

Key TDIU terms explained

TDIU claims involve specific legal and vocational terminology. These definitions are written for veterans and attorneys, not bureaucrats.

Substantially Gainful Employment
The VA's threshold for employment. Work is "substantially gainful" if it pays above the federal poverty threshold. The TDIU question is whether service-connected conditions prevent this level of employment.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)
What a veteran can still do despite their limitations — how long they can sit, stand, lift, concentrate, and sustain effort. RFC is the foundation of any vocational analysis.
Transferable Skills
Skills, knowledge, or abilities from past work that can be applied to other jobs. A vocational analysis evaluates which (if any) jobs a veteran could perform given their RFC and transferable skills.
Job Base Erosion
The degree to which a veteran's limitations reduce the number of jobs available to them in the national economy. Significant erosion supports a TDIU finding.
Extraschedular TDIU (§ 4.16(b))
A TDIU grant available when a veteran doesn't meet standard rating thresholds but their service-connected disabilities still prevent substantially gainful employment. Requires referral to VA Central Office.
Nexus
The documented connection between a veteran's military service and a disability. Nexus is required for service connection — a vocational opinion assumes nexus is established and analyzes employability on top of it.
Past Relevant Work (PRW)
Work performed in the 15 years prior to the assessment, at substantial gainful activity levels, long enough to learn the job. PRW classification under the DOT is a key step in vocational analysis.
Combined Rating
The VA's formula for combining multiple disability ratings (not simply adding them). A veteran needs a combined rating of 70%+ with at least one condition at 40% to meet standard TDIU thresholds.
Vocational Opinion
An independent expert opinion analyzing whether a veteran's limitations prevent substantially gainful employment. Different from a medical nexus opinion — it focuses on work capacity, not diagnosis.

Preparation Checklist

Records to gather before your vocational assessment

A stronger records package leads to a more defensible opinion. Here's what to collect before your intake.

Ready to put these resources to work?

Start with a free case fit check. We'll review the basics and tell you whether a vocational assessment is the right next step before you commit to anything.

Request Free Case Fit Check Learn How It Works