Free TDIU Case Fit Screen
Answer a few short questions to see whether an independent vocational assessment could support your TDIU claim.
Begin Your Screening
Confidential. No obligation. Takes about 2 minutes.
Wondering about cost? See our flat-fee pricing
VA / Work Situation
What is your current combined VA disability rating? Options include 0%–40%, 50%–60%, 70%–90%, and 100%.
Which best describes your current work situation? Yes, unable to work — or no, I am still able to work.
Claim Context
Where does your claim currently stand? Preparing or pursuing an initial claim, Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, Board appeal, or not sure.
Is an attorney or accredited representative currently involved?
Contact Information
Share your details so an evaluation specialist can review your screening and follow up. The screening form on this page collects your name, email, phone, and an optional note. It does not replace a vocational evaluation.
What Is TDIU?
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans to receive VA disability compensation at the 100% rate even if their combined disability rating is below 100% — as long as their service-connected conditions prevent them from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The VA typically requires a single disability rated at 60% or higher, or a combined rating of 70%+ with at least one condition rated at 40%. However, the key question the VA must answer is whether those disabilities make it impossible for you to hold a job that pays above the federal poverty threshold — and that is where an independent vocational assessment becomes critical evidence.
Complete This Screen
A few quick questions about your rating, work status, and representation.
We Review Your Case
An evaluation specialist contacts you to discuss your work history and claim details.
Independent Assessment
If an evaluation fits your needs, we explain the next steps for an independent vocational assessment.
What Is a Vocational Expert for TDIU?
A vocational expert for TDIU is a credentialed professional who evaluates a veteran's employment history, transferable skills, and documented functional limitations — then delivers a written opinion on whether that veteran can maintain substantially gainful employment. That opinion becomes evidence the VA must consider when deciding your claim.
What a Vocational Expert Actually Does
A vocational expert reviews your complete VA claims file (C-file), medical records, and service history. They conduct a structured interview covering every job you have held — classifying each role using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) to document physical, cognitive, and environmental demands. From there, they perform a transferable skills analysis to determine which occupations, if any, your remaining functional capacity could support. The final written report states a professional opinion on your employability — or lack thereof — under the VA's legal standard.
Credentials to look for include the CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) and CVE (Certified Vocational Evaluator) designations. Honor Bound Evaluations' vocational experts hold recognized professional credentials and have experience specifically with VA disability claims.
How the VA Uses a Vocational Expert Opinion
The VA is required to consider all competent evidence submitted with a claim — including an independent vocational expert report. At the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), a well-reasoned vocational opinion can directly rebut a VA examiner's conclusion and serve as the basis for a grant or remand.
The VA's own examiners perform vocational assessments during Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams, but those examiners work for the VA. An independent vocational expert — retained by you or your accredited attorney — provides an unbiased opinion you control.
When to Get an Independent Vocational Expert Report
- Filing an initial TDIU claim and want to submit the strongest possible record from the start
- Received a TDIU denial and are filing a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence
- Working with an accredited representative on a Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) matter
- Attorney is filing a CAVC appeal and needs vocational evidence to support the brief
- Working in a marginal or family-business job and need documentation that it is not substantially gainful
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a vocational expert the same as a vocational rehabilitation counselor?
Not exactly. A vocational rehabilitation counselor typically helps people return to work. A vocational expert for TDIU evaluates whether a veteran is capable of working at all given their documented limitations — and provides a formal written opinion for use as legal evidence in a VA disability claim or appeal.
How much does an independent vocational expert report cost?
Honor Bound Evaluations charges a flat fee of $1,599 for a complete TDIU vocational assessment and written report. There are no hourly rates or hidden fees.