VA Individual Unemployability (TDIU) Medical Opinions
Independent Physician Assessments of Service-Connected Disabilities and Occupational Functioning
What Is a TDIU Medical Opinion?
A veteran may have service-connected disabilities that significantly interfere with the ability to maintain employment, even when the combined VA disability rating is less than 100%.
Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is a VA benefit that may provide compensation at the 100% disability rate when service-connected disabilities prevent a veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
At David Medical Services, we provide independent, physician-authored medical opinions evaluating how service-connected medical conditions affect occupational functioning, work capacity, and the ability to sustain employment.
Our assessments are grounded in medical evidence, occupational medicine principles, and the veteran’s documented functional limitations.
When Might a TDIU Medical Opinion Be Helpful?
An independent medical opinion may be appropriate when:
- A veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that collectively interfere with employment.
- Medical records document symptoms but do not adequately explain their occupational impact.
- A VA decision does not fully address the functional effects of service-connected conditions.
- A veteran has difficulty maintaining consistent attendance, productivity, or work performance because of service-connected disabilities.
- Additional medical evidence is needed to clarify physical, cognitive, or psychological limitations affecting employment.
A TDIU medical opinion does not establish eligibility for VA benefits. Rather, it provides medical evidence that may assist the VA in evaluating the claim.
What Does Our Medical Assessment Include?
Depending on the circumstances and available evidence, our physician may evaluate:
Physical Functioning
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Limitations involving sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, repetitive movements, endurance, or other work-related activities.
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Documented limitations involving concentration, memory, attention, stress tolerance, interpersonal functioning, or the ability to complete work-related tasks.
Reliability and Consistency
Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
Combined Effects of Service-Connected Conditions
The effects of symptoms, exacerbations, treatment requirements, medication side effects, and other medically documented factors on attendance and sustained work performance.
Combined Effects of Service-Connected Conditions
Combined Effects of Service-Connected Conditions
Combined Effects of Service-Connected Conditions
How multiple service-connected disabilities may interact to produce greater occupational limitations than any single condition alone.
Occupational Functioning
Combined Effects of Service-Connected Conditions
Occupational Functioning
The relationship between medically supported functional limitations and the demands of the veteran’s prior work or other described occupational activities.
Our opinions distinguish between documented medical findings, reported limitations, and conclusions that can reasonably be supported by the available evidence.
Our Services & Fees
TDIU Medical Feasibility Review | $500
An initial physician review to determine whether the available medical evidence appears sufficient to support a formal occupational functional opinion.
Includes:
- Review of up to 25 pages of selected medical and VA disability documentation.
- Preliminary assessment of service-connected conditions and occupational limitations.
- Identification of significant evidence gaps.
- Written findings regarding whether a formal medical opinion appears supportable.
A favorable feasibility assessment does not guarantee a favorable medical opinion or VA determination.
The $500 Level 0 fee is credited toward a subsequent TDIU opinion addressing the same claim.
TDIU Medical Functional Opinion | $1500
A formal, physician-authored medical opinion evaluating the occupational effects of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities.
Includes:
- Review of up to 100 pages of relevant evidentiary records and supporting documentation.
- Assessment of documented functional limitations.
- Analysis of the individual and combined occupational effects of service-connected disabilities, as medically supportable.
- Written medical rationale and supporting references, when appropriate.
Best suited for cases with sufficiently documented medical findings and occupational limitations.
Important Limitations
Our TDIU medical opinions address the medical and functional effects of service-connected disabilities. They are not vocational expert assessments, formal functional capacity evaluations, or determinations of legal eligibility for VA benefits.
The VA makes the final determination regarding entitlement to TDIU.
Our physicians provide independent assessments, but the VA makes the final determination regarding entitlement to TDIU. Because final determination rests with the VA, we cannot guarantee favorable conclusions, disability ratings, or claim outcomes.
Request a TDIU Medical Opinion
If you are seeking an independent medical assessment to support a TDIU claim, please contact our office or complete our intake form.
Our team will review your request and explain the appropriate next steps.
Medical opinions prepared by physicians experienced in Internal Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and independent medical evidence evaluation.
Independent physician medical opinions for workplace accommodations, federal disability retirement, Social Security disability, and selected military matters.
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