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hi everyone welcome to cck under 5 today we're discussing a frequently Asked question and a
topic that affects many veterans can a veteran work while receiving a total VA disability rating
veterans who receive a 100% or total VA rating May wonder if they can still work while rated as
totally disabled and the answer to that question is that it depends on your specific circumstances
and the type of 100% rating that you have to be eligible for a 100% scheduler disability rating
a veteran must have service connected disability ratings that combine to 100% or a single service
connected disability on its own rated at 100% veterans with a 100% combined scheduler disability
rating have no specific restrictions on their work activity if they are still able and willing
to work the same is true of veterans who have a 100% scheduler rating with permanent and total
status that said it's important to remember that VA ratings are meant to reflect the impairment
to a person's earning capacity caused by their service connected disabilities and so working
successfully could be evidence that VA uses to deny increased ratings depending on the nature
of a person's pending increased rating claim another way to be eligible for a 100% rating is
through pursuing a total disability rating based on individual unemployability or tdiu like those
in receipt of a 100% scheduler rating veterans receiving tdiu are compensated at the 100%
disability rate even if their combined schedu or disability rating does not amount to 100% however
unlike veterans in receipt of a 100% scheduler rating whether a veteran in receipt of tdiu can
work is a much more complicated question to answer tdiu is awarded to Veterans who have service
connected disability limitations that prevent their ability to engage in substantially gainful
employment in most cases veterans are not working if they qualify for tdiu benefits because the tdiu
rating or the 100% rating based on unemployability is specifically granted to Veterans whose service
connected conditions prevent them from working some veterans due to service connected disability
limitations can only work marginally meaning that they can only earn an income below the federal
poverty threshold for a single person those veterans can still receive tdiu while working
marginally because va's regulations explain that marginal employment is not substantially gainful
employment some veterans are able to work despite service connected disability limitations but are
only able to do so because they're working in a protected work environment a protected work
environment is one in which for example a veteran is excused from critical functions of their job
without a reduction in their pay or without fear of termination because of their employer awareness
of the severity of their service connected conditions veterans working in a protected
work environment can still receive tdiu because protected work under the law is not substantially
gainful work veterans should be aware that VA determines protected work environments on
a Case by case and a very fact intensive basis so it's important to gather facts that speak to your
specific work situation if you're attempting to demonstrate that you are only employed in
a protected work environment we have a number of other resources available on our website cck-law
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channel for more informative content and we hope to see you next [Music]
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