Hey veterans, I'm back here today with another video about VA disability benefits, answering
a question that I got recently that I'll confess, is one that I really had not thought of before,
and wanted to just share my thoughts on that with you here today.
I Was contacted by a veteran who asked, "Is there a temporary rating for TDIU benefits?"
Little bit of background, think of a situation where the veteran is unable to perform their
work duties for a particular period of time for some reason, and thinks they may be able
to get back to work later on, or the employer thinks they may be able to accommodate them
at some point down the road, and they're seeking TDIU for just a short period of time.
We see temporary ratings in other situations in VA, really after surgery, what we call
a convalescence rating, where you're totally disabled for a period of time while you recuperate,
and then your residuals are rated at whatever percentage they should be.
So I think the veteran was thinking of a situation like that, where he just needed TDIU for a
short period of time.
Basically, an example of that may be where PTSD or depression has gotten more severe
and you're trying to get your medications right, get some treatment, and get some help,
and then the hope is that things will improve and you'll be able to get back to work.
If you're drawing long term or short term disability in that situation, then obviously
you're not working, and the question arises is TDIU an option?
So, I would say TDIU is an option there.
However, to answer that question directly, no, there is not a temporary TDIU rating that
I'm aware of.
Basically, it's like any other traditional rating, you have it as long as it's appropriate
and then it can be changed either upward or downward as the facts may dictate later on
down the road.
So what do you do in that situation if that's you, where you're out of work, you think you
may get back to work?
I think it's just a simple analysis of do you want to go ahead and apply for TDIU or
not.
I would recommend that you go ahead and do it.
The application process is not all that difficult, yes it is harder than a non-TDIU situation
in that there's an extra form that you must complete, but again, just fill it out.
VA can process the claim, they may grant the claim, and if so, then you can draw TDIU as
long as you're out of work.
If you go back to work, you can let them know and then you draw for that period of time.
In that sense it is a temporary rating, because you only need it for a certain amount of time.
However, it may be that your hopefulness is not fulfilled, that you don't get back to
work when you anticipated, and therefore, that's why it's a good idea to go ahead and
apply and see if you qualify for it.
Because you don't want to wait and then realize, in fact, my employer has already filled my
position, there's nothing to go back to, and I can't find anything else and now I do need
those TDIU benefits, but I didn't apply six months ago when I thought this was just temporary.
So, if you're out of work due to your service connected disabilities, they're preventing
you from being employed or, I should say working, you may still be employed in some fashion,
but not actually working.
Go ahead and apply if that's what you want to do, but just realize there's not a temporary
rating that VA's going to assign in that situation.
And again, if you do go back to work, you can always withdraw that claim if VA has not
adjudicated and made a decision as of yet.
So, hope that makes sense.
If you have questions on TDIU and how that interrelates with periods of absence from
work, a leave of absence or something of that nature, again, check us out at our website
winyourvetclaim.com.
We have some other videos up about TDIU in general, and other VA concepts as well.
So, see if those are of any benefit to you as well.
If so, again, give us a thumbs up, subscribe to our channel and maybe share this with a
fellow veteran as well.
Anyway, hope that explains this question I got here recently.
I hadn't really thought of it before, but wanted to bring that to you here and let you
know what my thoughts were on it.
So, thanks a lot, have a great day.
And thanks for all you've done for our country.