ptsd Td/iu

[dgraham82]

Just a quick question. I recently was awarded 80 percent. 70 percent PTSD/depression/tbi, 30 percent post traumatic headaches and 10 percent tinnitus. In my dbq's I noticed a few spots where it states my disabilities affect my ability to maintain work.  Does this mean I'm eligible for tdiu? If so how do I file for it?

[john999]

My thinking on dealing with the VA for 40 years is that if you don't ask or claim something from the VA you will never get it.  If you send in the TDIU form and request TDIU and the VA denies you then what have you lost?  If you got TDIU while going to school then the VA is probably not going to grant P&T and that is as it should be.   If you get TDIU and then are able to finish school and get and hold a job then I am sure the VA will be happy to recognize a success story.   If you are not able to finish school and get and keep a job for at least a year then you will be very glad you got TDIU if they grant it.   The TDIU regulations don't say "TDIU granted due to vet's inability to go to school full time".   I don't see a down side in requesting TDIU.   Is the VA going to reduce your rating because you request TDIU?  I doubt that since it has nothing to do with your ability to work 40 hours a week.  I wish I had had potential option of getting TDIU while I went to college.  By the way, my 4 year degree never helped me get a job or keep one.

[brokensoldier244th]

If you look at the rating criteria for 70-100% mental, what give you the thought that successful academics would be possible under those symptoms? I went from 50% and passing about 1/2 of my classes to 70% and having to drop out, and am now rated 100%. Any 2 or more of those things listed in the rating criteria would sink a student- I can't see VA granting TDIU if you can go to school rather than using Voc Rehab. At least then if things go downhill in Voc you have Voc saying that you tried but it didn't work and that supports your claim for IU and/or P/T.