Understanding How Mental Health Impacts Your Ability to Work
For many veterans, the scars of military service go far beyond the physical. Mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and traumatic brain injuries can make it incredibly difficult to hold down steady employment, even when the veteran is physically able to perform certain tasks. The VA recognizes this reality, and in some cases, mental health conditions alone may qualify a veteran for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits.
If you’re a veteran living with service-connected mental health issues that prevent you from maintaining “substantially gainful employment,” you may be eligible for VA unemployability benefits, even if your combined disability rating is less than 100%. In Metairie and throughout Louisiana, many veterans are unaware of how TDIU works and how powerful a benefit it can be for those whose mental health challenges limit their ability to work full-time.
What Is TDIU and Who Qualifies?
The VA’s TDIU program allows veterans to receive compensation at the 100% disability rate even if their schedular rating is below 100%, as long as they can prove that their service-connected disabilities prevent them from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
To qualify for TDIU, a veteran must meet one of the following two conditions:
- Have one service-connected disability rated at least 60%, or
- Have two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more, with at least one of those conditions rated 40% or higher.
But meeting those numbers is just the first step. You also need to show that your disability prevents you from holding a job that earns above the poverty level—what the VA refers to as “substantially gainful employment.”
Can Mental Health Conditions Alone Qualify You?
Yes. If your mental health condition is service-connected and severe enough that it interferes with your ability to work full-time, you can qualify for TDIU based on that condition alone. The VA commonly grants TDIU claims based on:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injury with associated cognitive deficits
The key is being able to demonstrate how the condition affects your daily life and work performance. For example, if PTSD causes panic attacks, sleep disturbances, memory problems, or an inability to focus, these symptoms may make it impossible to hold a steady job, especially in high-stress or public-facing environments.
Veterans in Louisiana struggling with mental health should not underestimate the severity of these conditions just because they aren’t visible. The VA evaluates mental health claims under strict diagnostic criteria and rating schedules, but the real-world impact of your symptoms matters just as much.
Evidence That Can Strengthen a Mental Health-Based TDIU Claim
Unlike some physical conditions, mental health disabilities can be more difficult to “prove” on paper. That’s why supporting documentation is so important when applying for unemployability benefits. Helpful evidence includes:
- Psychiatric evaluations and treatment records
- Statements from VA or private mental health providers
- Lay statements from family, friends, or co-workers describing how your condition affects your behavior and employability
- Work history or employment records showing reduced hours, terminations, or accommodations that no longer work
- Vocational expert opinions connecting your symptoms directly to job-related limitations
The more detailed and specific the evidence, the better. For example, a doctor stating, “Veteran has PTSD” is not nearly as helpful as a report that says, “Veteran’s PTSD causes daily panic attacks, emotional instability, and an inability to handle stress, making full-time employment unsustainable.”
What If You’re Working a Part-Time Job?
Many veterans ask if they can still receive TDIU benefits if they are working part-time. The answer is, it depends. The VA allows something called “marginal employment,” which is work that earns less than the federal poverty level or occurs in a sheltered environment where special accommodations are made due to your disability.
For example, if you’re working a few hours per week at a family-owned business that overlooks your frequent absences and limited productivity, that’s not considered substantially gainful employment. In such cases, you may still qualify for TDIU, especially if your mental health condition limits your ability to function in a competitive workplace.
Why Mental Health Claims Are Often Denied
Unfortunately, mental health-based TDIU claims are frequently denied due to insufficient documentation, inconsistent medical records, or VA evaluators misunderstanding the full impact of the condition. Veterans often underreport symptoms during exams or avoid treatment due to stigma, which can make it harder to prove their claim.
At Sarphie Law, we help veterans in Metairie and across Louisiana build strong, evidence-based TDIU claims that clearly show how their mental health issues prevent them from working. We work with medical experts, review your VA file, and submit persuasive arguments to give your claim the best possible chance of approval.
Contact Sarphie Law Today for Legal Representation
Living with a service-connected mental health condition is challenging enough without the added financial stress of not being able to work. If you believe your PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorder is preventing you from maintaining full-time employment, you may be entitled to 100% disability compensation through the VA’s TDIU program.
You don’t have to face the claims process alone. Reach out to us today for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, review your case, and help you pursue the benefits you’ve earned through your service. At Sarphie Law, we’re proud to stand with veterans, especially when they need help the most.