Disability

Individual Unemployability

May pay compensation at the 100% rate when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment.

Who may qualify

VA usually requires one disability at 60%, or one at 40% with a combined 70%. Lower-rating exceptions exist. Combined rating alone does not establish eligibility; employment and disability evidence matter. IU does not change the underlying rating or automatically establish P&T.

What to check next

Review the evidence and VA Forms 21-8940 and 21-4192.

Agencies decide eligibility. This independent summary is a starting point, not an entitlement decision.

Official source ↗Apply / get help ↗Read our plain-English guide ↗

Checked 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by Nathan Harlan

Official source page inspected; agency determines eligibility.

Who built this

Built and reviewed by Nathan Harlan, a U.S. Army Infantry veteran with 15 years of service, including two combat deployments to Iraq, and the founder of Ironsight Syndicate, a veteran-owned brand. I built this because finding the right benefits shouldn't take a law degree. This is an independent guide, not VA-accredited claims representation. For claims help, use a VA-accredited representative.