Posted on Oct 20, 2015
What are your experiences with VA individual unemployability (IU)?
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The Department of Veterans Affairs provides many benefits for veterans. One of the benefits for disabled veterans who are unemployable is Individual Unemployability (IU) which is equal to 100% VA disability rating in terms of disability income. I expect many disabled veterans are aware of this program while many others are not. This morning a Patient Advocate at Martinsburg, WV, VAMC submitted the paperwork for me to be included in the IU program. I was told it takes 4 to 6 months for the paperwork to process and the as of date for income is backdated to the month it was submitted. Are you included in the IU program? Are you eligible and not part of the program yet?
Posted in these groups: 
Disabled Veterans
Disabled Veteran
Disabled Veterans Disabled Veteran
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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This morning I had an appointment with a Veterans Affairs Patient Advocate. He submitted paperwork for me to be included in the individual unemployability program. I expect to be receiving my full disability payment by March 2016, hopefully. I am thankful for this program.
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LTC Stephen F.
CPL Doug Hill, BS-CJ, MS-CJ - Well so far they have not given me a mental exam :-)
I am rated at 80% VA disabled - 60% heart, 20% lower spine, 10% cervical spine, 10% shoulder, 10% GERD, 0%herpetic neuralgia, 0% psoriasis, so far.
My heart condition has worsened since the spring and so has my spine. The Patient Advocate recommended I not request a reeval until next April unless I have a significant change in my health.
I am rated at 80% VA disabled - 60% heart, 20% lower spine, 10% cervical spine, 10% shoulder, 10% GERD, 0%herpetic neuralgia, 0% psoriasis, so far.
My heart condition has worsened since the spring and so has my spine. The Patient Advocate recommended I not request a reeval until next April unless I have a significant change in my health.
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Suspended Profile
LTC Stephen F. I am 100% statutory, but I was on IU previously. I'd be happy to discuss your case off line if you need help. Basically if you have a single item at 40% or greater, a cumulative of 70% or greater AND are unable to maintain gainful employment (read full time), you can apply for IU, which pays at the 100% rate. This also enables you to get your entire Pension under CRDP or CRSC assuming you served for greater than 20 years.
I was a service officer at DAV for a number of years, so I know the system quite well.
The date of claim (the date the VA receives your claim) is always the date of eligibility for benefits. Any claim that is awarded is paid back pay to the date of claim. Usually, you'll see the money show up in your bank account through DDS before you get the award letter from the VA.
The amount of time to process the claim depends on several factors including the complexity of your claim, whether it is fully developed (you have provided all evidence so the VA does not need to seek any), and what the VARO backlog is. In Seattle, it's greater than 18 months. If your VARO is running 4 to 6 months that's wonderful...
I was a service officer at DAV for a number of years, so I know the system quite well.
The date of claim (the date the VA receives your claim) is always the date of eligibility for benefits. Any claim that is awarded is paid back pay to the date of claim. Usually, you'll see the money show up in your bank account through DDS before you get the award letter from the VA.
The amount of time to process the claim depends on several factors including the complexity of your claim, whether it is fully developed (you have provided all evidence so the VA does not need to seek any), and what the VARO backlog is. In Seattle, it's greater than 18 months. If your VARO is running 4 to 6 months that's wonderful...
MCPO (Join to see)
Rabbi, I'm rated at 80%, and, while I tried like hell to be gainfully employed after retirement, I found it impossible. I've got sleep apnea (rated at 50%), and, while the CPAP helps me sleep, I'm still phreaking exhausted all day long - I can easily sleep 18+ hours per day (okay, it's fitfully, but still...).
Is this something that I might be able to pursue? I'm dying to work - but I'm dying to have a close, personal relationship with Mr. Pillow as well - and the pillow is winning.
And, did I read you right? Back pay to date of claim? My date is Oct2011... REALLY??
I may also be going in for re-evaluation over PTSD (10% right now), for emerging problems.
Thanks for your assistance!
Is this something that I might be able to pursue? I'm dying to work - but I'm dying to have a close, personal relationship with Mr. Pillow as well - and the pillow is winning.
And, did I read you right? Back pay to date of claim? My date is Oct2011... REALLY??
I may also be going in for re-evaluation over PTSD (10% right now), for emerging problems.
Thanks for your assistance!
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Suspended Profile
Master Chief, I'd be glad to work with you. Please contact me off line and we'll discuss your case...
PO1 John Miller
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow
I'm rated overall 60% myself. 50% for obstructive sleep apnea so I have a rough time getting quality sleep just like MCPO (Join to see), 0% for chronic knee pain in both knees, 10% for GERD, 10% for tinnitus in both ears (which drives me so crazy at times I can't concentrate on anything but that infernal ringing), and 0% for hearing loss in both ears. So one would think that comes to 70% but nope, gotta love that VA math. Do you think I have a case?
I am working currently and the only real problem I have is staying awake.
I'm rated overall 60% myself. 50% for obstructive sleep apnea so I have a rough time getting quality sleep just like MCPO (Join to see), 0% for chronic knee pain in both knees, 10% for GERD, 10% for tinnitus in both ears (which drives me so crazy at times I can't concentrate on anything but that infernal ringing), and 0% for hearing loss in both ears. So one would think that comes to 70% but nope, gotta love that VA math. Do you think I have a case?
I am working currently and the only real problem I have is staying awake.
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LTC Stephen F. VA always find a way to screw us (Veterans). I didn't know about the IU up until VA screwed me and I had to fought for it, with the DAV on my side the representative told me that there was a self unemployment (IU). I think it took the DAV less than 6 months to get the job done.
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LTC Stephen F.
The Patient Advocate at my primary VAMC was the one told me about it and submitted it for me SPC Nick Lai.
My primary care VA doctor suggested I contact the VA Patient Advocate at the VAMC. He helped me out and answered all my questions.
My primary care VA doctor suggested I contact the VA Patient Advocate at the VAMC. He helped me out and answered all my questions.
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SPC Nick Lai
LTC Stephen F. - That's good sir because I don't trust any of them physicians that done the re- evaluation on me, they were the one wrote the reports and sent them back to the VA, and everyone who works in the VA nowadays goes by the papers, none of them really knows what is really going on nor have experience with what their doing, they really needs to look into what the veterans had going on with them.
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