Question:
Hi, Jim. How does the work rule apply to a vet that has both 100% PT and 100% Unemployability?
Jim's Reply:
We need to review some terminology before we try and answer your question. P & T refers to Permanently and Totally disabled. Unemployability refers to the Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU or just IU) that may be awarded to veterans who are unable to hold gainful employment due to service connected disabling condition even though the ratings may not total 100% in The Schedule. A Schedular 100% rating is a rating that is arrived at by the ratings found in The Schedule For Rating Disabilities.
Either the 100% TDIU or the 100% Schedular ratings may be P & T. Either a 100% Schedular or a 100% TDIU rating may be temporary although the 100% Schedular is a more common temporary rating that is often assigned during periods of recovery from surgery or similar therapy. Veterans who are rated as 100% Schedular when the Schedular 100% rating is permanent are allowed to work at gainful employment. Veterans who are rated as 100% TDIU aren't allowed to hold gainful employment since their 100% rating is predicated on the assumption that they are unable to work.
The bottom line is that the Permanent and Totally Disabled (P & T) status may be either 100% TDIU or 100% Schedular and the TDIU veteran is the one who can't work.