VA Individual Unemployability if you can't work 
If you can t work because of a disability related to your service in the military a service - connected disability , you may qualify for what s called Individual Unemployability. This means you may be able to get disability compensation or benefits at the same level as a Veteran who has a 100% disability rating. 

Can I get disability benefits from VA? 
You may be able to get disability benefits if you meet both of the requirements listed below. Both of these must be true : You have at least 1 service - connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or 2 or more service - connected disabilities with at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more and You can t hold down a steady job that supports you financially known as substantially gainful employment because of your service - connected disability. Odd jobs marginal employment don t count. Note: In certain cases for example , if you need to be in the hospital often you may qualify at a lower disability rating. 

Who s covered? 
Veterans 

What kind of benefits can I get? 
Health care Compensation payments 

How do I get these benefits? 
You ll need to file a claim for disability compensation. When you file , you ll have to provide evidence supporting documents like a doctor s report or medical test results showing that your disability prevents you from holding down a steady job. We ll also review your work and education history. Example : A Veteran has a service - connected heart condition and a 60% disability rating. She was still able to work until last year when she began to get chest pain when doing anything physical, like walking or lifting boxes. Her doctor told her to retire as soon as possible. She filed a claim for more disability compensation. We reviewed her work and education history and agreed that she was individually unemployable because of her service - connected disability. So we increased her disability compen

user: Hello there. Due to issues with my health I can't work and I would like to learn more about benefits I could receive.

assistant: Are you not able to work because of a disability related to your service in the military, a service-connected disability?

user: No, I wasn't disabled in the line of service.

user: Tell me, how can I get disability benefits from VA?

assistant: Do you have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60 % or more disabling , or 2 or more service-connected disabilities with at least 1 rated at 40 % or more disabling and a combined rating of 70 % or more?

user: Well, I just checked and I even have a combined rating of 75%. So the answer is yes.

assistant: Aren't you able to hold down a steady job that supports you financially known as substantially gainful employment because of your service-connected disability?

user: No. Wait a minute. I don't have a service-connected disability, told you before. 

assistant: In that case you aren't able to get disability benefits.

user: That's a bummer. But what about that Individual Unemployability I read about?

assistant: You may qualify for what's called Individual Unemployability, but only if you have disability related to your service in the military, a service-connected disability. This means you may be able to get disability compensation or benefits at the same level as a Veteran who has a 100 % disability rating.

user: Well, no can do then. My brother was wounded during service though and he still has a disability from his time in the army. His disability rating is only at 60 % though, does that mean he won't qualify for benefits either, even if he needs to be in hospital a lot?

assistant: If you need to be in the hospital often, you may qualify at a lower disability rating.