The Importance of a SouthEast Vocational Experts: Vocational Expert for TDIU Cases

We help outline your issues in vocational terms and limitations that a VA Administrator or Judge can understand.

There are many aspects to a Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) case, as well as aspects of it that can make the process difficult. According to a report by GAO (Bertoni, D. ,2015), the Veterans Administration (VA) can “better ensure unemployability decisions are well supported” for a variety of reasons.

VA reliability of Psychological C&P Exams

Additionally, Psychological C&P Exams have been found to be “unreliable and unfair” to veterans (Worthern, M.D., 2018). There have also been reports that there has been a need for expert opinions which were not necessarily offered in TDIU cases, such as with “combined-effects” (Ilacqua, M.J., 14). It is indicated in each of the articles that all of the above could potentially lead to incorrect decisions being made. The use of Vocational Expert (VE) may help to ensure the veteran’s service-connected conditions and the impact these conditions have on thier residual functional capacity are outlined.

Veteran/claimant cannot rely on C&P Exams in that they often only use medical terms and are not able to relay the information in how it affects and individuals employability in the workplace. Worthen, M.D. (2018), there are times when Psychological C&P exams have found to be unreliable and “unfair” in part due to veterans due to a high ratio of false positives and false negatives. A false positive would mean that a C&P Exam showed a veteran had a claimed mental disorder when they did not. A false negative would mean that a C&P Exam showed a veteran did not have a mental disorder when they did. This could result in a veteran being denied for TDIU based on a C&P Ex-am that gave an incorrect result.

A SouthEast Vocational Expert would be able to explore the medical files and understand how the symptoms of the disabling condition could impact the workforce and the ability to maintain employment. For example, even if the veteran’s C&P Exam stated that they were not found to have a disabling mental condition, it make be stated in the Exam that the claimant would have an inability to work in proximity to others or maintain pace. These things could be beyond customary tolerances in the workplace, and therefore make the veteran unemployable. A VE would be able to indicate this in a report due to their specialized knowledge of the world of work.

VA TDIU Claim

According to the GAO report (Bertoni, D., 2015), there is “incomplete guidance” as to how to consider a veteran’s unemployability and, due to this, variability and variation in TDIU claim cases can be found. Per the report, this could involve differing opinions between rating experts as to what would count as demonstrating employability (such as being able to take courses with a Traumatic Brain Injury), how much weight should be given to a veteran receiving social Security Disability, and difficulties in separating service-connected disabling conditions and those conditions that are not service-connected but may be due to age or other disabling conditions. A VE would be able to look at the disabling conditions that are provided in the medical reports and indicate what impact they would have on a veteran’s employability. A VE would also be able to understand and express what the impact of receiving vocational training could have on potential employability would be.

SouthEast Vocational Expert is Key

A Vocatoinal Expdert is an important addition to any TDIU claim due to their specialized knowledge and understanding of the workplace, including employer tolerances, what physical and mental requirements there are for certain jobs, and the impact of training or education on employability. The VE is a key part to ensuring that even when there may be discrepancies in the record or vocational aspects of a case have not necessarily been examined completely, the impact of a veteran’s service-connected conditions on the workforce are explored fully.

References

Worthen, Mark, Psych C&P Exams are Unfair to Veterans (January 15, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3102447 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3102447

http://www.cavcbar.net/Winter_VLJ_2014.pdf

Bertoni, D. (2015). Veterans’ disability benefits: Improvements needed to better ensure VA unemployability decisions are well supported. Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office.

VA TDIU Total Disability Individual Unemployment – Vocational Expert Services for Veterans Disability

TDIU Total Disability Individual Unemployment – TDIU Vocational Expert Services for Veterans Disability Claims

A veteran is entitled to a 100% disability (Total Disability) rating if he can establish that his service-connected disability[ies] preclude him from substantial gainful employment, Individual Unemployment

SouthEast Vocational Experts have been providing Vocational and Occupational assessments for over 20 years. We have also served as an unbiased expert for the U.S. Government in more than 1,000 cases. We have performed over 3,000 assessments.

We can provide a Vocational Evaluation (Social & Industrial Surveys) in Veteran’s Disability cases to prove Total Disability Individual Un-employability in (TDIU) Cases.

Total Disability & Individual Unemployuability (TDIU)

VA adjudicator must consider a report documenting the Veteran’s un-employability from a Vocational Expert.

∞ TDIU Vocational Evaluation

A Social & industrial survey (Vocational Evaluation) done by a Vocational Expert can be used as valuable evidence to support a veteran’s TDIU Claim, and help get Faster Decisions.

Many times the VA uses a Social Worker to fill a basic form out, but a Social Worker isn’t an Expert in Medical & Psychological issues in disability nor are they an Expert in Vocational Issues. This is why you need this performed by a Vocational Expert.

Forensic Vocational Experts have the clinical knowledge and expertise to bridge the gap between a person’s medical & psychological limitations and how they will affect the persons employability, so that the VA Adjudicator will be informed as to how the medical and psychological limitations affect a person’s employability.

Vocational Expert in Veterans Disability & TDIU Assessment

We serve Veterans with disabilities & Veteran Advocates nationwide, including clients near all VA regional offices and their areas of jurisdiction: places such as Montgomery, Alabama; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; South Carolina; North Carolina; San diego, California; San Fransisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Oakland, California; San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware, Washington, D.C.; St. Petersburg, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; Wichita, Kansas; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Togus, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; St. Paul, Minnesota; Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Ft. Harrison, Montana; Lincoln, Nebraska; Reno, Nevada; Manchester, New Hampshire; Newark, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; New York City; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Fargo, North Dakota; Cleveland, Ohio; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Columbia, South Carolina; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston and Waco, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; White River Junction, Vermont; Roanoke, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; Huntington, West Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Vocational Evaluation – Disability Evaluation – Vocational Expert

Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2) We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic Vocational Interview

This will be a review of the Veteran’s history and will also outline the Veteran’s age, education, current work status, past work experience, skills, current medical & psychological impairment(s), treatments, and physical & psychological limitations.

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3) Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

– If needed we will create Medical and/or Psychological Source forms and/or Mental Residual Functional Capacity (MRFC), Physical Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). This will be the disabled individual or their Representative responsibility to get completed and returned to us.

4) Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

Based on the case we will determine what assessments need to be completed. We will assess not only aptitudes but also may measure Attention, Concentration (ADHD), Memory, Cognitive Abilities, IQ, Mental Health / Psychiatric Measures (Depression, Bi-Polar, Acute Anxiety, GAD, PTSD, Schizophrenia, etc.)

5) Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6) Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

The results of the vocational evaluation enable the Vocational Expert to render an opinion as to the employability of the permanently injured veteran’s and their ability to perform substantial gainful work activity based on quantifiable, accurate, and current information using Veteran’s Disability standards.

We serve individuals nationwide, including clients near all VA regional offices and their areas of jurisdiction: places such as Montgomery, Alabama; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; South Carolina; North Carolina; San diego, California; San Fransisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Oakland, California; San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware, Washington, D.C.; St. Petersburg, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; Wichita, Kansas; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Togus, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; St. Paul, Minnesota; Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Ft. Harrison, Montana; Lincoln, Nebraska; Reno, Nevada; Manchester, New Hampshire; Newark, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; New York City; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Fargo, North Dakota; Cleveland, Ohio; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Columbia, South Carolina; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston and Waco, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; White River Junction, Vermont; Roanoke, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; Huntington, West Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Benefits of Adding A Vocational Expert Report in your TDIU claim for VA Disability

If you have dealt with applying for benefits with the VA long enough, it probably comes as no surprise to learn that the VA often disagrees about claims of total disability individual unemployability (TDIU).

Vocational expert evaluation and report can go a long way in proving that a veteran does in fact qualify for TDIU.

In claims without a vocational experts assessment/report, the VA relies on VA doctors to make the determination of unemployability; however, in most cases, only an experienced vocational expert has the knowledge to determine whether a veteran qualifies for TDIU. This is because the VA doctors think in medical terms and limitations and not vocational terms and work place issues, conflicts, and limitations. So the VA doctors arent able to fully delineate how one or more medical issues affects a persons ability to work nor their ability to obtain and maintain employment.

Talk to a Vocational Expert with experience handling TDIU claims for help today.

The Benefits of having a Vocational Experts assessment can make or break a VA disability claim

In a many TDIU claim, a veteran claims that they cannot return to their former employment, own occupation, because of a service-connected disability. The question then shifts to whether the veteran has the education, work experience, transferrable skill set, and adequate physical and mental capacity to secure and maintain another type of employment, any Occupation.

Many times you will hear that a claim was denied because the VA Judge reports the person can do UNskilled SEDENTARY WORK. The reality is, the only what to beat this if it occurs is to have a Vocational Expert assess your claim and limitations.

Vocational experts have the industrial knowledge and expertise to evaluate the opportunities in the current marketplace compared to the veteran’s current circumstances. A vocational expert often is the only person qualified to render an expert opinion on a veteran’s ability to obtain another position and can critically alter the final decision in a TDIU claim.

A vocational expert creates a vocational assessment report for the TDIU claim, which can overcome unqualified opinions rendered by VA doctors and C&P examiners who lack experience and expertise in the vocational field. This report will typically include a review of the veteran’s medical record, identification of the service-related conditions, a breakdown of the veteran’s prior work experience, an evaluation of transferable skills, and a vocational discussion about the potential for this veteran’s ability to return to work. This report helps to point out limitations connected to service-related disabilities and improve your chances of qualifying for a TDIU claim.

VA doctor evaluations typically only look at the individual disability and whether that disability prevents you from working. A vocational expert considers other aspects of how this disability might affect employment, such as the effects of pain and medication associated with disability and whether it affects the ability to concentrate, focus, complete instructions, and complete tasks in a timely manner. A vocational expert’s review also takes into consideration things like the veteran’s ability to communicate with managers and fellow employees, adaptability to stressful situations, and what accommodations would need to be necessary to employ this particular veteran. A VA doctor or C&P examiner takes none of this into consideration when making a determination about TDIU claims, which is why having a vocational expert report included in your application for benefits can be such a beneficial addition to your claims.

We at SouthEast Vocational Experts serve Veterans with disabilities & Veteran Advocates nationwide, including clients near all VA regional offices and their areas of jurisdiction: places such as Montgomery, Alabama; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; South Carolina; North Carolina; San diego, California; San Fransisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Oakland, California; San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware, Washington, D.C.; St. Petersburg, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; Wichita, Kansas; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Togus, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; St. Paul, Minnesota; Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Ft. Harrison, Montana; Lincoln, Nebraska; Reno, Nevada; Manchester, New Hampshire; Newark, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; New York City; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Fargo, North Dakota; Cleveland, Ohio; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Columbia, South Carolina; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston and Waco, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; White River Junction, Vermont; Roanoke, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; Huntington, West Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Georgia Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2) We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic Vocational Interview

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3) Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

4) Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

5) Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6) Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

Georgia Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2) We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic Vocational Interview

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3) Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

4) Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

5) Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6) Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

SouthEast Vocational Experts and

Georgia Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2) We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic Vocational Interview

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3) Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

4) Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

5) Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6) Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

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