When pursuing TDIU benefits, many veterans wonder about the cost of hiring a vocational expert to strengthen their claim. Understanding pricing upfront helps you decide whether this investment makes sense for your VA benefits case.
Vocemploy offers a flat-fee TDIU vocational assessment for $1,599 – see full pricing details on our pricing page. View complete pricing and what's included.
Understanding TDIU Vocational Expert Fees
Industry pricing for TDIU vocational evaluations varies widely. Some providers bill hourly, so the final total depends on how long the work takes. Vocemploy uses a single $1,599 flat fee that covers the full assessment—no surprise add-ons for records review, interview, analysis, or the written report.
Unlike VA disability attorneys who work on contingency, vocational experts generally require payment before or at the start of the evaluation. A flat-fee model gives you cost certainty from the first consultation.
Our standard flat-fee package includes:
- Free case fit check before you pay anything
- Medical records and rating decision review
- Structured vocational interview with a CRC-credentialed expert
- Transferable skills and labor market analysis
- Written vocational opinion report suitable for VA submission
- Turnaround of 5–7 business days, starting once both your records and the completed interview are in hand
What Can Affect Whether You Need an Evaluation?
While the fee stays flat, the value of an evaluation depends on your claim stage and evidence gaps:
After a denial: When the VA says you can perform sedentary work, a vocational report directly rebuts that finding.
Before a BVA hearing: An independent expert opinion is evidence the Board may consider.
When C&P exams miss employability: Medical records alone rarely explain why competitive work is not realistic.
What's Included in the $1,599 Flat Fee
Vocemploy's flat fee is all-inclusive for the core TDIU vocational assessment:
- Complete vocational assessment and employability analysis
- Detailed written report addressing substantially gainful employment
- Labor market survey using DOT and O*NET classifications
- Transferable skills analysis tied to your functional limitations
- Coordination with your attorney if you have one
The only separate charge is expert testimony at a BVA hearing or deposition, which is quoted individually if needed. See our full pricing breakdown for details.
A quality vocational evaluation can help document your claim. With transparent flat-fee pricing, you know exactly what you're paying before you commit.
When Do You Need a Vocational Expert?
Not every TDIU claim requires independent vocational evidence. You may benefit most when:
- The VA denied your claim based on sedentary work availability
- Your disabilities are multiple or combined (PTSD plus physical conditions, for example)
- Your work history is primarily physical labor with limited transferable skills
- Medical records describe diagnoses but not work-related functional loss
- You're filing a supplemental claim or Board appeal after an employability denial
Veterans exploring direct hire options should read whether you can hire a vocational expert directly. Attorneys can learn how we partner on TDIU cases on our attorneys page.
Is the Investment Worth It?
When evaluating cost, consider the context. If granted, TDIU is paid at the 100% disability rate, at the VA's published rate, for as long as you remain eligible. By comparison, Vocemploy's evaluation is a one-time $1,599 flat fee for professional vocational evidence; it cannot guarantee a VA decision.
Vocemploy starts every case with a free consultation. If a vocational opinion won't materially help your claim, we'll tell you before you pay. View complete pricing and what's included, or request a free case review to get started.