You do not have to specifically apply for IU. I wrote about this earlier in this thread.
The VA has a duty to assist Veterans with their claims. Part of that duty has been found by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) to mean that the VA has to not only adjudicate claims expressly raised by the veteran, it must also adjudicate any issues which are reasonably raised in all documents or oral testimony submitted prior to a final agency decision (i.e., BVA appeal).
See Pond v. West, 12 Vet. App. 341, 347 (1999); Brannon v. West, 12 Vet. App. 32, 34 (1998); Solomon v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 396, 402 (1994); EF v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 324, 326 (1991); Roberson, 251 F.3d at 1384 (holding that the VA must give a sympathetic reading to veteran's filings by determining all potential claims raised by the evidence, applying all relevant laws and regulations); Szemraj v. Principi, 357 F.3d 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
Even if you do not meet the percentages for your ratings to qualify for IU award under the schedule, you can still be awarded by virtue of an "extra- schedular" rating.
If evidence is submitted that reasonably shows that you may be entitled to IU, this is essentially an inferred claim. It must be considered by the VA:
"Once a claim is received, VA must review the claim, supporting documents, and oral testimony in a liberal manner to identify and adjudicate all reasonably raised claims. See EF v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 324, 326 (1991). Additionally, VA is required to apply all relevant law in adjudicating the claim even though not raised by the appellant. See Shockley v. West, 11 Vet. App. 208, 214 (1998) (citing EF v. Derwinski, supra); see also Collier v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 247, 251 (1992) (holding that although the appellant had not filed the specific form asking for individual unemployability, an informal claim was raised because he had continually stated he was unable to work due to his service-connected mental disorder); Akles v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 118, 121 (holding that VA was obliged to infer a claim for special monthly compensation where it "may be applicable and the veteran does not place his eligibility at issue"). Where such a review "reasonably reveals that the claimant is seeking a particular benefit, the Board is required to adjudicate the issue of the claimant's entitlement to such a benefit or, if appropriate, to remand the issue to the RO for development and adjudication of the issue." Suttman v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 127, 132 (1993); see generally Servello, 3 Vet. App. at 198-200 (discussing evidence that could show "a belief" by the veteran that he was entitled to TDIU)."
Norris v. W., 12 Vet. App. 413, 417 (U.S. App. Vet. Cl. 1999)
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