VA Permanent and Total Disability Claims

Military members often sustain severe injuries during service, which can cause severe disabilities. Depending on your VA disability rating, you may need to file VA permanent and total disability claims to seek benefits.

At Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC we serve US veterans worldwide, and provide guidance on VA disability eligibility and claims. We can explain permanent and total disability, help you understand the benefits, and assist with claims. Call us today at 734-930-9200 to consult with a disability claim lawyer by phone, video or in-person at our Ann Arbor, MI office.

Understanding Permanent and Total Disability

The VA rates disabilities on a scale of 0% to 100%. Your disability rating affects what sort of benefits you can claim.

Your disability may fall anywhere on the scale, but there are two categories of note:

• Permanent Disability: This is a disability that you sustained during military service that has medical evidence showing that it won’t improve. Examples include lost limbs and paralysis. Basically, it gives you a permanent rating, preventing the VA from lowering it at any point.
• Total Disability: This means that you are 100% disabled. You may need constant care, extensive accommodations or otherwise need help with everyday life.

Other types of VA ratings include:

• 100% Schedular: Even if you have a permanent disability, that may not prevent you from securing employment. This rating represents that you are an individual that has a total disability but can still maintain employment.
• TDIU: Sometimes, individuals who aren’t totally disabled can’t maintain employment. If you have a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) rating, you must be at least 60% disabled or have a total rating of 70% or more.
• 100% P&T: P&T—or 100% Disabled, Permanently and Totally—means the VA’s decided you are both permanently and totally disabled. This means that you have a 100% disability rating, and the VA can’t lower it at any point.

Benefits You Qualify for with a Permanently and Totally (P&T) Disability Rating

A 100% P&T rating is rare, but it comes with many benefits, including:

• Free healthcare
• Housing assistance
• Social Security payments
• College resources
• Job training

In addition, your spouse and dependents can access benefits. Your dependents can qualify for education assistance, healthcare through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), and payments through Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) should you pass away.

Pursuing a 100% P&T rating isn’t always easy, as you’ll need enough medical evidence to prove both. In addition, even if you do have this rating, navigating the VA permanent and total disability claims process can be difficult. Partnering with a qualified attorney makes to claims process easier.

Contact a Disability Compensation Attorney From Anywhere Worldwide

The VA permanent and total disability claims process is complicated. A qualified attorney can help you understand permanent and total disability, appeal a denied claim, and more.

At Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC we care deeply about our clients and know the ins and outs of VA claims. We provide our clients with reliable advice and representation. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, call us at 734-930-9200 or fill out our online form to request a phone, video or in-person consultation.