A P&T rating can qualify veterans for various benefits, including monthly compensation, clothing allowances, and healthcare and education assistance. In addition to healthcare coverage through TRICARE or MEDICARE and Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA), it may also receive additional state-level benefits, like free hunting and fishing licenses and discounted state park passes.
What Is P&T Disability?
A Veteran may receive a P&T rating if their disabling conditions have been determined to be permanent and total. This means that they don’t have a chance of improvement and will not likely be reevaluated to lower their disability.
The VA usually lets veterans know when they are rated P&T in their rating decision letter. They may also have a checkmark next to the term “permanent and total.” A promising sign that you’re a P&T Veteran is if your rating decision letter says no future exams are scheduled.
Once a Veteran becomes a P&T scheduler or a P&T total disability, their rater should remove all flags for regularly scheduled reexaminations on any non-static disabilities. This can save both time and money on everyone’s part.
Veterans How Do I Apply for P&T Benefits?
Permanent and total disability is the highest VA benefits you can receive. It applies to veteran whose service-connected disabilities are both total (meaning they prevent the veteran from keeping “substantially gainful employment”) and permanent (meaning there is no expectation that their condition will improve). Rated P&T aren’t scheduled for medical exams and can’t have their ratings reduced.
The VA determines whether you meet the criteria for a P&T rating by reviewing your medical evaluations and evidence. This process is complex, and it’s crucial to have professional guidance to ensure you get the benefits you deserve. Being rated 100% P&T also gives you many additional benefits, including free healthcare for your dependent children. Additionally, many states offer property tax exemptions for disabled veteran rated 100% P&T.
However, P&T veterans benefits, also known as Permanent and Total disability benefits, offer crucial financial support and healthcare assistance to veterans whose service-connected disabilities are determined to be permanent and disabling by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Can I Work With P&T Disability?
When a veteran is rated 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) for one or more of their service-connected disabilities, they can’t work in a substantially gainful occupation. Veterans with a P&T disability rating need to understand the rules that pertain to employment and earning income, as this can impact their VA benefits.
A P&T rating protects veterans’ disability compensation benefits by making them less likely to be reevaluated for a reduced rating. This can save time and money for the Veterans and their dependents.
A P&T rating also opens the door to state benefits like free hunting and fishing licenses; discounted state park passes, and property tax exemptions for disabled veterans. Contact your state’s Department of Natural Resources or equivalent to find out what’s available.
Can I Get P&T Benefits if I Die?
If a veteran with a P&T rating dies, their surviving spouse and children may be eligible for Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC). DIC is the equivalent of Montgomery GI Bill benefits and covers education courses, career training, job placement services, on-the-job training, and more. Check with your local Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more about DIC benefits at the state level.
To get a P&T rating, it’s essential to have substantial medical evidence that clearly shows how your condition affects you. An LTD lawyer can help you gather and submit this evidence. Our attorneys can also help you appeal your claim if you’re denied.
What Can I Do If I’m Denied?
For a veteran to receive a P&T rating, their service-related disabilities must meet the criteria for both total and permanent disability. A permanent and total rating is a special status that can lead to certain benefits, including specially adapted housing grants.
If you are rated TDIU, your benefits may include healthcare through CHAMPVA and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for your dependents if you die from service-connected disabilities. In addition, a TDIU rating can lead to state benefits, like help with paying utility bills and medical expenses and employment assistance programs.
If you are a rated P&T, the VA cannot reduce your rating unless you were convicted of fraud concerning your claim for a service-related disability or if your condition has improved significantly. However, you can still be subject to a Compensation and Pension (C&P) reexamination.
