Which permanent disability is presumed to be total in character?

Which permanent disability is presumed to be total in character?

• A. Loss of sight in an eye
• B. Loss of the use of both hands
• C. Loss of both legs above the knee
• D. Serious brain injury

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that some permanent disabilities are treated as total disability because they eliminate almost all ability to work. Losing both hands is the clearest case: hands are essential for virtually every job, so losing their use makes it essentially impossible to perform substantial gainful work. That’s why this condition is presumed to be total in character for disability determinations. Loss of sight in a single eye doesn’t automatically equal total disability because many jobs can still be performed with good vision in the other eye. Losing both legs above the knee is extremely severe, but not automatically deemed total in every case since prosthetics and rehabilitation can allow some work, depending on circumstances. A serious brain injury’s impact varies widely and is assessed rather than presumed total. So, the option describing loss of the use of both hands best fits the presumption of total disability.

The main idea is that some permanent disabilities are treated as total disability because they eliminate almost all ability to work. Losing both hands is the clearest case: hands are essential for virtually every job, so losing their use makes it essentially impossible to perform substantial gainful work. That’s why this condition is presumed to be total in character for disability determinations.

Loss of sight in a single eye doesn’t automatically equal total disability because many jobs can still be performed with good vision in the other eye. Losing both legs above the knee is extremely severe, but not automatically deemed total in every case since prosthetics and rehabilitation can allow some work, depending on circumstances. A serious brain injury’s impact varies widely and is assessed rather than presumed total.

So, the option describing loss of the use of both hands best fits the presumption of total disability.