Permanent partial disability means you have an impairment that didn’t go away after you recovered from a workplace injury or illness.

Permanent partial disability (PPD) claims are the most common type of workers’ compensation cases, making up more than half of all workers’ comp claims nationwide. Permanent partial disabilities can be caused by either a work-related injury or an occupational disease. PPD means that some form of permanent impairment exists, which makes a worker unable to perform at his or her full capacity. Permanent partial disability is different than a total disability, which means a person can’t work at all, or is presumed to be totally disabled because of a loss of both eyes, both hands, or total paralysis.