🎖️ VALOR

A Lifetime of Service: The Story of Master Sergeant Perry Brewer

In this Story of Valor, we’re proud to feature Attorney Shannon Brewer, who shares a moving tribute to her father, Master Sergeant Perry Brewer — a man whose dedication to family, country, and quiet heroism defined his life both in and out of uniform.

My dad was born in Pikeville, Kentucky in 1938.  He missed out on a basketball scholarship due to a broken ankle during  his senior year of high school, and he didn’t want to work in the coal mines, so he enlisted in the Air Force and made it a career, retiring as a Master Sergeant.  He served all over the world, and we once figured out that he had completely circled the globe. He was a part of the Joint Communications Support Element out of MacDill Air Force Base, and he often had to deploy to places where his family could not go with him.  That was hard for him because we were always his top priority. 

I grew up on Air Force bases, and I remember him gently but firmly stopping my brothers and I when the National Anthem was played so that we all stood at attention.  He taught me that if I wasn’t five minutes early, I was late, and he had me convinced that if I returned a library book late to the base library that it would be a stain on his “permanent Air Force record.” He was a person who knew that there was a right way and a wrong way to do anything...and we were going to do it the right way.  

After he retired from the Air Force, he took a job at a wallpaper plant where he worked another 20 years and retired again.  He instilled in us the value of hard work.

He was the most unassuming, gentlest man I have ever known, and he never told us any stories about his heroism.  Those stories, we heard from other people, who couldn’t believe that he hadn’t already told us what happened.  We found out from the TV news when he pulled someone from a burning car and then walked away once rescue workers got there, because he wasn’t needed anymore, and he certainly didn’t want any credit. We found out from someone my dad served with when the brakes had failed on the vehicle he was driving and that he backed all the way down a mountain road at high speeds with no brakes.  He said it was the most amazing driving he had ever seen.  My dad never said a word.

For all of those amazing things he did, he was a hero to the world.  But he was my hero because of the night he stayed up with me looking up the state flower and state bird for every state so that I could finish a school project on time, or the times he let me dunk my doughnuts in his coffee (he didn’t like sugar in his coffee), or the hours he spent quizzing me on state capitals, teaching me to read a map, or teaching me to drive or how to change a tire or jump the battery in my car.  

He is why my job representing veterans, is so close to my heart.

Honor veterans like Perry Brewer and watch more stories on our YouTube channel.

⚖️ EXPERTS

Understanding Permanent and Total (P&T) VA Disability

For many veterans, navigating the VA disability system can feel overwhelming. One of the most important concepts to understand is Permanent and Total (P&T) disability, which provides lifelong stability in benefits for veterans whose service-connected conditions are both fully disabling and unlikely to improve. 

What Is a VA Disability Rating? 

The VA assigns disability ratings to quantify the severity of a veteran's service-connected condition. 

These ratings are expressed as percentages and determine monthly compensation and eligibility for additional benefits such as health care and housing support. 

What Does "Total Disability" Mean? 

A total disability rating refers to a veteran's condition, which is considered 100% disabling. 

This rating recognizes that the veteran's ability to maintain substantially gainful employment is severely limited. 

Key points about total disability: 

• Can result from a single condition or a combination of multiple disabilities. 

• Reflects the most severe level of impairment recognized by the VA. 

• Does not automatically mean the condition is permanent. 

What Is a Permanent Disability? 

A permanent disability is one that the VA determines is unlikely to improve over time. 

Characteristics of a permanent rating: 

• No routine medical reexaminations are scheduled. 

• The VA does not expect significant improvement in the condition. 

• Benefits and compensation remain consistent long-term. 

For many veterans, a permanent rating provides peace of mind and financial security. 

What Is Permanent and Total (P&T) Disability? 

When a disability is both 100% disabling and permanent, it is classified as Permanent and Total (P&T). 

This status ensures the veteran's benefits remain stable and uninterrupted, without the risk of future reduction. 

To qualify for P&T status, a condition typically includes: 

• Long-term or lifelong illnesses that are fully incapacitating. 

• Injuries that are not expected to heal or improve. 

• Permanent loss or loss of use of essential body parts such as hands, feet, or eyes. 

How to Obtain a P&T Rating 

Securing a P&T designation requires medical evidence showing that your condition is both severe and unchanging. 

Steps include: 

1. Filing a disability claim with the VA. 

2. Submitting thorough medical documentation supporting permanence. 

3. Requesting a P&T review through your VA Regional Office if your condition qualifies. 

Because the process can be complex, many veterans benefit from working with an experienced VA disability attorney to ensure their evidence meets VA standards. 

Why P&T Status Matters 

A P&T rating provides both clarity and security. Veterans with P&T status are protected from routine reevaluations, ensuring their benefits continue for life. 

If you believe your condition qualifies, but your claim was denied or reduced, don't give up. A free case evaluation with a qualified attorney can help you understand your options and secure the benefits you've earned. If you’re facing challenges with your claim and need assistance, reach out for a free case evaluation.

🦅SUPPORT

Attention: Join us every Tuesday at 1400 hours EST for a new Livestream with our legal team!

Join us to get your questions about VA disability law and the claims process answered by our legal team. Comments open 1 hour prior to the Livestream starting, so get there early to get your question in. We try to answer as many as we can!

Were You Exposed to Asbestos During Military Service?

Many U.S. veterans were exposed to asbestos during their time in service, often without knowing the risks. Years later, this exposure has led to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung cancers for countless veterans.

If you served in the military and have been diagnosed, you may qualify for compensation. Our firm proudly helps veterans and their families pursue the benefits and justice they deserve.

Act now. Contact us today at (855) 494-1298 to learn more about your options or to begin your claim. You’ve served your country; let us serve you.

🗺️ TACTICS

The Hidden Perks of Permanent and Total Disability Benefits

In this discussion, Hill & Ponton CEO Matthew Hill and Principal Attorney Carol Ponton break down the many benefits available to veterans who receive a 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) rating.

Attorney Ponton explains that P&T status provides far more than monthly compensation. Veterans with this rating qualify for comprehensive VA health care, covering all medical needs; even those unrelated to service. That includes hearing aids, glasses, and dental work. Ponton notes that because the VA often can't meet the growing demand for dental care, many veterans are being referred to private dentists and receiving excellent treatment.

She also highlights a wide range of state-level perks. In states such as Florida and Texas, P&T veterans pay no property taxes, and many states offer free vehicle registration, driver's licenses, and fishing licenses. Veterans and dependents can also receive military ID cards, allowing access to base facilities, commissaries, and space-available military flights worldwide.

Since these programs vary widely, they encourage veterans to check what's available in their home state by searching for "100% Permanent and Total service-connected benefits" along with their state's name.  

They note that benefits often differ by county, emphasizing that veterans will not qualify for these extras unless the VA specifically lists Permanent and Total on their rating. If a veteran is granted Individual Unemployability (IU) or a 100% rating without that designation, Hill advises filing an appeal and asking the VA to explain why P&T was not granted.

The attorneys also point out that some disabilities, such as prostate cancer, are considered temporary at the 100% level during treatment and won't qualify for P&T. Still, veterans with lifelong or unchanging conditions should always request the Permanent and Total status to gain access to the full range of federal and state benefits, including CHAMPVA health coverage for spouses and dependents. 

Attorney Hill closes the discussion by reminding veterans that P&T helps offer true peace of mind. 

"If you think you have something that is permanent & total, you're 100% [disabled], make sure you fight for this because these are benefits definitely worth getting," he says. 

Need Help with an Appeal? Hill & Ponton is Here for You

At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans navigate the VA appeals process to secure the benefits they rightfully deserve. Whether you're facing a denied claim, an appeal for a higher rating, or need assistance gathering critical evidence, our team is ready to advocate for you.

Use our VA Disability Calculator to see if your current rating aligns with your level of disability and explore potential increases based on any secondary conditions you may have. Calculate Your VA Disability Rating Now!