Which of these would NOT likely qualify as a presumptive disability?

• A. Loss of sight in one eye
• B. Loss of both hands
• C. Loss of hearing
• D. Loss of speech

Answer: (A)

Presumptive disability means certain catastrophic losses are automatically treated as total and permanent disabilities, so benefits are paid without proving ongoing inability to work. Common qualifying losses include loss of sight in both eyes, loss of both hands, loss of hearing in both ears, or loss of speech. The crucial point is total impact on functioning. Losing sight in one eye doesn’t meet that threshold because vision remains in the other eye, so it wouldn’t typically trigger presumptive disability benefits. In contrast, losing both hands, losing hearing in both ears, or losing the ability to speak wipe out major functional capacities and are the kinds of losses usually treated as presumptively disabling.