A lasting impairment that reduces, but does not eliminate, a person's ability to work or function.

"Permanent" means the condition is not expected to fully heal, even after medical treatment and time off. "Partial" means the person is not totally disabled; some work capacity or bodily function remains. "Disability" can mean a measurable loss of movement, strength, sensation, or use of a body part, or a reduced ability to earn wages because of the injury. In practice, doctors often assign an impairment rating, and insurers use that rating to calculate benefits. In South Dakota workers' compensation cases, permanent partial disability benefits are governed by South Dakota Codified Laws chapter 62, including SDCL 62-4, and disputes often end up before the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.

This matters fast because once a worker reaches maximum medical improvement, the case can shift from temporary benefits to permanent disability benefits. If the rating is too low, the worker can lose money permanently. That risk can be acute in physically demanding jobs, including agriculture and meatpacking, where employers and insurers may argue that a worker can still do "some" work despite serious restrictions.

A permanent partial disability finding can also shape any related injury claim by documenting long-term harm, lost earning capacity, and future limitations. South Dakota allows full recovery of non-economic damages in civil injury cases because it has no cap on pain and suffering, but workers' compensation claims follow their own benefit rules and deadlines.