Crawford v. Liberty NW [4/3004] 2004 MTWCC 41 A claimant who has not reached maximum medical improvement is not eligible for permanent total disability benefits. §§ 39-71-702, MCA (1995-2001) and 39-71-116(23), MCA (1995). Lacking a factual foundation to do so, the Court will not address a contention that the provisions for permanent total disability allow permanent total disability benefits to be paid where the claimant has not reached maximum medical improvement with respect to all of his injuries but some of the claimant's injuries are at maximum medical improvement and are in themselves permanently totally disabling.