Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against The Standard
Fields Law Firm successfully recovers millions of dollars each year for our disabled clients throughout the United States. Our Long Term Disability experience is matched by very few other law firms in the country and has earned us a national reputation.
Here are just a few examples of our Long Term Disability appeal case wins against The Standard.
Kim – Service Account Manager – Goodview, Virginia
Failed Back Syndrome, Degenerative Disc Disease, Enthesopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lumbar Radiculitis, Migraines, PTSD, Major Depression, Major Anxiety, Morbid Obesity
A 47-year old woman who worked as a Service Account Manager went out of work due to Failed Back Syndrome, Degenerative Disc Disease, Enthesopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lumbar Radiculitis, Migraines, PTSD, Major Depression, Major Anxiety, and Morbid Obesity. The employer provided a Long Term Disability policy, which she had elected to receive coverage under. When she became eligible for Long Term Disability benefits from the policy’s carrier, she applied for coverage and benefits. She was initially approved for benefits and received monthly benefits for a little over two years.
However, the insurer terminated her Long Term Disability benefits, indicating no benefits were payable because they concluded she did not meet the definition of “Disabled”. The insurer felt she could work any sedentary occupation based on her education and previous employment. They based the decision to terminate benefits on a Physician Consultant’s review of the medical records on file, which did not include even half of her records.
Upset with the arbitrary decision to terminate benefits, she contacted Fields Law Firm to submit an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law were able to pull together all of our client’s medical records, generate physician reports, obtain a vocational report, and submit a comprehensive appeal. Due to the appeal our attorneys had submitted, the insurance company issued a new decision and overturned its prior denial of Long Term Disability benefits. The insurer reinstated benefits and issued a backpay check for the months that it failed to pay our client.
Jeanie – Critical and Intensive Care Nurse – Seven, Virginia
Inoperable Stroke, Complications with Memory Impairment, Loss of Peripheral Vision, Disorientation
A Virginia woman had worked as a Critical and Intensive Care Nurse for 20 years before suffering from an inoperable stroke. She further developed complications with memory impairment, loss of peripheral vision, and chronic disorientation. Suddenly unable to continue working, she applied for Long Term Disability benefits from her insurer. However, The Standard denied her benefits on application. The denial letter claimed she had been prescribed medications to treat diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, which were risk factors for cardiovascular events, including strokes. On this basis, The Standard claimed she had a pre-existing condition, and denied her benefits.
She needed help appealing The Standard’s decision and found the attorneys at Fields Law. Our team of attorneys gathered evidence from The Standard, ordered updated medical records, and coordinated with her providers to acquire expert reports. Our attorneys drafted a strong appeal challenging the insurance company on both the pre-existing denial, and their peer review reports. The Standard returned a decision within a month, overturning her prior denial and reinstating benefits. Our client soon had a check for back benefits in hand, and was secure knowing the experts at Fields Law had helped get the benefits she deserved.
Selena – Health Care Coordinator – Spring Hill, Tennessee
Seizure Disorder, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, Narcolepsy, Post-Concussive Syndrome, TBI, Sleep Apnea, Celiac Disease, IBS
A 38 year old female worked as a Health Care Coordinator, a job she thoroughly enjoyed as it permitted her to interact with and help people who are in need. Her job was demanding as it required her to constantly be on her feet, helping individuals with mental health issues. While she wasn’t a trained psychiatrist, her job required her to provide a preliminary diagnosis so that the patient could be directed to the proper doctor for treatment. Analysis and positivity were at the heart of her job as she worked with people that sometimes were in a state of deep depression.
Unfortunately, she began experiencing dizziness and fatigue which, over time, evolved into fainting spells. Understandably, this made doing her job nearly impossible and she saw a doctor for help. She was diagnosed with seizure disorder and fibromyalgia and was advised that she should be extraordinarily cautious in performing the duties of her job. She continued with her job for several months, but eventually it became impossible to maintain the stamina the job required and she determined she needed to file for disability.
The Standard made payments for a brief period, but then suddenly and without any warning, issued a denial. Fearful that she would be unable to take care of herself and her children, she hired the Fields Law. Our attorneys collected supportive records and reports from her medical doctors and filed an appeal, which The Standard reviewed and quickly reversed its denial. Our client was overjoyed that she would now have money to take care of herself as she strives to figure out, with her doctors, how she can get better and return to work.