Prudential approved long-term disability benefits for our client who lives in St. Cloud, Florida. A former line/plant maintenance technician, the client initially stopped working due to a fracture in his left knee from a work-related injury. He was later diagnosed with several medical conditions that cause daily chronic low back pain, fatigue, radiculopathy, and shortness of breath. Prudential initially approved his short-term and long-term disability claims, but later terminated benefits when the definition of disability changed under the policy from his own, heavy occupation, to a sedentary one.
While Prudential’s long-term disability termination letter acknowledged our client’s medical conditions it hinged the termination on the paper-based review of its physician consultant.
We were contacted to handle the appeal of Prudential’s long-term disability claim termination. In addition to having our client’s doctors complete medical questionnaires, we obtained updated medical records from all attending physicians as well as prescription history. During the pendency of the appeal, our client was forced to have an emergency room visit due to his pain. Our appeal letter focused on the medical evidence and how Prudential could not reasonably conclude our client was capable of working even in a sedentary occupation. All of our client’s doctors unanimously opined he could sit, stand, and walk for two hours or less in a workday. Additionally, our firm continually followed up with Prudential to ensure a decision was made within the timeframe required under ERISA.
Dabdoub Law Firm was built to be a disability insurance law firm. Because all our disability lawyers focus on disability insurance claims, the firm has significant experience with every major disability insurance company and has won important disability lawsuits.
The firm can help at any stage of your long term disability claim, including:
- submitting a disability insurance claim;
- appealing a long-term disability denial; or
- filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Hiring an experienced disability attorney is important. Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, our lawyers do not have to be located in your state.
Call for a free consultation with an experienced disability attorney.
