A woman in New Haven, Florida required long-term disability (LTD) benefits due to complications from her Lyme disease that rendered her effectively unable to work. Her case is somewhat unique in that she was only 22-years old when she filed for disability benefits. CIGNA, the responding insurance company, chose to deny her claim, saying she did not provide enough evidence of her disability. Dabdoub Law Firm and our experienced disability benefits attorneys represented her and sent a challenge letter that outlined the many specifics of the disabling conditions she was experiencing.
Details of the Young Lyme Disease Case
Our client worked for GEICO as a customer service representative with a hopeful future with the company. When she was only 22-years old, though, lingering complications from Lyme disease made continuing her work so painful that even sedentary work could not reasonably be completed.
Lyme disease symptoms that have lingered with our client include but are not limited to:
- Chronic fatigue
- Vomiting and nausea
- Cognitive impairment
- Chronic pain
Several treatment methods have been used to try to alleviate her symptoms, but none have been effective. She continues to struggle to this day with the disabling nature of her condition, which has taken her from a career she loved.
Despite her conditions, CIGNA denied her disability claim, acting as if there was no clear evidence that she was disabled. It seemed to suggest that her pain and fatigue were symptoms she could ignore, and it did not provide much feedback regarding her mental health difficulties caused by her varied symptoms.
At Dabdoub Law Firm, encountering an LTD benefits denial based on what seems to be an arbitrary decision is nothing new, though. We recognized that CIGNA had willfully or unintentionally sidestepped its fiduciary duty to our client to properly investigate her claim and conditions. Or, as it is described in ERISA law, the insurer owed our client’s case a “full and fair review,” which clearly had not been done.
We challenged the wrongful denial of her benefits with an intricate and thorough explanation of her conditions and how it dramatically limits her capacity for work. Using medical reviews from her treating doctors and specialists, as well as descriptions of what is expected both in her career field and the average place of employment, we outlined definitively how she was disabled by her Lyme disease. To discard her claim just because she is young was outwardly wrong of CIGNA, and we were not about to let the decision stand.
We are thankful to be able to say that CIGNA backed away from its denial when it received our letter. At the threat of litigation with one of the country’s top LTD benefits law firms, the insurer conceded and gave our client her benefits.
Help from a Lawyer with Expertise in Disability Insurance
Disability insurance law is complex. Hiring an experienced disability attorney is important. Because all disability lawyers at Dabdoub Law Firm focus on disability insurance claims, we have expertise in disability insurance law.
When we represent you and your LTD claim, you will benefit from our:
- Experience with every major disability insurance company;
- Proven track record of success by winning major disability lawsuits; and
- Recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits for clients.
And, we never charge fees or costs unless our clients get paid.
Our firm can help at any stage of your disability insurance claim, including:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim;
- Appealing a long-term disability denial;
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement; or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, our lawyers are able to represent clients across the country.
Call (800) 969-0488 to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Consultations are free.
