Dabdoub Law Firm recently represented a client battling debilitating health conditions and seeking to appeal her claim with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. Our firm requested Lincoln to validate our client's appeal and disburse all unpaid retroactive benefits due. At the age of 60, our client grapples with widespread pain and overwhelming fatigue. Her medical records confirm multiple diagnoses, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease (cervical/lumbar), cervicalgia, cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy.
Unveiling the Severity of Our Client's Condition
The persistent and unyielding pain compelled our client to seek further medical intervention. She consulted with orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Jonathan Gottlieb, whose treatment note substantiated the MRI findings, showing multilevel degenerative spondylosis with effacement of the spinal cord. Recent medical examinations have further revealed the extent of our client's health issues.
A cervical MRI highlighted:
- Multilevel disk protrusions
- Multilevel focal cord edema at C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6
- Cord impingement at C5-C6 and C4-5
These MRI findings serve as compelling evidence for insurance carriers like Lincoln, particularly when reviewing claims founded on chronic pain. Furthermore, a lumbar MRI detected a disk herniation at L4-L5, impinging on the exiting nerve root. In addition to spinal degeneration, our client has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia by her treating rheumatologist. Dr. Gottlieb confirmed that our client suffers from “diffuse and probably multifactorial pain affecting the neck and back. Symptoms have been chronic.”
Addressing Discrepancies in Functional Limitations
Despite the clear medical evidence, Lincoln suggested in its denial letter that our client was not functionally limited in any way. However, her medical records tell a different story. To conclusively address any questions about our client's physical capabilities, she underwent a functional capacity evaluation. Such evaluations are widely recognized as the most reliable method to assess an individual's functional level. Courts have acknowledged that licensed physical therapists conducting these tests are professionally trained and ideally suited to evaluate how a specific injury affects functional ability.
We hope that Lincoln will consider all the supporting evidence and approve our client's appeal for the disability benefits she rightly deserves.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims
This law firm has always focused only on disability insurance law. Because we specialize in long-term disability, our clients get the benefit of:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims;
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company; and
- Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call the Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side. We can help with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim;
- Appealing a long-term disability denial;
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement; and/or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
The firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, even if we are not located in your state.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.
