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.
James – Police Sergeant – Washington, District of Columbia
Residual Effects of a Subdural Hematoma, Headaches, Right Hand Cellulitis, Right Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear, Degenerative Disc Disease of Cervical Spine, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Diabetic Neuropathy
A former police sergeant from Washingotn, D.C. applied for Long Term Disability benefits after he stopped work due to several disabling conditions. Although initially approved, his benefits were terminated while he was briefly incarcerated. His conditions worsened, but The Standard believed he could perform duties of another gainful occupation.
At a loss of what to do, he contacted Fields Law for help. The attorneys at Fields reviewed the insurer’s claim file and submitted a very supportive appeal. The Standard determined our client to still be totally disabled and awarded back pay and future benefits.
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.
