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.
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.
Deb – Nurse Case Manager – Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Seizure Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Short-Term Memory Deficits
A Nurse Case Manager from Tennessee stopped working due to depression, anxiety and non-epileptic seizures. After receiving benefits for 24 months, the insurance company terminated her benefits alleging that all of her conditions were mental health related and subject to a twenty-fourth month limitation. Distraught at how The Standard completely ignored her seizure disorder that greatly impacted her daily life as just a manifestation of her underlying mental health condition, she reached out to the attorneys at Fields Law Firm to assist with her appeal.
The team at Fields Law obtained all of our client’s medical records, the Social Security Administration’s file for her disability claim, and requested narrative reports from her most supportive doctors, including her primary care physician and neurologist. Our attorneys meticulously combed through The Standard’s administrative record, the Long Term Disability policy, and our client’s medical records to identify all of the instances where our client’s seizure disorder was documented as an organic brain disorder, not subject to the 24-month mental health limitation. Based on how her claim had been handled by The Standard, our client was convinced that they would uphold their denial. Nonetheless, the attorneys at Fields Law put together a strong appeal reinforced with updated medical records and our client’s doctors’ supportive narratives. The Standard reversed its decision and reinstated our client’s benefits.
