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Success Story
ERISA Appeals
We Are a Nationwide Leader in Disability Insurance Law
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Over $250 Million Recovered for Our Clients

ERISA Appeals

Successful ERISA Appeal of Cigna Denial for High-Ranking Aviation Executive from Florida

A 61-year old woman with a prestigious role at a leading aviation company never imagined she would stop working due to medical concerns, nor did she want to end a rewarding and successful career. She suffers from debilitating and disabling conditions, including Spinal Stenosis, Lumbar Stenosis, L2-3 Central Foraminal Stenosis, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Hypertension, and its accompany limitations, including chronic pain, chronic migraine headaches, erratic gait and balance issues, chest pain, fluid in the brain, cognitive issues, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, numbness and tingling, joint and muscle pain, urinary urgency and weight gain. After evaluating her conditions, multiple medical professionals agreed she could no longer work. Despite significant medical support documenting her multiple conditions, CIGNA denied her long term disability benefits. She retained the Law Office of Justin Frankel to submit an appeal to overturn CIGNA’s wrongful denial. We provided ample support to CIGNA as to why she could no longer work on a full-time sustained basis in a physically and cognitively demanding career. We also worked closely with her numerous physicians in rebutting CIGNA’s inaccurate and unreliable peer reviews conducted by unqualified in-house physicians. Our appeal contained subjective medical support, narrative reports from treating physicians and a plethora of medical literature informing CIGNA of the severity of our client’s conditions. A few months after our appeal was submitted, CIGNA reversed its decision. Not only were our client’s benefits reinstated, but her long-term claim was approved as well. We continue to represent our client in monitoring her claim in ensuring that CIGNA does not terminate her disability claim and she is now able to focus on her health and self-care.

We Get Benefits Paid for Client with Mental Health Disability

A successful professor at a large university in her mid-30s came to us to for help when Sun Life denied her request for short-term disability insurance benefits. She suffered from CFE/ME and was unable to do the many tasks that go into teaching at the university level. Our appeal of the short-term disability denial was successful, and we continued to represent her as her claim moved from short-term disability to long-term disability. But there is another transition point in many disability insurance policies: when the long-term disability policy transitions from “own occupation” to “any occupation.” This is where Sun Life again took the opportunity to terminate her claim. To justify the denial, Sun Life relied upon limited surveillance and a paper review conducted by a physician (who is paid by the insurance company), and then coupled that with a deficient vocational review, which didn’t account for any of our client’s physical or cognitive limitations. As a professor, her work required significant cognitive challenges. She had to prepare coursework, grade papers and counsel students during office hours. It was also physical: she had to stand in front of a classroom for extended periods of time and travel between classes and her office on campus (this was pre-pandemic). When she first began suffering symptoms, like most claimants, she was unsure of the diagnosis, and spent time, money, and energy going through many different tests in the hope of uncovering what was behind her symptoms. When we engaged with the client, we were able to guide her toward the necessary and appropriate testing to help demonstrate impairment in a CFS/ME claim. Our client was examined and evaluated for CPET (Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Testing) by Dr. Betsy Keller at Ithaca College, one of a small handful of facilities who produce this testing, which has been held by courts to be the “gold standard” for providing evidence of impairment in CFS/ME claims. This two-day exercise test yields results measuring an individual’s level of functionality and is a data driven analysis, making it difficult to challenge. We also secured cognitive testing which demonstrated impairments in functionality that supported her inability to engage in any occupation on any sustained or predictable basis. Using these powerful test results and objective findings to support her claim of impairment, we worked with her doctors to develop responsive information and documentation to support her claim. We also developed a powerful statement from her describing the impact of her conditions upon her career and her ability to engage in any sustained activity. We worked to rebut the limited surveillance, arguing that it supported her claim of impairment, rather than any level of functionality. Armed with this evidence, we undercut Sun Life’s medical and vocational reviews, demonstrating that the evidence was utterly lacking in quality. Despite efforts to diffuse the power of our appeal submission, Sun Life ultimately relented and determined that our client did, in fact, meet the definition of disability for any occupation, and her long-term disability insurance benefits have been reinstated. She has now been paid to current status and remains on claim and under our guidance.

WE OVERCOME SUN LIFE DENIAL OF CLAIM FOR CLIENT WITH CFS/ME

A successful professor at a large university in her mid-30s came to us to for help when Sun Life denied her request for short-term disability insurance benefits. She suffered from CFE/ME and was unable to do the many tasks that go into teaching at the university level. Our appeal of the short-term disability denial was successful, and we continued to represent her as her claim moved from short-term disability to long-term disability. But there is another transition point in many disability insurance policies: when the long-term disability policy transitions from “own occupation” to “any occupation.” This is where Sun Life again took the opportunity to terminate her claim. To justify the denial, Sun Life relied upon limited surveillance and a paper review conducted by a physician (who is paid by the insurance company), and then coupled that with a deficient vocational review, which didn’t account for any of our client’s physical or cognitive limitations. As a professor, her work required significant cognitive challenges. She had to prepare coursework, grade papers and counsel students during office hours. It was also physical: she had to stand in front of a classroom for extended periods of time and travel between classes and her office on campus (this was pre-pandemic). When she first began suffering symptoms, like most claimants, she was unsure of the diagnosis, and spent time, money, and energy going through many different tests in the hope of uncovering what was behind her symptoms. When we engaged with the client, we were able to guide her toward the necessary and appropriate testing to help demonstrate impairment in a CFS/ME claim. Our client was examined and evaluated for CPET (Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Testing) by Dr. Betsy Keller at Ithaca College, one of a small handful of facilities who produce this testing, which has been held by courts to be the “gold standard” for providing evidence of impairment in CFS/ME claims. This two-day exercise test yields results measuring an individual’s level of functionality and is a data driven analysis, making it difficult to challenge. We also secured cognitive testing which demonstrated impairments in functionality that supported her inability to engage in any occupation on any sustained or predictable basis. Using these powerful test results and objective findings to support her claim of impairment, we worked with her doctors to develop responsive information and documentation to support her claim. We also developed a powerful statement from her describing the impact of her conditions upon her career and her ability to engage in any sustained activity. We worked to rebut the limited surveillance, arguing that it supported her claim of impairment, rather than any level of functionality. Armed with this evidence, we undercut Sun Life’s medical and vocational reviews, demonstrating that the evidence was utterly lacking in quality. Despite efforts to diffuse the power of our appeal submission, Sun Life ultimately relented and determined that our client did, in fact, meet the definition of disability for any occupation, and her long-term disability insurance benefits have been reinstated. She has now been paid to current status and remains on claim and under our guidance.

Reverse Termination of Benefits for Insurance Broker with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)

An insurance broker contacted our firm after his short term disability was terminated by Prudential, after initially having accepted liability. His work required a significant amount of travel to develop new business and meet strict sales quotas. He enjoyed his work, in part because it was physically demanding and cognitively challenging. He had been very good at it, until he became sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Like most CFS/ME patients, he did not know what was wrong, and devoted a lot of time, money, and the little energy he had going to different doctors and getting different tests. The diagnosis was not clear, but he knew that the overwhelming exhaustion and pain he was experiencing was not normal. He could not perform the tasks of his job as he had in the past. Unfortunately, he went to a few physicians who were not experienced with CFS/ME and their diagnoses were flat out wrong. More than a few tests were done that were completely useless for diagnosing CFS/ME. Prudential had paid him short-term disability payment for several months, but then terminated his claim, after conducting an internal medical review, alleging that the incorrect diagnoses and the improper medical tests were proof that he no longer satisfied the policy definition of disability. He contacted our disability insurance law firm and we immediately contacted Prudential to secure the claim file and other relevant documents, scouring for potential evidence to support Prudential’s obviously flawed decision. At the same time, we guided him to the correct testing to properly demonstrate impairment in a CFS/ME claim. Our client was examined and evaluated for CPET (Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing) by the Workwell Foundation in California, one of a small handful of facilities who conduct this testing. Courts have made it clear that CPET is the “gold standard” for providing evidence of impairment in CFS/ME claims. This two-day exercise test yields results which translates into the patient’s level of functionality and is a data-driven analysis, making it difficult to challenge. Using the strong test results, we worked with our client’s doctors to develop responsive information and documentation to support his claim. Prudential was relentless in its efforts to maintain its termination and sought to obtain numerous reviews post-appeal. At every turn, we attacked both the process and the substance of Prudential’s conduct and decision making, and ultimately, our aggressive and unyielding battle on behalf of our client was successful. Finally, Prudential determined that our client did meet the definition of disability, for both his short-term and his long-term disability insurance benefits. He has now been paid to current status and remains on claim and under our guidance.

The Hartford Denies Pediatrician’s Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Claim

A successful Pediatrician thrived in her career for more than twenty years before she began to suffer from debilitating fatigue, pain, and cognitive decline. Her diagnosis was Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Complications from these conditions rendered her totally disabled and she had to give up a fulfilling and successful career because she could no longer safely practice pediatric medicine. Shortly after filing for disability at her treating physician’s direction, The Hartford denied her claim, stating that her medical conditions did not prevent her from performing the essential duties of her occupation as a Pediatrician. After receiving Hartford’s frivolous denial, she was at a loss. She did not know how to move forward with appealing Hartford’s denial, but she knew she needed to seek counsel and find an expert in the field who could fight for her. A telephone consultation with Attorney Justin Frankel answered all of her questions. He understood her position, her diagnosis and what The Hartford was doing. She felt confident that he would be the right disability lawyer to represent her. During the appeal process, Attorney Frankel developed an appeal strategy which included in-depth conversations with her physicians to develop powerful medical support of her claim. Attorney Frankel recommended that she undergo CPET testing, the “gold standard” of testing for FM/CFS, to better document how her condition severely impacted her ability to work as a Pediatrician. CPET testing measures the point at which a person achieves their ventilatory/anaerobic threshold (VAT) and corresponding heart rate. It is a specialized stress test used to measure the ability to perform physical work and specifically, to measure the ability of FM/CFS patients to work and recover from working. The test results demonstrated the pediatrician’s decline in functional abilities and the impact of her condition on her cognitive abilities. After gathering the results of this and other medical and vocational support, Attorney Frankel submitted the appeal on her behalf. Within three weeks of submitting the appeal, The Hartford contacted our firm and advised that their previous determination was incorrect and that they were reversing their previous decision. Attorney Frankel’s comprehensive appeal strategy and knowledge of the pediatrician’s condition resulted in the approval of her long-term disability claim. Our client has continued her representation with Attorney Frankel to monitor her claim and ensure that she continues to be paid the disability benefits she is entitled to.

You Don't Have to Fight Your Disability Battle Alone
Call 888.583.4959 to get started!

Prudential Appeal Successful for North Carolina Man

Our experience with Prudential includes a case where a client was denied for his low back pain disability that resulted from failed surgery. We submitted an exhaustive appeal and won back his benefits. Seven months afterwards, Prudential sent him a second notice of termination, claiming that he was receiving a pension and they wanted him to repay all of the benefits that had been paid to him. Our client had not received any pension money from his employer, as that would have voided his long-term disability insurance contract. We appealed the decision, demonstrating that he never received any pension payments. We were successful in defending him.

Pediatric Dentist Denied Claim by Lincoln Under Group Benefits Policy

A young pediatric dentist came to us when Lincoln denied her claim for group disability benefits. Her coverage was part of her benefits package from the hospital that employed her. Following an injury, she filed a claim for benefits with Lincoln. Despite providing strong support for her claim initially, Lincoln denied the claim, refusing to properly consider the extent of her impairments. Adding to her challenge: the hospital’s HR department did not participate in providing responsive materials. She suffered from numerous co-morbid orthopedic problems that made it impossible for her to continue working as a pediatric dentist. Our task on this appeal was to strengthen her claim by building a strong case for exactly how these conditions impacted her ability to treat her specific patient population, with the challenges associated with pediatric dentistry in a hospital setting. On appeal, we creatively developed the occupational proof necessary to integrate with the powerful medical evidence. To accomplish this, we worked closely with our client, her treating physician, and all of the other health care providers on her healthcare team. We worked with our client’s doctors to develop the appropriate articulation of her functional deficits, and how these translated into her deficits in working. We also had the doctors address the limited and biased medical review performed on behalf of the insurance company so that we could further undercut the basis for Lincoln’s claim determination. We successfully combated Lincoln’s infirm medical review, which was narrow in its focus and did not consider the objective diagnostic evidence from EMG and MRI. We linked the functional deficits to her occupational requirements and supported her claim for impairment. By developing the powerful attack and rebuttal, we were able to succeed in securing our client her justly due benefits.

The Law Office of Justin Frankel Overcomes Flawed Vocational Analysis and Biased Medical Reporting by MetLife

Our client, a 58-year-old Strategy Plan and Administrative Manager, enjoyed a successful career working for a large and well-regarded banking institution. She suffered from numerous aliments and medical conditions including chronic intractable migraines, vestibular migraines, vertigo, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), and chronic pain, and the resulting impairments in her functional abilities. After many months of trying to work through her pain and discomfort, she was not able to continue in her lucrative career and powerful position. Her doctor advised her to stop working and apply for short term disability. MetLife approved her short term claim, agreeing with the treating physician’s determination that she could not perform her own occupation on a full-time sustained basis. After her short term disability claim was exhausted, her physicians advised her to apply for long term disability, which was subsequently denied by MetLife. In denying her claim, MetLife based its determination on a faulty vocational analysis which miscategorized our client’s occupation as a Management Analyst. Although our client’s own occupation was a Strategy Plan and Administrative Manager, MetLife’s vocational analysis stated that her duties were the same as a “Management Analyst.” That was incorrect, and because our client was still within her own occupation period of disability, we demonstrated how MetLife’s actions were premature and arbitrary and capricious. MetLife completely disregarded her duties, which included a considerable amount of travel, which was too demanding for her. Our appeal utilized a vocational expert, coupled with a strong attack of the arbitrary transferrable skills analysis, providing powerful support for why our client could no longer work on a full time sustained basis on both a physically and cognitively demanding career. We worked closely with our client in establishing evidence with her employer, delineating the day-to-day occupational duties as a Strategy Plan and Administrative Manager, reinforcing the fact that her own occupation by no means could possibly be considered “sedentary.” Even with the reassignment of her occupation as “Management Analyst,” MetLife refused to acknowledge the restrictions and limitations of our client. We also attacked MetLife’s purported “independent” peer reviewing consultants, and the well-known pro-insurance company vendor MetLife retains to support its claims. We also worked closely with her treating physicians in rebutting MetLife’s inaccurate and unreliable peer reviews. The appeal contained subjective medical support, expert medical opinion and rebuttal, an expert vocational report and a plethora of medical literature – informing MetLife of the severity of our client’s conditions and the resulting impact upon her functionality. Additionally, we developed powerful arguments revealing MetLife’s bias and egregious conduct. These arguments included MetLife’s failure to consider our clients subjective complaints of impairment; MetLife’s failure to consider her overall conditions; MetLife’s failure to consider our client’s own occupation and its refusal to consider the nature of the institution where she was employed and the general characteristics of her position. After providing supporting materials documenting the material and substantial duties of our client’s job and undercutting the biased reviews of flawed medical reviews, were we able to reverse MetLife’s decision. We continue to represent our client in monitoring her claim in ensuring that MetLife does not terminate her disability claim. To this day, our client continues to receive a large disability check monthly from MetLife.

The Law Office of Justin Frankel Reverses MetLife Denial for Systems Services Field Engineer

Our client, a 59-year-old Systems Services Representative/Field Engineer/Major Incident Manager, enjoyed a successful career working for a major international technology and business consulting firm. He suffered from numerous aliments due to degenerative disc disease, cervical (C6-C7) and lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, epidural fibrosis (L4-5, S1), lumbar spondylolisthesis, bilateral hip/pelvis osteoarthritis, degenerative synovial cyst (L4-L5), arthritis of the spine, lower back pain with right hip/buttock pain that radiates down anterior leg, para labral cyst on right hip, labral tear of right hip joint, atrophy of right arm, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, chronic pain, sleep apnea, poor balance, gastroesophageal reflux, high cholesterol, essential tremor of upper extremities, grand mal and petit mal seizure disorder. When his physicians advised him to stop working and to apply for short term disability, MetLife approved the claim. But when the short-term disability claim was exhausted, MetLife denied his claim for long term disability. His condition hadn’t changed, and his doctors still maintained that he was not able to work. We overturned the denial. Here’s how – click here to read more.

The Law Office of Justin Frankel Overturn Termination of Disability Benefits from Standard Insurance for Law Professor

An aggressive approach to an appeal led to a successful reversal of a claim denial and paved the way for a second reversal when the disability insurance company sought to terminate the claim, attempting to use a mental/nervous condition that was completely inapplicable. Our client, a 42-year-old Associate Professor of Law, working for a prestigious university, was suffering from Lyme Disease, Post Lyme Disease Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (“POTS”) and the resulting cognitive and physical restrictions and limitations. As a result of her ongoing symptoms, our client could no longer continue teaching graduate classes, engage in committee work, present at meetings or write. Prior to her disability, she had an extremely successful career in teaching and was frequently published. As a result of the debilitating nature of her conditions, she could no longer work at all. Initially, our client retained the services of the Law Office of Justin Frankel to file an appeal of her wrongfully denied long term disability claim. Once we submitted our appeal outlining the severity of her ongoing conditions and cognitive dysfunction, along with providing a thorough vocational analysis outlining the material and substantial duties of her occupation, The Standard overturned her claim. Our client received a lump sum of the arrears and ongoing future benefits. A few months later, The Standard attempted to terminate our clients claim on the basis of its “mental nervous provision.” By this time, our client had a significant amount of medical support outlining not only her cognitive decline but the physical ailments she suffered as a result of her comorbid disabling conditions. We worked very closely with all of her treating physicians who provided narrative reports, disability questionnaires, literature and statistics outlining the physical nature of our client’s disability. Collaborating with our client and her treating physicians, we were able to develop powerful support for her claim. By aggressively attacking The Standard’s bias in solely relying upon the flawed opinions of its internal medical consultant, who provided an inaccurate and unreliable assessment of our clients claim, The Standard reversed its decision and reinstated our client’s disability claim. In rigorously attacking The Standard’s flawed review process we were able to obtain a successful result. To this day, our client continues to receive a hefty disability payment.

Director of Finance, New York

Our client is 62 year-old man who had been the Director of Finance for one of NYC’s well-known not-for-profit workforce development organizations. Our client was initially diagnosed with inferior left inguinal lymphoma and radiation therapy was recommended by his physicians. He received intensive radiation treatments for over a month, and while his cancer was in remission, managing the side effects from radiation treatment was difficult. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder and severe cognitive dysfunction, reducing his cognitive functionality which made it virtually impossible for him to complete his occupational duties as a Director of Finance. In addition, he suffered from numerous co-morbid conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, cervicalgia, paresthesias, hypertension, headaches, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Vitamin D deficiency and depression. Although there was no corresponding change in his medical records or in the opinions provided by his treating physicians, Guardian started by asserting that his restrictions and limitations were no longer supported and that he could return to his previous occupation. Guardian commenced a review of his claim which amounted to actively seeking information which could be distorted and manipulated in order to support its predetermined position, culminating in the wrongful termination of his claim. He had been on claim two years when Guardian terminated his long-term disability claim on the basis of its erroneous conclusion that the medical information no longer supported his inability to work in his regular occupation. Guardian relied on the opinions of its in-house medical staff, who distorted and misconstrued medical findings, so as to claim that our client could somehow return to his previous occupation. The exact same medical evidence had previously led Guardian to determine that he was totally disabled. He retained the Law Office of Justin Frankel to fight for him with an ERISA appeal that would reinstate his disability claim. We provided Guardian with a detailed unbiased neuropsychological report outlining our client’s ongoing cognitive impairments. Additionally, we presented Guardian with a vocational analysis of our client’s occupation and medical support identifying specific reasons why our client could no longer work. Collaborating with our client and his treating physicians, we were able to develop powerful support for his claim and rebut the positions advanced by Guardian. By attacking Guardian’s medical reports conducted by its in-house reviewers and a flawed vocational review, we established strong evidence to compel an overturn of the terminated claim. Soon after the appeal was submitted, Guardian overturned its decision, and found our client to be totally disabled and unable to work in his own or any occupation. Our client’s benefits have now been reinstated.

Anesthesiologist, New York State

Our client is a 62-year old anesthesiologist who had worked for many years at one of the top 25 ranked best hospitals in New York State. She was diagnosed with disseminated shingles resulting in severe postherpetic neuralgia, chronic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and numerous orthopedic conditions. As a result of her disabling conditions, her physician advised her to work only on a part-time basis in a less demanding work environment involving less strenuous activities, due to the exacerbation of her conditions. Lincoln approved our client’s claim and began paying her disability benefits. Despite the opinion of our client’s treating physician and after she was on claim for nine months, Lincoln terminated our client’s claim. She was told that Lincoln’s decision to terminate her residual disability claim was based on a report from a well-known pro-insurer consulting physician that our client had the physical ability to return to her own occupation, on a full time sustained basis. This rationale was based on a completely inaccurate understanding of the material and substantial duties of her own occupation as an anesthesiologist. The source was no surprise: the report was provided by physician who is paid by Lincoln to review claims files. This physician never saw, treated or examined our client, but rendered an opinion completely contrary to our client’s treating physician’s opinion. Additionally, Lincoln failed to complete a fair and appropriate vocational analysis, instead focusing solely on the physical aspects of our client’s occupation and the fact that she was able to engage in this work on a part-time basis. Lincoln never undertook any type of occupational analysis that truly appreciated the mental and cognitive demands of our client’s occupation and the fact that lives were at stake every time she encountered a patient. Nor did Lincoln appreciate the numerous side effects she suffered from due to the medications she was required to take to combat her chronic pain. We worked closely on the appeal with our client’s physician, helping him to articulate his position that our client simply was not able to sustain the mental or the physical demands of her occupation on a full-time sustained basis and challenged the opinions of Lincoln’s peer reviewing physician. We aggressively attacked Lincoln’s biased paper review and flawed vocational analysis, which was the crux of its termination of benefits. Our client’s claim is now reinstated with her significant monthly benefit paid in arrears.

Computer Engineer, Florida

Our client, a 39 year old computer engineer from Florida, had her claim terminated by Met Life after being paid for more than eight years. She is unable to work due to numerous co-morbid conditions including asthma, allergic rhinitis, recurrent sinusitis, recurrent bronchitis, fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and cognitive dysfunction. In our appeal, we demonstrated that Met Life terminated our client’s benefits without showing that there had been any improvement in her condition. Met Life also failed to conduct any type of vocational analysis or have a medical doctor of the appropriate specialty perform an examination or even a thorough review of our client’s medical records. We demonstrated in the appeal why our client continues to be totally disabled and unable to perform any occupation for which she would be qualified for based upon her training, education and experience. Our appeal was successful and today our client continues to be paid the monthly benefits that she is entitled to.

Paralegal, New York with Meniere’s Disease

The Law Office of Justin Frankel successfully appealed a Unum long term disability insurance claim termination for a Paralegal, aged 44, from New York and suffering from Meniere’s Disease and Tinnitus. Unum had terminated the claim upon the basis of a paper review conducted by a well-known pro-insurer consulting physician. This doctor has not been a practicing clinical physician treating patients for more than 15 years and has a significant amount of experience in the area of disability consulting. In other words, this is a physician for hire, working solely for the disability insurance companies, so it is hard for us to believe that any medical opinion is completely unbiased. Unum actually disputed our client’s diagnoses despite the significant amount of medical support on file and the consistent support of her treating medical providers. On appeal, our client’s treating physicians were able to effectively refute the medical reviews. Coupled with our attack on the medical and vocational evidence utilized by Unum for their claim termination, the development of compelling supportive statements from our client, and her co-workers and supervisors, as well as the exhaustive medical support we were able to develop, including the providing of audio of what tinnitus sufferers deal with on a constant basis, compelled Unum to overturn the claim determination and reinstate benefits to our client. She continues to be paid her substantial monthly benefit.

Intelligence Specialist

Our client is a 49 year-old-man who worked as an Intelligence Specialist for one of the largest state-of the-art intelligence companies that serves the U.S. government and its allies as well as some of the world’s most prestigious corporations. He was diagnosed with numerous orthopedic conditions including spinal stenosis, spondylosis/spondylolisthesis, anterolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, as well as chronic pain. He had worked for many years after the initial diagnoses, struggling to complete his occupational duties with his profound overbearing pain. After many years, he simply could no longer continue working because of his numerous co-morbid conditions. His ongoing spinal restrictions and limitations precluded his ability to effectively and efficiently perform the material and substantial duties of his occupation or any occupation on a full-time sustained basis. After Aetna agreed that he was disabled and paid disability benefits for three years, his benefits were wrongfully terminated. We were retained to fight for him and to submit an appeal on his behalf that would reinstate his benefits We began strategizing, working closely with our client and his physicians, as well as collecting powerful vocational and medical support. We identified specific reasons as to why he could no longer work on a full-time sustained basis, attacking the improper vocational analysis completed by Aetna, as well as the biased peer reviews conducted by Aetna’s in-house medical staff. We developed strong support for our client’s claim to be continued, and within a few weeks after the appeal was submitted, our client’s benefits were reinstated.

Claims Representative, Auto Insurance Company, New York

Our client is 55 year-old man from New York who worked as a Claim Representative for a well-known auto insurance company. He suffers from a long history of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), chronic pain syndrome, and multiple orthopedic conditions including degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral neuritis/radiculitis, radiculopathy, neural foraminal stenosis, as well as migraines. After numerous attempts of trying to treat and control his pain, he could no longer cope, and was advised to stop working by his treating physicians. His chronic pain, ongoing symptoms, restrictions and limitations precluded his ability to effectively and efficiently perform the material and substantial duties of his occupation. For more than three years he received benefits from his CIGNA long term disability insurance policy. There was no change in his functionality, restrictions or limitations, but suddenly, his benefits were terminated. CIGNA conducted numerous erroneous paper reviews by its well-known pro-insurer doctors and terminated our client’s claim, even after our client completed a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) at the request of CIGNA and was found disabled by CIGNA’s own consultant. He retained the Law Office of Justin Frankel to fight for him with an ERISA appeal that would reinstate his disability claim. It was our job to provide CIGNA with a detailed vocational analysis of our client’s occupation and medical support identifying specific reasons why our client could no longer work. Collaborating with our client and his treating physicians, we were able to develop powerful support for the claim and to rebut the positions advanced by CIGNA in their claim determination. By attacking CIGNA’s medical reports and its flawed vocational review, we established strong evidence to compel an overturn of the previously terminated claim. Soon after the appeal was submitted, CIGNA overturned its previous decision, and found our client to be totally disabled and unable to work in his own or any occupation. Our client’s benefits have now been reinstated and we were pleased to provide our client with a surprise New Year’s present.

Senior Customer Sales Rep, Pharmaceutical Company, Long Island, NY

Our client, a 45 year-old-man who worked as a Senior Customer Sales Representative for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He worked for many years after the initial diagnosis. At a certain point, the physical and mental toll of this debilitating and progressive disease made it impossible for him to continue working. He applied for disability benefits and was being paid by CIGNA for several months, when his benefits were suddenly and wrongfully terminated. He retained our firm to submit an appeal on his behalf that would reinstate his benefits. We began strategizing, working closely with our client and his treating physicians while collecting all of the medical studies and reports as well as the appropriate vocational reports. We identified specific reasons as to why he could no longer work, attacking the improper vocational analysis completed by CIGNA, as well as the biased peer reviews conducted by CIGNA’s in-house consultants. We were able to develop powerful support for our client’s claim and soon after the appeal was submitted our client’s benefits were reinstated. Our client continues to receive a significant disability payment each month from CIGNA.

Vice President, Financial Advisory Firm Long Island, NY

Despite a lengthy history of numerous debilitating spinal conditions, which required multiple surgeries, our client, a 55 year old woman, tried her best to continue working as a Vice President/Financial Manager for a financial advisory and asset management firm. At a certain point, however, she simply could not continue to work because of the terrible pain she was in and the difficulties it presented. Her first step in the claims process was to consult with numerous medical professionals for evaluation of her condition. Every single one of them agreed that she was permanently disabled. She filed for disability benefits with Unum and was on claim for a little over a year and a half, until her claim was terminated. She retained us to file an appeal, and we worked with her and her physicians to provide Unum with ample support of why she could no longer work on a full-time basis. The appeal contained subjective medical support, a vocational review and a plethora of medical literature informing Unum of the severity of our client’s conditions. A few weeks after the appeal was submitted, Unum reversed its decision and our client’s benefits were reinstated.

You Don't Have to Fight Your Disability Battle Alone
Call 888.583.4959 to get started!

Customer Resource Manager, Technology Company Dallas, Texas

Our client, a male in his mid-fifties, worked as a Customer Resource Manager for a best-in-class technology services and solutions company. He suffers from a long history of scoliosis, spinal arthritis, multilevel degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms and chronic joint pain. After numerous surgeries, which required a great deal of medical hardware, our client could no longer continue working. He filed for disability claims and was accepted. After receiving benefits from Lincoln Financial for two and a half years, his benefits were suddenly terminated. He retained our firm to fight for him and to submit an appeal that would reinstate his benefits. It was our job to provide Lincoln with a detailed vocational analysis of our client’s occupation and medical support identifying specific reasons why our client could no longer work. Collaborating with our client and his treating physicians, we were able to develop powerful support for the claim and to rebut the positions advanced by Lincoln in their claim determination. We are pleased to report that not long after the appeal was submitted our client’s benefits were reinstated, and he continues to receive a significant benefit payment each month.

We Overturn AETNA’S ERISA Denial for Client with Fibromyalgia and Spinal Condition

Our client is a 52 year-old woman who worked as an Assistant Branch Manager for a bank of a major financial institution. She stopped working in 2011 after suffering injuries in a car accident that exacerbated an already bad spinal condition and fibromyalgia. Our client spent 30 years building her career, and would have spent another 20 years working if she had not become disabled. She trusted the promises of her HR department that purchasing LTD insurance would ensure she was protected if she was unable to work. However, Aetna representatives made it clear from the very beginning of the claim that the company wanted to accept liability for as short of a time period as possible. There was no interest in being fair and evaluating whether or not our client could work in any occupation that she was reasonably qualified for based on her training, education, and experience. An in-house nurse reviewed her claim to determine if she continued to be disabled. This is a commonly seen protocol, where nurses, and not doctors, render medical opinions on impairment for insurance companies. The usual procedure includes the nurse rejecting the opinions of a claimant’s own treating physicians based on a review of the medical file alone. This review was selective at best and the nurse kept insisting that the medical records did “not include comprehensive physical examination findings” indicative of total disability. This nurse omitted reviewing all of our client’s physical therapy records, which (along with the medical records from all of her treating providers) provided a plethora of comprehensive physical examination findings supportive of disability. Rather than have our client examined in person, Aetna had an in-house medical director review her medical records only. In its denial letter, Aetna indicated that “a peer review was completed by an independent peer review doctor who is a Board Certified Physician in Orthopedic Surgery, Occupational Medicine, and Family Practice.” Aetna also claimed that a Board Certified Physician in Neurology had completed a peer review as well. Neurology peer review was never conducted, and the peer reviewer was not board certified in orthopedic surgery. Aetna’s peer reviewer was an occupational medicine doctor. We discovered that Aetna’s peer reviewer had been chastised by the Court for his lack of knowledge about fibromyalgia and yet continued to be hired to evaluate fibromyalgia cases. In Burkhead v. Life Ins. Co. of N. America, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52040 (Dist. of CO, 2012), the court noted that “the plaintiff rightly criticizes LINA’s reliance on Dr. Snyder’s opinion. His emphasis on his reported conversation with Dr. Richman is not a proper basis for developing his opinion. He failed to recognize that Dr. Richman had not seen this patient since May, 2008, and there is nothing to show that Dr. Snyder understands fibromyalgia.” (Emphasis added) A Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA) and Labor Market Survey (LMS) was completed in August 2013 through Coventry Health Care. There was even an invoice for the analysis in the claim file to show that Aetna paid Coventry Health Care $678.30 for the TSA and LMS. What Aetna failed to note was that it had acquired Coventry Health Care in May 2013. Aetna wrote itself a check for $678.30 to get the desired results. When the LMS was conducted, the vocational specialist used a 100-mile radius from our client’s home on Long Island when looking for jobs he felt she would be capable of performing. He used the “New York City-Long Island-White Plains-Wayne, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area,” which was completely unrealistic. Aetna’s expectation that our client could spend two hours driving in a car, (which requires her to sit, without being able to get up and change positions – something her treating providers have advised her to refrain from), and then work a full 8-hour day, followed by the evening commute home, was simply absurd. The TSA resulted in four occupations that our client was allegedly capable of performing. Two of these occupations had an SVP of 7, indicating the length of time required for training and to become proficient is more than two years and up to four years. These two jobs were not even a realistic match. Of the two remaining occupations that the vocational specialist came up with, one did not meet the wage requirement. The other job met the wage requirement, but there were only 730 jobs in the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area. Upon further investigation, we found that any available jobs within the Metropolitan Statistical Area for this occupation required far more education than our client had. We appealed with an aggressive response, citing the inadequate and incomplete paper medical reviews and the outlandish career evaluation and job recommendation. Aetna reversed its claim decision and is continuing to pay on the claim. Our client is thrilled, and can now focus on recovering from her accident and managing her fibromyalgia.

Justin C Frankel

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