Caring Pros Deserve Justice

As attorneys and medical professionals, we choose our professions by investing time, money, and energy to reach our goals and fill an essential need in our communities. For Irene Frank – not her real name, but a real client – a long-time Registered Nurse, the years of wear and tear on her body led to her filing for disability.

Registered Nurses like Irene are often required to lift patients, stand, walk, and sometimes, even run.

Over the years, the toll Irene’s work took on her body was extensive. Her medical conditions included: lumbar spondylolisthesis and stenosis, cervical degenerative disk disease and radiculopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. All of these serious medical conditions eventually led to her inability to continue working in her profession.

When Irene could no longer push through her daily pain, she was forced to file a claim with her employer-sponsored disability insurance plan with Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) and like most disability insurance providers, LINA found reasons to deny her claim.

Denial Is Beginning – Not the End

In reviewing Irene’s medical records, LINA’s Nurse Case Manager found diagnostic testing didn’t support any limitations, and that Irene’s surgeon who had performed left carpal tunnel surgery, released her to return to work. Finally, LINA’s Medical Director didn’t find her to be functionally limited.

When Irene came to our office, she was searching for help in her appeal to LINA’s denial of her benefits and it was my own personal experience as a former Registered Nurse that gave me a game plan on how to approach her case.

First, we reviewed the records in her claim file and researched the conditions from which she suffered. On appeal, we submitted updated medical records and medical research to LINA stressing how her conditions would limit her ability to serve her patients and make accurate medical decisions on their behalf.

Armed with our extensive documentation, LINA was eventually persuaded to approve Irene’s disability claim and pay Irene the benefits she deserved. Irene was more than pleased with the outcome: She felt happiness and relief.

If you, your patients, or clients find themselves in the same predicament as Irene – doing good work in our community but now medically unable to continue in their profession – have them contact me for a free review of their case. Case Closed.