Back disorder: Disability Application Cases Archive

Back pain is one of the most common causes of a person applying for disability insurance benefits. The disability insurance companies are notorious for denying the disability application based on back complaints. The disability companies will usually deny a back claim on the basis that there is no objective evidence to support the claimant’s subjective complaints of pain.

Appeals Court Rules That Administrators Are Not Allowed To Micromanage Claimant’s Medical Care

In Bruton v. American United Life Insurance Corporation, 2020 WL 398539 (6th Cir. Jan. 2020) Plaintiff was employed starting in July 2006 as a “Technology Development Manager” with a management firm in Ohio. His employer contracted with Defendant American United Life Insurance Corporation (American United) to provide short-term (STD) and long-term (LTD) disability benefits to its employees.

Read more »

Court Remands for Unum to Clarify Its Reasons for Denying Long Term Disability Benefits

In Cara R. Denney v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, plaintiff worked for Wagner Equipment Company as a Computer and Technology Instructor. She said the job required extensive computer use and the ability to instruct students accordingly. It also required her to travel, stand for long periods of time, and carry heavy equipment up to 25 pounds.

In June 2015, she underwent bilateral reconstructive surgery on both of her feet and received short term disability benefits from Unum. She returned to work on a part-time basis in October 2015.
Read more »

Back Disorder and How They Effect Long Term Disability Claims

Back Disorders often receive the most scrutiny in a disability insurance claim. Pain is subjective and based on what is reported by the claimant, but pain can be verified by objective diagnostic testing. Even with supporting objective medical findings insurance companies tend to review back disorder claims under a microscope.
Read more »

Court Admonishes Aetna for Refusing to Consider Subjective Symptoms

In Cline v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., a North Carolina District court overturns a denial of own occupation benefits to Mr. Cline, who was employed as a commercial pilot for NetJets. Mr. Cline suffered from lumbar stenosis and other musculoskeletal impairments which caused him to file for disability in 2014. Unfortunately, Aetna denied the claim under the own occupation definition of disability finding that Mr. Cline’s impairments were not severe enough to preclude him from working as a pilot.
Read more »

Back Disorders Are a Leading Cause for Filing a Disability Insurance Claim

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 80% percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes and is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. If you are seeking disability insurance benefits from your insurance carrier, the disability insurance company is looking for objective evidence to prove a claim of disability. Watch this video to learn what a disability insurance claimant needs to do to document their back disorder disability claim.