Getting Long-Term Disability Benefits for Meniere’s Disease

The process for getting your long-term disability (LTD) for Meniere’s Disease can be long and difficult. Unfortunately, insurance companies are very powerful, have a lot of resources, and are often motivated by their own financial interests. This can lead to a wrongful denial of your LTD claim.

Coping with a new diagnosis can be stressful enough without also having to fight with the insurance company for the benefits you deserve and to which you are entitled. At Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, our team of attorneys and professionals help clients access their ERISA and non-ERISA LTD benefits from insurance companies. We can take on the burden of dealing with the insurance company for you, so that you can focus on your health and family. Contact us now at 401-331-6300 for a FREE consultation to see if we can fight for you.

Understanding Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s Disease (“Meniere’s”) is an inner ear disorder, characterized by episodes of vertigo that make you feel as if you are spinning. Meniere’s can also cause fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears. Unfortunately, those with Meniere’s are often at risk for permanent hearing loss.

Meniere’s usually begins in only one ear but can later involve both ears. One of the primary symptoms of Meniere’s is having recurring episodes of vertigo. The cause of Meniere’s is not fully understood, and may be the result of multiple contributing factors, such as abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear.

Meniere’s can be difficult to manage due to the unpredictability of its symptoms. Sudden episodes of vertigo can occur at any time and could be life-threatening if they occur while a person is performing certain tasks, like driving or climbing a ladder.

Meniere’s is typically diagnosed using hearing tests, balance tests, and tests to rule out other conditions. Unfortunately, Meniere’s is a chronic condition with no known cure. Medications may be prescribed to help with nausea that occurs during intense episodes of vertigo. Other medications and therapies may attempt to prevent fluid buildup in the ear. Injections and surgical treatments may also be attempted if more conservative treatments are not effective.

How Meniere’s Disease Can Impact Your Ability to Work

Working can be difficult for those who suffer from Meniere’s due to the unpredictable episodes of vertigo that can strike at any time. Physical work can be dangerous for those who have Meniere’s due to the risk of falling or losing balance. Even sedentary work may become difficult, as episodes of vertigo can often be debilitating and cause the individual to lose their focus and concentration. Hearing loss associated with Meniere’s can also impair your ability to perform certain work-related tasks.

How Can CCK Help You with Your LTD Appeal?

CCK helps level the playing field for you against the insurance company by using its knowledge and experience assisting people, including those with Meniere’s Disease, access their LTD benefits.

Finding insurance company errors

Our attorneys and professionals will analyze the insurance companies’ denial letter, claim file, policy, and other plan-governing documents in order to determine the best plan and strategy for your appeal. There are many rules insurance companies must follow when handling a disability claim. We use our knowledge and experience with ERISA and the U.S. Department of Labor Regulations, as well as your LTD policy and plan-governing documents, to identify errors that were made by the insurance company during their evaluation of your claim.

Communication with doctors during the appeal process

Communication with your doctor is key when filing an LTD claim or appeal. It is important to be under appropriate care and treatment with your providers, and for them to be willing to support you in completing required forms medical reports. Most doctors want to help, however, they are often busy with the high demands of their medical practice. We will work to facilitate the flow of documentation from the doctor’s office to the insurance company in an attempt to ease the burden on your doctors. It is important that our clients discuss their disability with their doctors, so that they will be able to provide insightful, accurate, and objective evidence of your disability. For example, it is important that your doctor thoroughly document exam findings, medication changes, report side effects, your symptoms, and how all of these factors impact your ability to work.

Gathering evidence and writing the appeal

At CCK, we take a comprehensive approach to appeals. We gather the evidence from your doctors and analyze any mistakes that the insurance company made while evaluating your claim. It is important to submit as much evidence as possible during the initial claim and the appeal process. Items to consider including with your appeal are:

• Medical records
• Test results
• Reports from your treating doctors
• Expert opinions
• Witness statements from you, your family, friends, or co-workers

Preparing a strong and complete evidence record to file with an LTD appeal is particularly important with ERISA-governed LTD appeals because often, the administrative appeal is the last chance that claimants have to submit substantive evidence into the record. One of the major hardships that ERISA LTD claimants face is the fact that new evidence is seldom allowed to be added to the administrative record in court. We take care of this for our clients.

After gathering and reviewing all of the evidence, we write the appeal. We thoughtfully explain why our clients meet the policy’s definition of disability and other conditions for coverage. Our arguments are based on and supported by the evidence.

Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Today

Let us help you. Contact us now at 401-331-6300 for a FREE consultation to see if we can fight for you.