What You Should Know:
- A large-scale study has found strong evidence linking specific genetic variants to the risk of developing ME/CFS.
- The results confirm that ME/CFS is a biological illness involving immune system and nervous system dysfunction.
- While more research is needed to develop diagnostic tools and treatments, the findings help validate the lived experiences of ME/CFS patients.
- Dabdoub Law Firm has extensive experience helping individuals with ME/CFS secure long term disability benefits — and we understand how to prove this complex, often misunderstood illness to insurance companies.
A Landmark Discovery for ME/CFS Sufferers
A recent breakthrough from the DecodeME study — the largest genetic research effort ever conducted on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) — has provided definitive evidence that genetics play a role in the development of this debilitating illness.
Researchers analyzed DNA samples from more than 250,000 individuals and identified eight distinct genetic regions that appear far more frequently in people diagnosed with ME/CFS. These regions include genes involved in immune function and the nervous system, confirming what many patients have long reported: that their illness is real, physical, and rooted in biology.
Ending the Stigma Around Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
For decades, ME/CFS has been dismissed by many in the medical and insurance communities as a vague or psychological condition. Patients often face disbelief from doctors, loved ones, and disability insurance companies. This new research provides scientific validation, showing that ME/CFS is not “in someone’s head,” but rather linked to measurable genetic differences.
One especially significant outcome of this study is that it may pave the way for diagnostic testing in the future. While we’re not there yet, the findings confirm a biological basis that may eventually lead to objective medical criteria — a major win for patients who struggle to prove the legitimacy of their symptoms.
ME/CFS and Long Term Disability Claims
Why ME/CFS Claims Are Often Denied
Despite being a serious and disabling condition, ME/CFS is one of the most frequently denied long term disability (LTD) claims. Insurance companies often justify denial on the grounds that:
- There is no definitive diagnostic test
- Symptoms are “subjective”
- Medical records may not document the full extent of impairment
- The condition is not well understood by the general medical community
Even with proper documentation, claimants often face uphill battles, especially when insurers demand “objective evidence” for a condition that, until now, lacked the kind of biological proof this study provides.
How This Study Can Strengthen Your Disability Claim
The DecodeME study helps shift the narrative. Its findings support that ME/CFS is a physical illness with identifiable biological markers. While it may take time for diagnostic testing to become routine, this research:
- Strengthens the credibility of ME/CFS in medical records
- Supports treating physicians in providing stronger medical opinions
- Helps attorneys argue that denials based on “lack of objective evidence” are scientifically outdated
Dabdoub Law Firm: Experts in ME/CFS Disability Claims
Dabdoub Law Firm has been advocating for individuals with ME/CFS for years, even long before this latest research confirmed what our clients have always known: this illness is real, disabling, and life-altering.
We understand the unique challenges ME/CFS patients face when applying for disability benefits. Our legal team knows how to:
- Build strong, evidence-backed claims for ME/CFS
- Work closely with treating physicians to document functional impairments
- Push back against insurer tactics that downplay or deny valid claims
- Litigate in federal court when necessary; we know how to win
Because disability law is all we do, we’ve developed deep expertise in representing clients nationwide with complex and often invisible illnesses like ME/CFS.
A Turning Point for ME/CFS Patients
This study is a monumental step forward. It brings long-overdue recognition to a community that has suffered in silence for too long — and it may change the landscape of disability law for ME/CFS claimants.
If you or a loved one are living with ME/CFS and have had your disability benefits denied, or are preparing to file a claim, Dabdoub Law Firm can help. We’ve taken on every major insurance company and know how to hold them accountable.
Contact us today to discuss your ME/CFS long term disability claim.