What You Should Know:

• A Gulf War veteran and former business owner from Ohio has filed an individual disability insurance (IDI) claim after developing multiple serious physical and cognitive impairments.
• Diagnoses include Gulf War Illness, dysautonomia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple comorbidities affecting daily functioning and work capacity.
• His role as a general contractor required physical stamina and executive function, both of which have been significantly compromised.
• Dabdoub Law Firm handles disability insurance claims nationwide and has deep experience with complex medical conditions and high-stakes disability policies.

Construction Business Owner Forced to Stop Working Due to Progressive Illness

A successful small business owner in Ohio and U.S. military veteran was forced to stop working after the progression of multiple chronic health conditions made it impossible for him to continue running his home construction company.

Before disability, the claimant worked full-time as the sole general contractor and operator of his company. His responsibilities spanned:

• Physical construction tasks (site prep, supervision, carpentry)
• Business operations (billing, permitting, accounting)
• Client communications and project management

This demanding blend of physical labor and executive oversight became unsustainable as his symptoms escalated.

Diagnosed with Gulf War Illness and Complex Multisystem Conditions

Medical records submitted with the claim show a broad range of conditions, including:

• Gulf War Illness
• Small fiber neuropathy and polyneuropathy
• Orthostatic hypotension and dysautonomia
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Post-exertional malaise (PEM)
• Fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndromes
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression

Because of these chronic and debilitating illnesses, our client experiences:

• Severe fatigue and exhaustion after minimal exertion
• Cognitive dysfunction, including brain fog and memory issues
• Autonomic instability, including irregular heart rate and dizziness
• Chronic pain, muscle weakness, and neuropathy in the extremities
• Gastrointestinal issues and sleep disturbances

Supporting evidence submitted with his long term disability claim included VA medical records, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) data, tilt-table testing, and documentation from multiple specialty providers across the country.

Inability to Continue Self-Employment

Importantly, our client did not work a desk job. As the owner and general contractor of a thriving construction company, the claimant’s work was:

• Physically intensive, requiring lifting, standing, and moving across worksites
• Cognitively demanding, involving coordination, scheduling, and multitasking
• Stressful, due to tight deadlines, compliance obligations, and financial oversight

The convergence of physical and mental impairments has rendered him unable to safely and reliably perform his duties, even on a modified or part-time basis.

Northwestern Mutual’s Role Under an Individual Disability Policy

As the issuing company of the individual disability insurance (IDI) policy, Northwestern Mutual has a duty to conduct a fair, thorough, and prompt review of submitted claims. IDI policies are typically purchased privately to protect high-earning professionals or business owners against income loss in the event of disability.

These policies often offer own-occupation protection, meaning the insured is entitled to benefits if they cannot perform the specific duties of their profession, even if they could, in theory, do another type of job.

The disability insurance claim submission includes:

• Two years of tax returns
• Authorizations and claim forms
• Medication lists
• Objective medical testing and physician documentation
• Treatment records from the VA and multiple specialty centers

The Path Forward

Northwestern Mutual promptly reviewed and approved this claim given the wealth of supporting medical and non-medical evidence. Indeed, the evidence is clear: the claimant is disabled from his prior occupation as a general contractor and business owner.

Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims

This law firm has always focused only on disability insurance law.

Because we specialize in long term disability, our clients get the benefit of:

1. Having an attorney who is an expert in long term disability claims;
2. Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company;
3. Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.

Call Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side.

We can help with:

• Submitting a disability insurance claim;
• Appealing a long-term disability denial;
• negotiating a lump-sum settlement; or
• Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.

The firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, even if we are not located in your state.

Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.