What to Know:
- A dedicated Executive Administrative Assistant in Ohio was wrongfully cut off from long-term disability (LTD) benefits despite serious physical and cognitive impairments.
- Medical documentation, cognitive assessments, and functional capacity evaluations proved she could not meet even sedentary work demands.
- Lincoln’s own standards for “sedentary work” conflicted with their denial, especially given her inability to sit or stand for prolonged periods.
- Dabdoub Law Firm helps professionals nationwide secure the benefits they rightfully deserve, even when facing large insurance companies like Lincoln.
From Career Success to Unexpected Disability
For years, the claimant served as an Executive Administrative Assistant at a national corporation located in Ohio, managing complex travel, scheduling, finance, and internal communications. Her work required exceptional multitasking, sharp memory, emotional intelligence, and consistent stamina.
But over time, her health began to unravel.
She developed multiple debilitating conditions, including:
- Chronic pain syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Neuropathic pain and bilateral upper extremity weakness
- Chronic migraines with severe neurological symptoms
- Fibromyalgia, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety
Eventually, these conditions forced her to stop working in December 2022. Her claim for LTD benefits was initially approved. But after just over a year, Lincoln terminated her benefits, despite no documented improvement in her medical condition.
Lincoln’s Denial: Unreasonable and Unjustified
Lincoln's termination relied heavily on:
- A brief paper review by a consulting physician with no in-person exam
- A vocational assessment that classified her role as “sedentary”
- Ignoring extensive evidence of ongoing impairments
Crucially, they dismissed the findings of two independent evaluations, a Cognitive Functional Assessment (CFA) and a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), which provided detailed, objective evidence that the claimant was incapable of working in any role, including sedentary positions.
Supporting Medical Evidence: Clear and Compelling
Cognitive Functional Assessment Findings
Administered by a licensed clinical psychologist, the CFA revealed:
- Cognitive deficits in memory, attention, and executive functioning
- Borderline verbal and nonverbal intelligence scores
- Delayed processing speed and impaired word-finding ability
- Light sensitivity, dizziness, and severe fatigue interfering with mental clarity
- Symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, and sleep disruption
The psychologist concluded that the claimant could not reliably perform the duties of any cognitively demanding occupation, including her former executive role.
Functional Capacity Evaluation Results
A licensed physical therapist conducted the FCE over multiple hours, incorporating validity measures to ensure accurate effort. Results showed:
- Sitting tolerance: 15 minutes continuously, up to 2 hours total per day
- Standing tolerance: 15 minutes continuously, up to 2 hours total per day
- Walking tolerance: 15 minutes continuously, up to 2 minutes total per day
- Below-sedentary physical demand level due to poor stamina, pain, and upper extremity limitations
An independent expert in FCEs later validated the results and confirmed the claimant was unemployable in any occupational setting.
Treating Provider Support
The claimant’s treating physician also confirmed she suffered from:
- Frequent, severe migraines with associated nausea, aura, and sensory disturbances
- Cognitive fog and medication side effects impairing memory and processing
- Unpredictable flare-ups and severe pain preventing consistent work attendance
A completed MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment Test) showed a Grade IV – Severe Disability score, further validating her limitations. This is indicative of the severity of her chronic migraines.
Sedentary Work Requirements vs. Reality
Lincoln’s policy required the claimant to perform sedentary work, which under federal law generally involves:
- Sitting for at least 6 hours in an 8-hour day
- Occasional standing or walking
- Full cognitive alertness and functional stamina
The claimant couldn’t meet these standards.
- She could only sit for 2 hours per day, well below the sedentary threshold
- Migraines and chronic pain regularly disrupted her functioning
- Cognitive impairments made multitasking, communication, and problem-solving unreliable
Lincoln’s own definition of sedentary work conflicted with their decision to terminate.
Dabdoub Law Firm: A Firm That Knows How to Win Disability Claims
The claimant turned to Dabdoub Law Firm for help—a national disability insurance law firm that focuses exclusively on disability claims.
Our legal team built a compelling appeal that included:
- An independent CFA and FCE with third-party validation
- Detailed symptom tracking diaries
- Treating physician questionnaires and updated medical records
- Supporting letters from personal and professional contacts
Our comprehensive appeal laid out the medical argument and the legal analysis. Lincoln was reminded of their fiduciary duty to fully and fairly evaluate all credible evidence. Indeed, their denial ignored the overwhelming proof that this client remained totally disabled under the terms of the policy. This was the opportunity to correct course.
The Outcome: Benefits Reinstated
Thanks to a clear, evidence-based appeal, the claimant’s LTD benefits were ultimately reinstated, retroactively and ongoing.
This case highlights what many disabled professionals face: unfair benefit terminations based on incomplete or biased reviews. It also reinforces how important it is to fight back with objective testing, cohesive evidence, and experienced legal representation.
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:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims;
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company; and
- Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call the 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.