A Senior Team Leader with a long and dedicated work history had his long-term disability benefits terminated by Standard Insurance Company after just 11 months, despite severe, well-documented lumbar spine disease that left him unable to sit, stand, or walk for more than a few minutes at a time. He came to Dabdoub Law Firm, where Attorney Kevin Probst took charge of his appeal and built a comprehensive case supported by an independent two-day Functional Capacity Evaluation and an extensive package of objective medical evidence. Before the matter could escalate to litigation, Standard Insurance reversed its decision and reinstated our client's benefits in full.
What to Know About This Case:
- A Senior Team Leader with severe lumbar spine disease had his long-term disability benefits terminated by Standard Insurance after 11 months of approved payments, despite being unable to perform even the most basic postural demands required for any form of employment.
- Attorney Kevin Probst built a thorough appeal backed by an independent two-day Functional Capacity Evaluation, an expert validation report, and supporting opinions from multiple treating providers.
- Dabdoub Law Firm secured full reinstatement of our client's long-term disability benefits without the need for litigation.
A Lifelong Worker Sidelined by Progressive Spinal Disease
Our client was a man in his 50s who had worked continuously since the age of 15, ultimately rising to a management-level position as a Senior Team Leader in Shipping and Receiving. His role was physically and cognitively demanding, requiring him to remain on his feet, move throughout a warehouse environment, oversee staff, manage inventory systems, handle computer-based documentation, and make real-time operational decisions across long shifts. For decades, he performed these duties reliably and without accommodation.
That changed as his lumbar spine disease progressed to a debilitating degree. He developed multilevel lumbar degeneration involving degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet arthrosis, foraminal encroachment, osteoarthritis, and radiculopathy. The cumulative effect of these conditions prevented him from sitting or standing for more than a few minutes before experiencing escalating back pain, and even brief periods of walking became intolerable. The only position that provided meaningful relief was lying flat or nearly flat, sometimes for up to two hours at a time. This reality made gainful employment of any kind, even in a sedentary role, effectively impossible.
Despite exhausting every reasonable treatment option, including medications, physical therapy, injections, specialist consultations, and evaluation for surgery by two separate spine surgeons who both concluded that an operation was inadvisable, his condition showed no meaningful improvement. His treating chiropractor and primary-care physician each independently concluded that he could not maintain any posture required to hold down a job. His family, who witnessed the progressive deterioration firsthand, confirmed that even basic daily activities had become a challenge.
How Dabdoub Law Firm Secured the Reinstatement of His Benefits
Standard Insurance had acknowledged our client's disability and paid his long-term disability benefits for 11 months before abruptly terminating them. When he came to Dabdoub Law Firm, Attorney Kevin Probst recognized that the key to overturning Standard's decision was building an objective, evidence-driven record that the insurer could not reasonably dismiss.
Central to the appeal was an independent two-day Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) conducted by a licensed physical therapist, which put our client through a comprehensive battery of in-person assessments. The results were then independently reviewed and validated by a separate occupational therapy expert, who confirmed that the FCE provided objective evidence of our client's ongoing inability to perform even sedentary work on a consistent and reliable basis. This outcome was particularly significant because courts have long recognized the FCE as one of the most reliable means of objectively assessing what a person can and cannot physically do, and because it directly countered any suggestion that our client's limitations were exaggerated or unsupported.
Attorney Probst paired the FCE and validation report with an extensive supporting package that included additional medical records, disability verification letters from three treating providers, a personal symptom diary, a detailed claimant statement, and letters of support from family members who had observed the impact of his condition up close. Taken together, this body of evidence left Standard Insurance with an overwhelming and objective record in favor of continued disability. Presented with that record, Standard reversed its termination decision and reinstated our client's long-term disability benefits in full without the case ever reaching federal court for litigation.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims & Appeals
At Dabdoub Law Firm, disability insurance is all we do. We represent clients nationwide and have successfully handled disability insurance claims involving:
- Long term disability denials and appeals
- Individual disability insurance claims
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Cognitive impairment and memory loss
- Neurological conditions
- Medication side effects
We have taken on every major insurance company and have built a proven track record of success, including victories in federal court.
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.
Need Help with a Disability Insurance Claim?
If your disability claim has been denied or you are struggling to navigate the claims process, we can help.
We help with:
- Filing a disability insurance claim
- Appealing denied or terminated long-term disability benefits
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company
We represent clients nationwide and charge no fees unless we win your case.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.