The symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease can vary drastically from person to person in nature, severity, and frequency, which can present a challenge for many applying for long-term disability benefits. Due to the somewhat unpredictable presentation of Parkinson’s disease, insurance companies will frequently challenge claims made on this basis unless they are backed by substantial evidence attesting to the impairments caused by the disease.
As Philadelphia’s seasoned long-term disability insurance lawyers, we know what it takes to successfully file for LTD benefits for Parkinson’s patients. In this post, we’ll explain what the insurance companies will often consider when determining LTD claims for Parkinson’s and how you can maximize your chances of successfully filing a claim for disability on this basis.
Assessing Your Ability to Work
In reviewing your claim for long-term disability benefits, an insurance company will assess your ability to perform daily functions and how the disease impedes these abilities. You motor function, cognitive/mental function, fatigue, and other non-motor physical symptoms will all be evaluated.
Motor Function
Your insurance company will search the medical records you submit for evidence pointing to motor deficits or abnormalities that could impact your ability to work. These include:
● Difficulty walking, standing, impaired balance
● Abnormal shuffling gate, Bradykinesia (slowness initiating body movements)
● Dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements)
● Stiffness or muscle rigidity
● Difficulty commuting to work
● Episodes of falling
Cognitive/Mental Function
Your cognitive and mental function will also be evaluated, based on the evidence submitted in your claim, to determine if the disease is impeding your ability to work. These issues often consist of:
● Memory issues
● Difficulty focusing
● Slow information processing
● Difficulty communicating
● Trouble articulating thoughts
● Difficulty staying organized
● Difficulty problem solving
Fatigue
For those with Parkinson’s, the fatigue caused by the disease can be severe enough to prevent a person from working. The insurance company will search for medical documentation that clearly identifies this issue.
● Being able to perform and sustain the physical demands of the job such as traveling, standing, sitting, or typing for extended periods of time.
● Performing the mental and cognitive demands of the job such as paying attention, performing complex analytical thinking, and applying technical knowledge accurately for prolonged periods.
● Completing a routine workday or workweek without excessive rest breaks.
Non-Motor Physical Symptoms
The insurance company will consider the impact of other non-motor physical symptoms as well that many Parkinson’s patients suffer from, including:
● Nausea
● Blurred or double vision
● Orthostatic hypotension
● Urinary difficulties
● Difficulty sleeping
Call for a Consultation
An experienced disability lawyer can help maximize your chances of successfully applying for long-term disability benefits for Parkinson’s disease. For a consultation with one of the trusted and experienced teams of long-term disability insurance lawyers in Montgomery County and all of the Philadelphia area, contact Rosen, Moss, Snyder & Bleefeld, LLP today!