A disability insurance dispute involving The Hartford recently resulted in a favorable result for our client, an executive who was disabled by complex cardiovascular and neurological conditions.
Evaluating the Occupation’s Meaningful Duties
A central issue was whether The Hartford had properly evaluated the client’s ability to perform the occupation’s meaningful duties.
We focused on both the vocational and medical records. On the vocational side, we examined the client’s actual job duties and the functional demands of the position, and challenged an attempt to reduce the work to a generic job title or incomplete occupational description. The record addressed the client’s ability to maintain performance, regular attendance, productivity, and completion of essential duties throughout a full work schedule.
Connecting the Medical and Vocational Records
The medical record was developed to connect the client’s condition to the inability to work. That included updated treatment records, documentation of symptom progression and persistence, functional limitations, and provider evidence addressing the client’s capacity to remain in the workforce.
Putting those records together was important. The issue was not simply whether the client had the diagnoses at issue, but how the resulting limitations affected the client’s ability to perform the occupation’s actual requirements.
The matter ultimately resolved favorably for our client.
Considering the Functional Impact
A diagnosis or individual medical finding does not necessarily tell the whole story. In disability cases, the functional impact of those conditions has to be considered in the context of what the occupation actually requires.
These cases often hinge on a few practice-specific nuances in how the medical and vocational records line up. OBD is happy to help if you ever have a client facing a similar situation.