AXA Equitable and Disability Management Services approves benefits for a chiropractor suffering from lumbar and cervical disc disease

Our client, a chiropractor, was involved in motor vehicle accidents in 2005 and 2007, which resulted in him suffering from lumbar radiculopathy and cervical discogenic disease. As a solo practitioner and business owner he attempted to continue to work through the pain by working in a reduced fashion. He modified the techniques he employed for certain chiropractic procedures, and had to eliminate others all together. By the middle of 2008 the worsening pain became such that he realized he would no longer be able to work as a chiropractor. By the end of 2008 he closed his chiropractic office and filed for long term disability benefits under his AXA Equitable Policy.

Shortly after filing for long-term disability benefits, Attorneys Dell & Schaefer was retained to assist with the approval of long-term disability benefits. Attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup took over the handling of the long-term disability claim, and advised Disability Management Services (DMS) that they shall not contact our client. DMS administers the AXA Equitable policy and began making numerous and lengthy requests for documentation from our client. DMS is a third party disability benefit administrator, which means that they are a 3rd party company that has been retained by AXA Equitable to review and handle all aspects of our client’s disability claim. DMS administers claims for multiple long-term disability insurance companies and Dell & Schaefer has handled numerous claims against DMS.

Throughout the application process, Attorneys Dell & Schaefer responded to multiple request for information and assisted our client with the preparation of all claim forms. DMS requested a field interview with our client which Dell & Schaefer attended and prepared the client. All requests for information and questions were promptly answered by Attorneys Dell and Jessup. Despite answering all of DMS’s requests for information, DMS failed to make a timely determination as to our client’s eligibility for benefits under his long-term disability policy. As a result of this attorneys Dell and Jessup demanded DMS provide our client with benefits or a lawsuit would be filed. In response to the demand DMS forwarded a check to our client representing five months of disability benefits, which were not made under reservation of rights, while they continue to evaluate the disability claim on a monthly basis. Attorneys Dell & Jessup will continue to handle all aspects our client’s long-term disability claim on a monthly basis.

Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer, established in 1979, have represented thousands of clients with their claims against disability insurance companies. The firm’s disability income division, managed by Gregory Michael Dell, is comprised of eight attorneys who represent claimants nationwide, throughout all stages (i.e. applications, denials, appeals, litigation, & lump-sum policy buyouts) of a claim for individual or group (ERISA) long-term disability benefits. For a free consultation, please call 800-828-7583 or use our contact page.

Similar / Related:

• Berkshire Life Insurance Company approves long-term disability benefits for a dentist suffering from lumbar disc disease
• Unum approves long-term disability benefits for a general surgeon diagnosed with cervical degenerative disc disease
• Attorneys Dell & Schaefer win long-term disability trial against Prudential Insurance Company Of America on behalf of time-share salesperson suffering from cervical disc disease
• Berkshire approves total disability benefits for litigation attorney following surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and multi-level fusion of cervical spine
• MetLife approves disability insurance benefits for OB/GYN suffering from multiple orthopedic conditions

---

« More resolved cases