Parkinson’s Disease Disability Insurance Benefits Claim

View Disability Cases Involving Parkinson’s Disease Disability Insurance Benefits Claim

How can disability insurance attorneys Dell & Schaefer assist you?

As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous long term disability claimants that have been unable to work as a result of Parkinson’s disease. No definitive tests exist for Parkinson’s disease, so it can be very difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages of the disease. Also, parkinsonism (the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease) can be caused by many other types of problems such as neurological disorders, toxins, head trauma and medications such as Thorazine, Compazine or Reglan. We have seen numerous Parkinson’s disability claims in which disability carrier’s have claimed that there is no objective evidence support your subjective complaints. These arguments by disability insurance companies are supported by the disability insurance company’s hired gun doctors. A skilled disability attorney will evaluate your claim and with the proper support from a treating physician, the insurance company and their doctors wrongful evaluations will simply not be valid.

Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have an expansive understanding of the significant restrictions and limitations that a person suffering with Parkinson’s disease must live with on a daily basis. We have worked closely with top physicians in order to sufficiently satisfy a disability carrier’s threshold of evidence necessary to prove that a client is disabled by suffering Parkinson’s disease.

Not everyone suffering from Parkinson’s disease qualifies for long-term disability benefits, therefore the medical records of each client must be reviewed to determine the level of restrictions. It essential that a treating physician documents each and every restriction and limitation.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your long-term disability claim.
You can contact us for a free initial consultation.

Documenting my restrictions and limitations as a result of Parkinson’s

The Parkinson’s Action Network has created a form to assist individuals with Parkinson’s in documenting their restrictions, limitations, and physical complaints. Click here to download the form. While this form is very helpful, the definition of disability in your specific disability insurance policy must be taken into consideration when completing the form. Additionally, all disability insurance companies have their own forms that they require to be completed. Contact our office for assistance with your long-term disability claim.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease was first described in England in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. Nearly five million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including genetic mutations that are inherited or caused by environmental exposure to toxins or certain viruses.

Additionally, there are several changes found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. These changes include: a lack of the chemical messenger in the brain known as dopamine, damage to nerve endings in the brain that produce another chemical messenger in the brain identified as norepinephrine and the presence of abnormal protein bodies in the brain called Lewy bodies.

Risk factors for Parkinson’s disease include age, as Parkinson’s normally afflicts people in middle to late life and the risk continually increases as one ages. Heredity also plays a role, having a close relative with Parkinson’s increases your chance of developing the disease. Gender may also be a factor as men are more likely than women to develop Parkinson’s disease. Continual exposure to toxins such as pesticides and herbicides is believed to put people at a slightly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s is more common in the Midwest and the Northeast of the United States and is twice as likely to strike whites and Hispanics as compared to blacks and Asians.

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, the goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of the disease.

How the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can restrict your ability to work

No definitive tests exist for Parkinson’s disease, so it can be very difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages of the disease. Also, parkinsonism (the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease) can be caused by many other types of problems such as neurological disorders, toxins, head trauma and medications such as Thorazine, Compazine or Reglan.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person. Early signs may be very slight and can be easily overlooked. Symptoms characteristically begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side even after symptoms begin to affect both sides of the body.

The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s may consist of: uncontrollable tremors, an inability to initiate voluntary movement, muscle stiffness, impaired posture and balance, a loss of automatic movements such as blinking or smiling, changes in speech, and in the late stages of the disease dementia.

People suffering from Parkinson’s may also suffer additional problems such as depression, insomnia, difficulty chewing and swallowing, urinary incontinence or urinary retention, constipation and decreased sexual desire.

Medications for Parkinson’s disease also may cause a number of complications, including involuntary movements of the arms or legs, hallucinations, sleepiness, and a drop in blood pressure when standing up.

Resources

There are many valuable sources of Parkinson’s disease information available. You can also access resources over the internet such as:

• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Medicine Plus (a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine & the National Institutes of health)
• Parkison’s Action Network – Today PAN serves as the voice of Parkinson’s on numerous public policy issues affecting the Parkinson’s community.

There are numerous charities dedicated to Parkinson’s disease research, detection and treatment including:

• Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research
• American Parkinson Disease Association Inc.
• The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center

Not everyone suffering from Parkinson’s disease qualifies for long-term disability benefits, therefore the medical records of each client must be reviewed to determine the level of restrictions. It essential that a treating physician documents each and every restriction and limitation.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your long-term disability claim.
You can contact us for a free initial consultation.

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