Collecting COPD Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Even though many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cannot work, disability insurance providers look for reasons to deny their short or long term disability benefits. COPD is a chronic condition and disability insurance companies try to argue that the claimant should be able to work in a sedentary capacity. Under state and federal law, insurance companies cannot deny benefits for arbitrary and capricious reasons. In other words, they cannot deny your benefits unless they have a good reason. It is important to have proper support from a pulmonologist and often an Internal Medicine treating doctor. We work with our client to make sure the proper objective testing has been completed. We also make sure that the medical records and physician forms required to be sent to the insurance company are completed correctly. One mistake can be the difference between either approval or denial of your disability claim.

If your insurance provider denied your COPD benefits, or if you are about to file an application and want to make sure you have the best chance for approval, our disability insurance attorneys can help. Since 1979, our firm has helped claimants like you stand up to insurance companies that wrongfully deny or limit your benefits.

Our Disability Lawyers Understand COPD?

COPD refers to a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it increasingly difficult for you to breathe. COPD affects nearly 32 million persons in the United States and is the fourth leading cause of death in this country. Risk factors for developing COPD include:

  • Exposure to tobacco smoke. More than 95 percent of all COPD cases are caused by cigarette smoking. Pipe smokers, cigar smokers and people exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke also are at risk for developing COPD.
  • Occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals. About 5 percentĀ of cases are caused by significant exposure to various types of dust such as wood, grain or coal.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition is a severe form of acid reflux. GERD can make COPD worse and may even cause it in some people.
  • Genetics. Nearly 1 percent of all cases are caused by a rare genetic disorder known as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, also known as as inherited emphysema.

COPD treatment may include bronchodilators, corticosteroids antibiotics, flu and pneumonia vaccines, oxygen therapy and a program of exercise, management and counseling known as pulmonary rehabilitation. In severe cases of COPD, the doctor may suggest surgery to remove diseased lung tissue or to replace the diseased lung entirely.

Contact our disability insurance lawyers for a free consultation. We are available help claimants anywhere in the USA.

Resources

Review the following sites for more information about COPD:

We update this page frequently with information about COPD, including resolved cases and new regulations about disability insurance.

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options
Submit a Strong Appeal Package

We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong appeal.

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Sue Your Disability Insurance Company

We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide.

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Protect Your Benefits
Get Your Disability Application Approved
We help claimants throughout the entire application process.

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Prevent a Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.

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Disability Company Reviews
(656)
Showing 8 of 656 Reviews
Sedgwick

Don't trust them, they like to play games

Reviewed by Bob on November 14th 2024   Verified Policyholder | June 2024 date of disability
They suck the life out of people that need help. They falsely advertise for helping people that they care. Sorry to tell you it's all about money, they do not care for any... read more >
New York Life

Lyme Disease Disability Claim Denial

Reviewed by Bob C. on November 13th 2024   Verified Policyholder
I have had repeat claims for genuine medical leave and they have repeatedly been denied by NY Life. I have even been diagnosed with Lyme and going through treatments and t... read more >
New York Life

Disappointed with NY Life Disability Excuses

Reviewed by Carina S. on November 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder
I am beyond disappointed with NY Life Disability Insuranceā€™s handling of my fatherā€™s claim. My father, a 66-year-old man who has suffered two strokes and continues to ... read more >
New York Life

New York Life is a joke!

Reviewed by Heather on October 3rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
This company sucks when it comes to disability claims. They are slow at processing stuff, then they always say they didn't recieve the doctors information. You spend your ... read more >
MetLife

They FULL OF ****

Reviewed by KM on October 3rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
MetLife is what everyone on this review are saying. They don't contact you to let you know what's going on with your claim or to let know you need additional info. I had a... read more >
Sedgwick

Worst Company Ever

Reviewed by RobRob on September 23rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
If something happens to you at work you better hope you die, my son is going through HELL because this company is handling his work comp. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS, TEXTS, EMA... read more >
MetLife

MetLife for disability? Avoid the surgery unless it's life-threatening

Reviewed by Jeff on August 22nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
The worst company I ever dealt with, never received a call from my claim manager.
Hartford

After all the fraud and stress they put us through, Hartford should get investigated

Reviewed by Gloria Morley on August 22nd 2011   Verified Policyholder
I also have been denied, they let me receive STD for six months. They told me I would have to apply for SSD and when ā€“ and if ā€“ I got it I would have to pay them back ... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(1)
Showing 1 of 1 Answered Questions

Q: Prudential denied me STD due to a doctor who wrote personal things about me, like I still drive.

Answered on May 27th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: We are sorry to hear about your denial. Please contact us and we will review your denial letter. We can discus... Read More >
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Disability Benefit Tips
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Why Must Your Disability Insurance Lawyer Understand Your Disabling Condition?

When it comes to securing your disability insurance benefits, it's vitally important that your disability insurance lawyer thoroughly understands the symptoms and impact of your disabling condition. Doctors can help you create strong medical records, but they're not accustomed to dealing with the rigorous documentation disability insurance companies require. Lea... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #5 ā€“ Your Medical Evidence is Weak

If you're seeking long term disability benefits from an insurance company, you may be concerned that you're facing an uphill battle. Fortunately, the stronger your medical evidence, the greater the odds that your claim will be approved. On the other side of the coin, one of the most common reasons for denial of long term disability benefits involves too-weak med... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company

When you're seeking disability insurance benefits, your medical records and treating physician's statement are two of the most important components of your claim. But because the insurance company has a vested interest in denying your disability insurance claim, it often will rely on tactics like ambushing your doctor with a phone call in an attempt to get them ... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance

One thing many disability insurance claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims review process involves video and social media surveillance. Disability insurance carriers often hire people to follow claimants around with a telephoto lens - or even send social media friend requests from fake accounts - to glean whatever information they can about the c... Read More >

How Do You Fight a Long-Term Disability Denial?

Getting a denial letter from your disability insurance company is one of the ultimate insults.Ā You are sick and not able to work, yet your disability insurance company is telling you to return to work. The disability insurance company has denied your disability benefit claim and is basically calling you a liar.Ā When receiving a disability denial letter or a ph... Read More >

Disability Denial Reason #2 - Change of Disability Definition & Vocational Review

One of the top reasons for terminating a claimant's long term disability benefits involves the change in the disability insurance policy's definition of "disability." This definition change often happens in conjunction with a vocational review, or an analysis of a claimant's medical records that tells the insurance company which jobs the claimant should be able ... Read More >

Disability Denial Reason #1 ā€“ Paper Review & IME

At Dell Disability Lawyers, we've seen insurance companies give countless reasons to deny long term disability benefits. However, most disability benefit denials tend to fall into one of a few categories - and one of the biggest ones is the paper review and independent medical exam (IME). Learn more about what this review process entails and what your claim file... Read More >

How to Apply for Reliance Standard Disability Benefits & Top 5 Reasons for a Claim Denial

At Dell & Schaefer weā€™ve handled hundreds of long term disability insurance claims against Reliance Standard, and have learned a few things in the process. When youā€™re experiencing an injury or illness that makes it difficult (or impossible) to work, it can be tempting to file a claim as quickly as possible ā€“ but unless a claimant has all their ducks in a row, this could actually delay the ultimate r... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
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Showing 8 of 375 Dell Disability Cases

Prudential overturned previous denial of long term disability benefits for Connecticut Audit Manager

Our client, Mr. D, formerly worked as an Audit Manager for a large, international heating and air conditioning manufacturer. In September 2013 a number of psychiatric issues, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and major depression forced Mr. D to stop working and submit his claim for disability benefits first under his employerā€™s short-term disability (STD) policy and then continuing under its long-term disabi... Read More >

After an appeal, a former Director of Information Security, gets disability benefits approved for mental health disorder. The fight for long term disability benefits for clientā€™s physical limitations continues

After a very long fight, a former employee of the National Student Clearinghouse is now on claim after an administrative appeal filed by Dell Disability Lawyers. Prior to filing for disability, our client was a Director of Information Security responsible for security strategy, security programs oversight, and security development for an online national student degree and enrollment verification database. Howe... Read More >

Seven Surgeries and The Standard Still Denies Disability Insurance Benefits

Our client was employed with the State of Oregon as a Technical Support Representative. She sought disability through her employer provider LTD Policy with Standard due to low back, hip, and lower extremity pain. She had two hip, two knee and three back surgeries.After paying her for 1.5 years Standard hired a board-certified neurologist to perform a review ... Read More >

Sun Life Wrongfully Denies Disability After Paying For 23 Months

We represent a 57 year-old claimant whoā€™s occupation was selling commercial vehicles for many years.Ā  Her job was very physical as it required her to climb in and out of semi-trucks multiple times a day as well as operate them which was very strenuous.Ā She went out of work in due to ongoing and severe debilitating right hip, low back, and bilateral knee pain... Read More >

Nurse Denied Long-term Disability Benefits by Lincoln After the Definition of Disability Changed

Our client, a registered nurse for Dignity Health, found herself in a difficult situation after being diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis and left knee arthritis. She continued to work, however, struggled while attempting to work through chronic lower back pain and left lower extremity radicular symptoms on a daily basis. Sadly, her condition failed to improve and... Read More >

Lincoln Reverses Decision to Terminate LTD Benefits of Corporate Attorney after Dell Disability Lawyers Appeals the Decision

The claimant is an 64 year old former Corporate Attorney and at a prominent Florida business law firm who was forced to cease working in his highly successful and rewarding profession, job, and career on January 27, 2021, and to seek disability compensation under his policies with Lincoln due to severe symptomatology stemming from or following a viral COVID-19 i... Read More >

Transportation Manager with Brain Injury Wins Unum Disability Benefit Appeal

Unum unjustly terminatedĀ our clientā€™s disability insurance claim after it had approved and accepted liability for six months. Unum unreasonably concluded, without any evidence of improvement, that the claimant had resumed the sustained work capacity to perform the material and substantial duties of her high level occupation as a Transportation Division Manage... Read More >

Prudential reverses decision to terminate LTD benefits of MRI Tech with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and degenerative Disc Disease

The claimant is a 58-year-old former MRI Technologist for Fairview Health Services who has long suffered from the debilitating effects of her chronic medical conditions.Ā She has a history of neck pain as well as right arm pain and numbness dating back to 2005 with a reoccurrence of severe symptomatology in 2013. MRI of her cervical spine performed in August of ... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

Mechanic Loses Claim For Benefits Against Reliance Standard After Employer Makes Oral Misrepresentations Concerning Disability Insurance Coverage

Generally, when employees have a question concerning their employer provided group long-term disability insurance coverage, the first place they turn is to their HR department. HR Departments are not in the business of underwriting, or interpreting insurance policies, and often do not have the adequate knowledge to competently answer specific questions concerning the terms and conditions of the disability insu... Read More >

5 disability lawsuits recently filed against UNUM in TN, OH, MO, and MI

Five ERISA disability lawsuits have been recently filed against the UNUM Life Insurance Company of America for the wrongful denial of disability benefits. In each of the cases, a disability attorney from Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri and Michigan have filed suit for the payment of disability benefits that have been wrongfully denied and owed to their clients. Let's take a closer look at each of the lawsuits.I... Read More >

Sun Life is sued for disability benefits in two separate cases for arbitrary and capricious denial of disability claims

With disability insurance lawsuits occurring up and down the eastern US coastline, Sun Life Insurance Company has a lot of litigation to settle. Just in May 2011, Sun Life was hit with two complaints from disability insurance benefits claimants, one in the United States District Court District of New Jersey (Kevin Giblin v. Sun Life and Health Insurance Company et. al) and the other in the United States Distri... Read More >

Hartford pays disability benefits for 12 years and then uses video surveillance to deny benefits

Our law firm was recently contacted by a woman that has been denied long-term disability benefits by Hartford. The claim is currently pending, but I asked if I could share her story so that others could learn about the real actions taken by disability companies such as Hartford. I strongly advise all disability claimants to never submit for a field interview without the presence of an attorney.Hi Greg. YES... Read More >

Reliance Standard Disability Denial Upheld Due to Claimant's Lack of Strong Medical Record Support

In the case of Amy Wright v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance), Plaintiff was the vice-president of health information services at Integrity Health Care when she stopped working on August 7, 2017. She brought claims for benefits under an LTD insurance policy and a waiver of premiums under a life insurance policy.In order to be approved for LTD benefits, Plaintiff ... Read More >

Unum Wrongfully Terminated Disabled Lawyerā€™s Disability Claim of Depression and Anxiety Despite Improvement in His Condition

This Unum lawsuit and appeal in federal court is a great victory for all Unum disability claimants.Ā This case supports all claimants that are disabled and claim that they cannot return to work as the requirements of their job will aggravate their symptoms and make them unable to work.Mark was a personal injury litigation attorney, when he began struggling with symptoms of... Read More >

Federal Court Overturns Aetna Denial Of Disability Benefits

In the recent case of Ferrin v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. a federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois determined that Aetna improperly terminated Ferrinā€™s claim for long term disability benefits and ordered Aetna to reinstate Ferrinā€™s claim and pay all past due benefits with interest. Prior to filing for long term disability Ferrin was an employee of Southwest Airlines. In 2008, while at work, she suf... Read More >

Court Finds Irregularities in Procter & Gamble Disability Insurance Benefit Denial

In ERISA cases filed in a district court asking for judicial review of a plan administrator's denial of benefits, the court is generally limited to considering only the administrative record that was before the plan administrator. The case of Robert Stallings v. The Proctor & Gamble Disability, Committee, et al., is an example of how plaintiffs with cases filed in a District Court that is under the jurisdi... Read More >

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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability insurance benefits approved. Applying for disability insurance benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their hired gun doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our disability insurance lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our disability insurance lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of disability. We encourage you to contact any of our long-term disability attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability insurance attorneys have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the little guy against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our disability insurance law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our disability insurance lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

Questions About Hiring Us

Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance attorneys that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

Our attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement in more than 98% of our cases. Our disability insurance lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We offer disability insurance attorney representation nationwide and we welcome you to contact any of our LTD lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 900 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our disability insurance attorneys help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

Do you work in my state?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability insurance lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.

What are your fees?

Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.

In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?

No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, or video conferencing sessions. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.

How can I contact you?

When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability insurance attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.

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