Helpful Resources

Collecting Osteoarthritis Disability Benefits Is A Reality

The severe pain associated with osteoarthritis prevents many Americans from working in their own occupation or any occupation. Osteoarthritis disability insurance claims are often an issue for disability insurance companies due to the degenerative nature of the condition. Disability companies wrongfully expect some kind of conclusive event to have occurred in order to justify paying a person that has stopped working due to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative condition and people suffer and continue to work for many years before they stop working. Our disability lawyers understand your medical condition and we know what the disability company needs to see in order to approve your claim. If the disability company refuses to act reasonably, then we will sue them and we know the legal standard that they must comply with. We try to do everything possible to avoid a lawsuit and make sure you continue to get paid every month.

Our disability insurance lawyers will work with your doctor(s) to make sure that the best medical evidence is obtained and presented to your disability carrier. People with osteoarthritis have good days and bad days. Insurance companies don’t believe in good days and will try to obtain video surveillance of you in order to prove that you can return to work. Our job is to protect your benefits and make sure the disability insurance company pays your claim. We know how the disability companies think and we are able to always keep you one step ahead of them. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss how we can assist you with your short or long term disability insurance claim. We assist claimants located anywhere in the USA.

A Record of Success with Osteoarthritis Disability Benefit Claims

Our disability insurance lawyers have years of experience assisting those who suffer from osteoarthritis. Read some of our resolved cases to see how we have helped people in your situation:

We welcome you to review hundreds of our client testimonials and resolved cases so that you can learn more about how we may be able to help you.

Resources About Osteoarthritis

For more information about osteoarthritis, visit the following links:

To learn about osteoarthritis charitable organization take a look at:

Visit this page later for new information about osteoarthritis benefits. We provide updates about new cases and laws relevant to anyone with osteoarthritis.

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

(660)

Showing 8 of 660 Reviews

Lincoln Financial

Uses every dirty trick in the book

Reviewed by Michelle T. on March 11th 2025 Verified Policyholder | August 2022 date of disability

It’s next to impossible to get $ out of them without a lawyer. They use plenty of intimidation and unfair tactics. They don’t want to pay. And yet, their CEO made 13 m... read more >

Unum

Unum is evil

Reviewed by Shandra on January 30th 2025 Verified Policyholder | November 2021 date of disability

On 11/3/2021 I got shot by my boyfriend and my spinalcord got hit, paralyzing me from the neck down and accepting Unum benefits was the worst decision I ever made. I sued ... read more >

Lincoln Financial

Every month I get paid on a different date

Reviewed by Ben Dover on January 29th 2025 Verified Policyholder | January 2022 date of disability

I will start by saying that my experience is not as horrible as others, like the folks who have valid claims but get nothing from Lincoln. I feel for you and hope to god y... read more >

MetLife

They will do anything to not approve your claim

Reviewed by Amanda on January 29th 2025 Verified Policyholder | January 2025 date of disability

MetLife’s handling of my short-term disability claim has been incredibly frustrating and stressful. I followed all the necessary steps prior to my surgery, providing the... read more >

Reply

Sent on January 27th 2025 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Amanda,

We are sorry to hear about your MetLife experience. Stay on top of them and it’s likely they will pas... read more >

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 >

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 – and if – I got it I would have to pay them back ... read more >

Standard

Standard denied my claim even though my doctor said I couldn't work

Reviewed by LeAn on June 17th 2011 Verified Policyholder

I was approved for STD. My request clearly stated my reason was for Fibromyalgia, C-spine herniation, and osteoarthritis. My LTD was denied because “my job” was sedent... read more >

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Answered Questions by Our Lawyers

(2)

Showing 2 of 2 Answered Questions

Q: Can I collect Social Security and work part-time?

Answered on May 22nd 2020 by Attorney Gregory Dell

A: Michael, you are in a tough spot. When a person applies for ssdi they need to be unable to perform the dutie... Read More >

Q: Can I claim a permanent disability to avoid a surgery that requires several months of down time without promising results?

Answered on September 14th 2019 by Attorney Jay Symonds

A: Lia, each claim depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the case in conjunction with the specific t... Read More >

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Helpful Videos

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Disability Benefit Tips

(331)

Showing 8 of 331 Benefit Tips

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 – 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. 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. 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 – 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 we’ve handled hundreds of long term disability insurance claims against Reliance Standard, and have learned a few things in the process. When you’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 – but unless a claimant has all their ducks in a row, this could actually delay the ultimate r... Read More >

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Dell Disability Cases

(375)

Showing 8 of 375 Dell Disability Cases

After Appeal, Lincoln Overturns Denial of LTD benefits for Trucking Supervisor

Our client, Mr. D, formerly worked as a Trucking Supervisor for a large steel distribution center. For many years Mr. D suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including severe degenerative osteoarthritis and cervical spine multilevel degenerative disc disease, which left him with debilitating physical impairments. Mr. D was unwilling to give up his career and w... Read More >

Sun Life Overturns Its Previous Denial of LTD Benefits for Massachusetts Teacher

Our client, Ms. L, formerly worked as a Technology Teacher for a public high school in Massachusetts. For many years Ms. L suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including most notably severe degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis, which left her with debilitating physical pain and occupational impairments. Ms. L was unwilling to give up his career and w... Read More >

LINA overturned its previous LTD denial for Medical Technologist

Our client, Ms. H, formerly worked as a Medical Technologist for a National Clinical Laboratory. In July 2017 a number of medical issues, including psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis forced Ms. H to stop working and submit her claim for disability benefits under her employer’s long-term disability (LTD) policy, which was funded and administered by LINA. Under her employer’s disability policy she would ... Read More >

New York Life again reinstates claim of Archdiocese of Baltimore Registered Nurse thanks to Appeal by Dell Disability Lawyers

A Registered Nurse was initially forced to stop working in 2013 due to various conditions, including: enthesopathy in the hip region, lumbago, myalgia/myositis, lumbar spondylosis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar facet syndrome, and chronic pain syndrome. When the pain from her multiple medical conditions left her unable to work, the RN immediately applied to New York Life for STD benefits, but was in... Read More >

After it had previously overturned a denial after an initial Dell Disability Lawyers Appeal, Liberty denied our client's claim again. After a new appeal, Liberty has now agreed to reinstate our client yet again.

Initial Denial, initial Appeal, benefits reinstated and benefits terminatedAfter receiving full payment of short term disability benefits, a hospital admissions clerk with Catholic Health System, Inc. suffering from morbid obesity, osteoarthritis, and chronic back pain was denied long term disability benefits despite her ongoing medical problems and their accompanying restrictions. In its initial denial le... Read More >

Liberty Mutual of NY Disability Benefit Denial Reversed After Two Denials In One Year

Disability insurance attorney Alexander Palamara discusses the importance of continuing medical treatment throughout the duration of a disability insurance claim.In this case the claimant was denied LTD benefits by Liberty Mutual of NY within a few months of winning a prior disability claim denial.This denial was likely due to an aggressive claims examin... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Successfully Appeals Denial of Benefits to IT Support Specialist

Pre-disability and initial disability claimBefore contacting our firm, Ms. Z had been on claim for long term disability ("LTD") benefits for 3 years. Ms. Z was an IT Support Specialist for the county library system where she lived when she was forced to go on disability due to severe right hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis of the right hip, chronic pain and a number of other medical issues that collectively ma... Read More >

Prudential Reinstates Disability Benefits To School Teacher

Our client was a former public school teacher in South Florida who was forced to file for long term disability benefits under her school district's disability policy with Prudential due to debilitating Chronic Pain stemming from multiple disc herniations in her neck and lower back and osteoarthritis of the knees. Like the vast majority of Prudential disability insurance policies our client's policy contained a... Read More >

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Disability Lawsuit Stories

(765)

Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

Court Orders Western & Southern Financial Group to Pay Short Term Disability Benefits

In Devono Watson vs. Western & Southern Financial Group Flexible Benefits Plan (Plan), Plaintiff had been employed for more than 28 years as a Senior Case Analyst at Western & Southern Life Insurance Company when she became unable to work. She applied for short term disability (STD) benefits in August 2017 under her employee benefit plan provided by her employer. According to the terms of the... Read More >

Unum Disability Claim Dismissed For Failure To File a Timely Claim

In Wilson v. Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, Woodrow K. Wilson, a shareholder of the Woodrow Wilson Construction Company, Inc., purchased an individual disability insurance policy from Provident in 1993. On April 18, 2013, for the first time, Wilson filed a claim for disability stating he had been unable to work since October 13, 2008, due to osteoarthritis pain in his shoulder, left knee and lo... Read More >

Court Orders Aetna to Pay Disability Benefits when Plaintiff was Found Capable of Working

In Halley v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., the plaintiff, an executive vice-president of a manufacturing company, suffered from spinal osteoarthritis and underwent numerous surgeries including a spinal fusion. He was granted three years of disability benefits when he was unable to perform the job requirements of his own occupation.After 36 months of disability, the definition under the Aetna policy changed, allowin... Read More >

UNUM denies disability insurance benefits to disabled nurse with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis

Claiming four counts of misconduct by UNUM Life Insurance Company in the denial of her disability claim, Cynthia A. Keller filed a lawsuit on May 2, 2011 in the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division. After exhausting all her administrative appeals to the insurance provider, Keller hired a disability lawyer who prepared her complaint stating that UNUM is guilty of breaching its obligations under ERISA,... Read More >

Companion Life wrongfully relies on 22 minutes of video surveillance to deny disability insurance benefits

This long term disability insurance case against Companion Life is another classic example of a disability insurance company's wrongful use of video surveillance to deny disability insurance benefits. This claimant won her court battle with Companion Life, but she was forced to survive for more than 4 years without receiving any long term disability benefits. Let's take a closer look at the case of Gail Lewand... Read More >

Court agrees with Unum's denial of long term disability benefits to man suffering with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (Part II)

Yet, another case that has appeared in District Court demonstrates the challenge long-term disability attorneys face when representing a client when the Court uses the arbitrary and capricious standard to review the decision of a long-term disability plan. Even though the case we are going to consider involves a claim administrator with both discretion to determine whether the claimant qualified for benefits a... Read More >

What is Complete Disablity?

Knowing the difference between "partially" and "totally disabled" can save you millions.Why does it matter whether you are considered totally or partially disabled by your disability insurance carrier? Most disability insurance policies provide that a person with a partial disability will be paid through age 65, while someone on total disability benefits will be paid for the duration of his or her life.... 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 >

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Reviews from Our Clients

Keith G.

They were very professional with their responds and on time with keeping you inform about everything with your case. I would recommend My lawyer Stephen Jessup, he was on point with everything, thank you. You guys are awesome people to work with. God bless you guys.

Keith L.

I was not able to work as a physician for about 14 months due to neck/back issues. Even though I had 3 medical doctors explicitly state that I was not to work AT ALL as a physician at that time, New York Life (NYL) Disability Insurance denied my long term disability claim (which apparently they deny a high percentage of people similar to me- only they know why they do this to so many- I have my own suspicions). I was in pain from my medical issues and so frustrated with NYL considering I had many bills coming due. I then decided to call Dell Disability Lawyers. One of their attorneys, Alex Palamara, spoke to me on the phone right then to hear and understand my story and then offer ways he could help. Long story short, within a few months of me returning back to work, he was able to persuade NYL to pay me my long term disability claim. He (and his kind assistant, Tabitha) were always very helpful, informative, and available to me. I feel quite certain that NYL would NEVER have paid me what was appropriate based on my insurance agreement/ contract with them without the help of Alex. I highly recommend him/Dell Disability Lawyers. If you find yourself in a similar situation of disability insurance denial of your own personal/group policy, especially if you are a medical provider/physician like me, then consider contacting them for advice/direction PRIOR to appealing your claim on your own.

Kyle D.

Jay Symonds and his assistant, Sonia helped me tremendously. The insurance company that worked for my former employer did everything they could to make my life literally miserable. That all changed when I hired Jay. He and Sonia fought for my rights and forced the insurance company to pay what they should have.

If you have a disability claim hire Jay as if you go it alone the insurance company will screw you. Jay and Sonia will fight for everything you are entitled for. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

Frank R.

I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with Dell Disability Lawyers. Attorney Stephen Jessup and Amanda offered an opportunity to provide clarity on a complex issue regarding my disability claim. Mr. Jessup offered advice on an offset to my claim after my insurance company asked for additional information from Social Security. With counsel from Mr. Jessup, I was able to address the outstanding issue with the Social Security office and provide my insurance company with the required documentation to address their concerns. Mr. Jessup always responded in a timely manner with expert advice and offered the opportunity for follow up. I strongly recommend Dell Disability Lawyers to those seeking legal counsel for disability matters.

Wesley D.

I have been able to help others as a soldier, a police officer, and a pharmacist. I needed help forcing the insurance company to keep their commitment to take care of me and my family. I called Dell. Alex, Tabitha, and their entire team were very compassionate, extremely patient, and extraordinarily knowledgeable. Many thanks Dell!

Samar A.

My husband had applied for Long Term Disability and was denied. We sought out Rachel Alters at Dell Disability Lawyers to help us with our appeal. Rachel and her team were so diligent and meticulous in every aspect of the process. The process was seamless, and we never had any doubts that she would get it done and that she did! We are forever grateful to Rachel and Catherine for all of their determination and tenacity to get us the outcome we needed and deserved.

We could not recommend better representation and are indebted to them for making us whole again. Thank you so much Rachel and team!

Jam

Alex Palamara is one of The Best lawyers in the world and Dell Disability Lawyers are the Best by Far. Alex and his Assistant Tabitha helped me get the compensation I needed for a Horrific Disabling heath condition I’ve been dealing with for over a year. Alex and his team were so professional and caring. They treated me like I was there own family. Alex Knowledge, Expertise and skills as a Lawyer is among the Best of the Best in his field and I would HIGHLY recommend that if you ever have any issues with any Insurance Company over your Disability issues, please don’t hesitate to seek out Dell Disability and Alex Palamara. They truly are Amazing and caring. Thank God for them. Outstanding Job Alex and Tabitha

G.T.

9 years ago when I had to apply for disability benefits from my private disability policy the insurance company ignored my inquiries until Dell and Schaefer represented me and I have received the benefits without interruption til my policy expired at age 65. I have appreciated not having to deal directly with the insurance company and having attorney Greg Dell and assistant Danielle Lauria handle all communications which included monthly progress reports. I thank them for their efforts on my behalf and highly recommend them to all those in need of disability benefits.

Misty A.

I’m so thankful I chose to reach out to the attorneys at Dell. They have always been quick to respond to any and all questions I have had. The anxiety I had while dealing with Lincoln Financial on my own has decreased immensely since Alex and Danielle took my case. They were able to get my LTD denial reversed and I am so very grateful!

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