Trigeminal Neuralgia – Won Long Term Disability Claim After 4 Appeals
Diligence finally paid off for Patty. Patty was a 60-year-old when her initial claim for long term disability benefits due to Trigeminal Neuralgia was denied. She was a single mom of adult children with a successful career working for a life science company training medical professionals when she became severely disabled due to tirgeminal neuralgia.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men, and it’s more likely to occur in people who are older than 50.
It cannot be cured. People suffering from trigeminal neuralgia experience jolt of excruciating facial pain from mild stimulation of the face. Washing, brushing teeth or putting on makeup can be very painful, and some instances impossible.
Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Patty at first experienced only short, mild attacks but the trigeminal neuralgia progressed and caused intense, more-frequent bouts of searing pain. Eventually the pain frequency and intensity became so frequent, and so overpowering and distracting Patty was unable to continue working. Fortunately, she worked for a good employer who offered long-term-disability benefits. She applied, but the insurance company denied the claim.
Patty was so obviously disabled that when she applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the Social Security Administration awarded her benefits on application. But the long-term-disability benefits carrier paid her for a while and then abruptly terminated her claim.
At that time, she contacted Jonathan Feigenbaum who appealed her claim 3 times. The appeal process took more than a year, because the insurance company refused to make timely decisions. Left with no other choice Jonathan sued Pam’s insurance company. After filing suit the insurance company agreed to reevaluate Pam’s claim. After reevaluating Pam won her claim, and received all her retroactive benefits.
Patty continues to engage Jonathan so to assure that the insurance company does not terminate her claim again.
