Getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Disability Benefits

Has your claim for carpal tunnel syndrome disability been denied? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a painful impairment of the wrist, hand and fingers. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve that passes through the narrow tunnel of ligaments and carpal bones. The median nerve receives sensations from the thumb and fingers and controls movement of the fingers and thumb.

Symptoms of CTS include intense sensations of tingling, radiating pain, weakness, numbness, or burning. Carpal tunnel syndrome can have serious effects on one’s ability to work and perform daily activities, even the simplest of tasks.

Any disorder exerting pressure on the median nerve in the wrist area can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Common causes include trauma, thyroid disorders, arthritis, and diabetes, as well as repetitive hand, wrist and finger flexing motions over long period.

Claiming Disability Benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on a Long-Term Disability Insurance Policy

Insurance companies routinely challenge diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome disability. Insurers can be very convincing to unsuspecting policyholders. At Mehr, Fairbanks & Peterson, we know what it takes to prove your claim, overturn their denial, and win your rightful benefits.

Disability cases have been won and lost depending on the quality of the appeal. Selecting the right attorney for your disability insurance claim is the most important decision you can make.

How to Improve Your Chances of a Positive Ruling

Carpal tunnel syndrome is painful and debilitating when it’s in an advanced stage. When you’ve reached that point, you are going to have problems lifting, gripping with your hands, and managing fine motor skills. Despite these symptoms, though, carpal tunnel syndrome is still not often thought to be severe enough to warrant disability benefits. To increase your chances of a ruling that’s in your favor, there are a number of things you can do:

• Follow your doctor’s orders. It’s important that you do what your doctor asks you to do to demonstrate to the Social Security Administration that you’ve tried everything possible to correct your carpal tunnel syndrome. If you refuse to do something they ask, it might be viewed as your attempt to make your symptoms appear worse.
• Document everything. Make sure you have records for every doctor’s visit, time off work you had to miss because of the carpal tunnel syndrome, what you did to try to treat the symptoms, and how severe they are on a day-to-day basis. Make sure you track what kind of tests your medical team might run, including dexterity tests, and what the results were from those tests.
• Hire experienced disability lawyers. Applying for disability benefits for something that’s relatively new (such as carpal tunnel syndrome) is tough enough under the best of circumstances and almost impossible when you go at it on your own. But we understand how painful this issue can be and help you navigate the application process to give you the best possible chance of success.
• Be patient. Applying for disability can be a long process, even when you have experienced legal help on your side. Be prepared for the process to take several months and be prepared that your case may need to go through an appeals process if it is rejected, too.

Do you have individual or group disability claim questions?

If you have filed or are preparing to file an individual or long-term disability insurance claim – or if your benefits have been wrongfully delayed or denied – Mehr, Fairbanks & Peterson Trial Lawyers can help you retain your rights and benefits today by calling toll-free: 800-249-3731.