• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Has your disability claim been wrongfully denied or terminated? Call us today for help!  (888) 321-8131

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

National Disability Law Firm | Ortiz Law Firm

We appeal wrongful long term disability insurance and Social Security Disability denials.

  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Our Results
    • Areas We Serve
    • Core Values
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Administrative Appeals
    • Lawsuits
    • Lump Sum Settlement Offers
  • RESOURCES
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Long Term Disability Claim
    • Lump Sum Disability Settlement Calculator
    • Physical RFC Form
    • Mental RFC Form
    • Ultimate Appeal Checklist
    • Long Term Disability Case Study
  • BLOG
    • Long Term Disability Denials and Appeals
    • Medical Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
    • Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
    • Your Chances of Getting Approved for Disability Benefits
    • Additional Parts Of A Claim That Do Not Happen in Every Case
  • Search
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
      • Nick Ortiz
      • Jessica Ortiz
      • Dawn Keller
      • Tory Nelson
      • Sarah Palag
    • Core Values
    • Our Results
      • Why Choose Ortiz Law Firm
      • What Our Clients Say
      • Testimonials
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Long Term Disability Claims
      • Administrative Appeals
      • Lawsuits
      • Lump-Sum Settlement Offers
      • Qualifying Conditions
      • Disability Insurance Companies
      • Qualifying Occupations
      • Case Summary Archives
      • FAQs
    • Social Security Disability Claims
      • Initial Application
      • Request for Reconsideration
      • Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge
      • Qualifying Conditions
      • FAQs
    • Personal Injury Claims
      • Car Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Bicycle Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Motorcycle Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Truck Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Slip & Fall
      • Insurance Companies
      • FAQs
  • AREAS WE SERVE
  • RESOURCES
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your LTD Claim
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your SSD Claim
    • Lump Sum Disability Settlement Calculator
    • Physical Residual Functional Capacity Form
    • Mental Residual Functional Capacity Form
    • Ultimate LTD Appeal Checklist
    • LTD Case Study: Fibromyalgia
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your FL Car Accident Claim
  • BLOG
    • Long Term Disability
      • Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
      • Medical Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
      • Your Chances of Getting Approved for Disability Benefits
      • Long Term Disability Denials and Appeals
      • Additional Parts Of A Claim That Do Not Happen in Every Case
    • Social Security Disability
    • Personal Injury
  • REFER A CASE
  • Search
  • CONTACT

Mobile Menu

Schedule A Free Consultation Now!

Find out how our law firm can help you win your case or you don’t pay a cent.

(888) 321-8131

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Long Term Disability Insurance Claims


Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be unable to work because of their disease and its related complications. Patients who find themselves unable to work because of their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may qualify for long term disability (LTD) benefits. The insurance company will review their claim to see if they qualify under the conditions of that plan.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also referred to as COPD, is a progressive and chronic inflammatory disease that causes deterioration of the lungs. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis also fall under the umbrella of COPD.

COPD is generally caused by exposure to irritants, most commonly cigarette smoke or harmful gasses. In rare cases, some people may have a genetic variant (alpha-1-antitrypsin or AAT deficiency) that can result in a diagnosis of COPD. Adults with asthma are also as much as 12 times more likely to develop COPD than those who do not have the condition.

Symptoms of COPD often include gasping, wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Treatment for COPD includes oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and various medications, such as steroid inhalers.

How Does COPD Cause Disability?

COPD is generally considered treatable if caught early enough, and patients can turn to medications and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and avoiding irritants to manage their symptoms.

However, in more advanced stages of the disease, patients may incur irreversible and severe lung damage that makes it difficult to breathe and exert one’s self. When one’s lung function is low and progressively deteriorating, it can make it impossible to work or carry out tasks of everyday living. If a person’s COPD is severe enough, he or she may ultimately be deemed unable to work and eligible for long term disability benefits.

Evidence to Support Disability for COPD

To qualify for long term disability benefits, you should produce evidence such as a lung function test performed by a consulting doctor to show very limited airflow. Specifically, a spirometry test documenting your FEV1 value (your forced expiratory volume in one second, meaning the amount of air you can exhale in one second) should show significant limitations.

Alternatively, if you do not have a problem with air flowing in or out of your lungs (in other words, your FEV1 value is too high), but your lungs still have a problem oxygenating your blood, you may qualify for benefits with a poor DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) score or ABG (arterial blood gas values of oxygen and carbon dioxide) test score. A sample low DLCO score is one that is less than 10.5 ml/min/mm Hg or less than 40% of the predicted normal value for your race. Or, your ABG test values may be low (at rest or exercising).

Reduced Capacity for Work

You may qualify for long term disability benefits if you can show that your COPD has reduced your breathing capacity to such an extent that you cannot hold down a job. To show that your breathing capacity and ability to exert yourself are so low that you cannot work, you should ask your doctor to provide a medical opinion on what kinds of activities you can and cannot do (such as lifting any more than 10 pounds, walking no more than a half-hour at a time, and no exposure to dust or fumes).

The insurance company will give you an Attending Physician’s Statement (APS), also called a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment, stating the type of work you can do (sedentary work, light work, medium work, or heavy work) based on your breathing test results and your doctor’s restrictions.

Having Multiple Medical Problems

The vast majority of patients with COPD have other serious medical problems as well. For example, many people with COPD suffer from coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, as well as suffering from mental issues such as depression. When you have multiple medical conditions that limit your ability to work, you have a better chance of qualifying for benefits.

Work with an Experienced Long-Term Disability Insurance Attorney to Ensure You Get the Benefits You Deserve

Your best chance of having a long term disability case approved because of COPD comes by working with an experienced LTD Disability lawyer.

Your long term disability attorney will be familiar with how insurance providers handle COPD claims and will help you prepare your application and collect essential evidence. It’s important to note that your long term disability attorney does not get paid until you do, so you can proceed with your case without fear of upfront legal bills or costs.

If you’d like to speak to one of our national long term disability insurance attorneys about your disability relating to COPD and how it may be impacting your ability to work, contact us at (888) 321-8131 to schedule a consultation. We can help you evaluate your claim to determine if you will be able to access long term disability benefits and how to move forward with the process.

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Print0Email0

Primary Sidebar

View All Long Term Disability Insurance Resources


Jim K.

I highly recommend this law firm. They’ve successfully helped us twice with long term disability appeals. Along the way they were very efficient with answering questions and ensuring we knew every step of the process. They really know what they’re doing and it shows.

View All Reviews and Testimonials

Learn More About Long Term Disability

  • Areas We Serve
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Denials and Appeals
  • Your Chances of Getting Approved
  • Medical Eligibility
  • Additional Parts That Do Not Happen in Every Case
  • Medical Conditions That May Qualify
  • Long Term Disability Insurance Carriers
  • Occupations That May Qualify
  • LTD Federal Court Case Summaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EHrRKBKsok

Complete This CONFIDENTIAL Form for a FREE Disability Insurance Case Evaluation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Our Team

  • Nick Ortiz
  • Jessica Ortiz
  • Dawn Keller
  • Sarah Palag
  • Tory Nelson

Our Law Office

ORTIZ LAW FIRM
(888) 321-8131

823 E. Jackson St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday - Sunday: Closed

Practice Areas

  • Long Term Disability Claims
  • Social Security Disability Claims
  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Free Long Term Disability Resources
  • Long Term Disability Frequently Asked Questions
  • Medical Conditions That May Qualify for Long Term Disability
  • LTD Insurance Carriers
  • Occupations That May Qualify for LTD
  • LTD Blog
  • LTD Federal Court Case Summaries
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Site Footer

©2020 Ortiz Law Firm, All Rights Reserved. Reproduced with Permission | Privacy Policy

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!