Navigating a long-term disability (LTD) claim can be overwhelming, especially when your benefits are unfairly denied. At Ortiz Law Firm, we recently helped a client successfully appeal a denial from Hartford and win a Social Security Disability claim, too. Here’s how it all unfolded.
The Onset of Disability
Our client stopped working in January 2024 due to multiple debilitating conditions. These included cervicalgia, cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy, ulnar nerve palsy, a history of cervical spine surgeries (including spinal fusion and disc replacement), degenerative disc disease, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and more. The combination of these serious health issues made it impossible for him to continue in his profession.
Initial Approval Followed by Surveillance
Hartford initially approved our client’s long-term disability claim in July 2024, shortly after he became eligible. However, just a month later, Hartford commissioned Ethos Risk Services to conduct surveillance.
They observed our client outside his home three times over a month-long period, but the insurance company focused heavily on footage from a day in August 2024. It was a rare day when our client, not experiencing a migraine, attended his daughter’s volleyball game and shared a meal with friends. While he remained seated most of the time, standing or shifting only as necessary, Hartford claimed this was evidence he could return to work.
Even more concerning, the footage relied upon by The Hartford mostly showed a different Caucasian man who bore no resemblance to our client engaging in most of the physical activity. The video also did not clearly show our client’s lower body, making it impossible to fairly assess his physical limitations.
Misleading Communication with Treating Physician
In September 2024, Hartford sent the surveillance report to our client’s physician, seeking confirmation that he could work 40 hours a week in a sedentary job. The insurer then relied on an undated, unsigned checklist—allegedly completed by the doctor—to support its claim termination. Our client was never given a chance to review the video, the report, or the doctor’s response.
In October 2024, Hartford denied benefits, stating he no longer met the definition of disability under the policy.
Our Response: A Strong Appeal
In February 2025, we submitted a detailed appeal that included:
- A sworn affidavit from our client,
- Letters from three third-party witnesses,
- A statement from his treating doctor,
- Three medical source statements, and
- Supporting medical records.
Thanks to our thorough and strategic approach, Hartford reinstated benefits in March 2025.
SSDI Victory
We didn’t stop there. We also represented our client in his Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim and won a fully favorable decision at his hearing in May 2025.
Don’t Face a Denial Alone
If your long-term disability claim has been denied, you don’t have to face the insurance company by yourself. Ortiz Law Firm has the experience and dedication to help you fight back.
Call us today at (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation. Let us help you get the benefits you deserve.
