In February of 2020, attorney Randall Mansour received a phone call from a woman who had been battling serious health problems, including Parkinson’s disease. She had also recently overcome breast cancer, but continued to suffer from the residual effects of treatment, and she began to experience depression due to her worsening health and inability to work or function like she used to. Recognizing significant health issues and trauma was no new territory for her as she spent many years working as an emergency room technician; but she was young and did not want to accept the fact that she should not be working at any job. After talking with many doctors and her family, she knew it was time to consult with a disability attorney, but she wanted to make sure she was dealing with someone reputable who truly cares about their clients and doesn’t make people feel like another number.
When she called Disability Law Group she was immediately met with kindness and respect; she hired attorney Mansour after their initial free consultation and began the process of awaiting for her hearing with him by her side. Her initial hearing had been scheduled for April of 2020, but had to be postponed due to COVID-19. Fortunately, Randall was able to assist his client in getting her hearing re-scheduled right away; he also worked with his case manager and dedicated team at Disability Law Group to obtain critical medical evidence and statements in support of her case from her doctors, in addition to documentation from her previously submitted Long Term Disability claim; he drafted pre-hearing briefs to help the Administrative Law Judge assigned to her case better understand her disability and our theory for granting her benefits.
In his brief, not only did Mr. Mansour provide a detailed analysis of his client’s health problems and treatment, he argued that her conditions were so severe they met or medically equaled the relevant Listing, and requested that the ALJ award benefits by finding her to be “disabled” pursuant to Listing 11/06 for Parkinsonian syndrome. This Listing requires medical documentation of many specific criteria, such as adherence to treatment for at least 3 consecutive months along with:
- Disorganization of motor function in 2 extremities, resulting in an extreme limitation in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use of the upper extremities, or
- Marked limitation in physical functioning, and in one of the following:
- Understanding, remembering, or applying information;
- Interacting with others;
- Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace;
- Adapting or managing oneself.
At first, the ALJ denied the request which could have resulted in a delay in the process. However, attorney Mansour immediately requested additional reports from the claimant’s doctors, recent visit notes, and submitted an updated request for an On-the-Record grant of was incapable of sustaining any gainful employment due to her worsening health problems and neurological deficits. In fact, working could result in an additional decline in her overall physical and mental health state.
After careful review, the ALJ agreed that Randall’s client was disabled, finding the reports obtained from her doctors that Disability Law Group carefully drafted for her case to be “persuasive.” By July of 2020, both the claimant and counsel had received the good news: Fully Favorable Decision. With this decision comes not only the validation that she should not have been working, but also the financial relief and insurance to help cover her critical treatments. She is grateful to be able to focus on her own health so she can regain better functioning and quality of life in hopes that one day she will be able to return to work, helping others with serious health problems and crises like she did for so many years.
If you or someone you know are suffering with the effects of cancer or other serious health problems that limit your ability to function or work, such as Parkinson’s disease and/or mental health conditions, contact us today for your free consultation. Our attorneys and staff specialize strictly in disability benefits, and we will fight to help you win every benefit you deserve. Whether you were already denied and need to file a request for reconsideration or an appeal, or if you would like help from the very start, contact us today and speak with one of our attorneys to understand your rights and get the representation that you need.
