Endocrine Disorders

Understanding Endocrine Disorders and Presenting Evidence for Disability Insurance Claims

Endocrine disorders are medical conditions that affect the body’s endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormone production and maintaining overall hormonal balance. These disorders can significantly impact an individual’s ability to work full time due to the complex hormonal imbalances and associated symptoms they cause. When filing disability insurance claims for endocrine disorders, providing compelling evidence makes the difference between your claim being approved or denied. 

Common Types of Endocrine Disorders Requiring Disability Insurance Claims:

1. Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to either insufficient insulin production (Type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (Type 2 diabetes). Diabetes can lead to complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney disease, and cardiovascular problems, all of which can severely impact an individual’s ability to work full time.
2. Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid disorders include conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Symptoms can range from fatigue, weight changes, and cognitive impairments to heart palpitations, tremors, and anxiety. These symptoms can significantly affect an individual’s energy levels, cognitive function, and overall ability to perform job-related tasks.
3. Adrenal Disorders: Adrenal disorders, such as adrenal insufficiency or Cushing’s syndrome, involve abnormalities in the production of hormones by the adrenal glands. Symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, mood changes, weight fluctuations, and disrupted sleep patterns. These symptoms can limit an individual’s stamina, mental well-being, and overall work capacity.
4. Pituitary Disorders: Pituitary disorders, such as Cushing’s disease, pituitary tumors or pituitary gland dysfunction, can disrupt hormone production and regulation throughout the body. Symptoms may vary depending on the specific hormonal imbalances involved but can include fatigue, hormonal abnormalities, infertility, and growth abnormalities. These symptoms can significantly impact an individual’s physical and reproductive health, as well as their work performance.

Providing Evidence for Work Restrictions:

1. Medical Documentation: Gather comprehensive medical records, including formal diagnoses, laboratory test results, and treatment plans related to the endocrine disorder. These documents provide objective evidence of your condition and ongoing medical management.
2. Specialist Reports: Include reports from endocrinologists or other healthcare professionals specializing in the treatment of endocrine disorders. These reports should outline the nature and severity of your symptoms, treatment strategies, and the professional opinion on the impact of the condition on your ability to work.
3. Medication and Treatment Records: Maintain records of prescribed medications, hormone replacement therapies, or other treatments you receive for your endocrine disorder. These records demonstrate the need for ongoing medical management and highlight the impact of the condition on your overall well-being and work capacity.
4. Functional Assessment: Undergo a functional assessment conducted by an occupational therapist or other healthcare professional. This assessment evaluates your abilities and limitations related to work tasks, taking into account the impact of your endocrine disorder. The resulting report can provide objective evidence of functional impairments and their impact on work performance.
5. Work History and Accommodation Documentation: Maintain a record of work absences, performance evaluations, and any accommodations or modifications made to your work environment due to your endocrine disorder. This history showcases the challenges you face in meeting work expectations and the efforts made to accommodate your condition.
6. Personal Statement and Impact Statement: Prepare a detailed personal statement describing your experience with the endocrine disorder, the specific symptoms you face, and how they restrict your ability to perform work-related tasks. Include an impact statement outlining the limitations, restrictions, and challenges you encounter in the workplace due to your condition.
7. Legal Assistance: Consider consulting with an attorney specializing in disability insurance claims. We can provide guidance on presenting evidence effectively, protect your rights throughout the claims process, and advocate for your case.

Successful Endocrine Disorder Disability Claims

Endocrine disorders are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and many are not well known in the medical community. These disorders can fall under the umbrella of disorders that insurers tend to dismiss as not sufficiently disabling. Courts in recent years have been more supportive of these claims. In Morgan v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., 274 F. Supp. 3d 1176, 1177 (W.D. Wash. 2017), the court awarded benefits to TracieMorgan, an Operations Specialist at PACCAR, who was diagnosed with adult growth hormone deficiency and experienced chronic fatigue as a result. The court in Morgan awarded benefits, but noted that it would have been a stronger claim if her doctors had tied her chronic fatigue to specific requirements of her job and showed why that fatigue made it impossible for her to meet the demands of her job. And in DeVries v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., No. SACV1901499DOCDFM, 2020 WL 3265108, at *4 (C.D. Cal. June 16, 2020) the court awarded benefits to Nancy DeVries, a senior business analyst at First American. She was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and unspecified immunodeficiency. Aetna denied her claim. The court concluded that Aetna failed to consider the mentally taxing requirements of her occupation, and instead simply looked at the physical requirements of a sedentary desk job. 

Endocrine disorders can be the basis for a disability claim. To succeed in those claims, it is important to tie the specifics of your employment to your restrictions and limitations, allowing you to demonstrate that you cannot meet the demands of your own occupation. Note that most policies shift to an “any occupation” standard after two years, which means that you will then need to demonstrate that your symptoms disable you from any occupation for which you are reasonably qualified by education and training.