Workers Suffering Chronic Fatigue May be Eligible for Long Term Disability Benefits
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a medical disorder characterized by exhaustion not linked to or explained by an underlying medical condition. At this time, there are no known causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, but some medical providers have speculated it may be caused by a
viral infection, immune system disorder, or a
hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The recognized symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are:
- Fatigue
- Loss of memory or concentration
- Sore throat
- Enlarged lymph nodes in neck or armpit
- Unexplained muscle pain
- Headache
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Can Be Debilitating
When you do not get a good night’s sleep, you are not at your best. Routine tasks become more difficult. Complicated tasks become overwhelming. What happens when extreme fatigue does not go away, even with rest?
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be so debilitating that continuing to work is not an option. My clients with chronic fatigue tell me they are afraid of injuring themselves or others because they are so tired. Other clients have told me they started making mistakes performing tasks they had done for years. Most often, I hear about how they can’t keep up with the pace and pressure at work. Often my clients with chronic fatigue have been struggling through their workdays only to collapse when they get home. They have no energy for their families or friends.
If chronic fatigue is preventing you from performing your job safely or if it has reduced your life to simply being able to make it through the workday, you may
consider applying for short and long term disability benefits.
Filing a Disability Insurance Claim for Chronic Fatigue
Successfully pursing a claim for disability based on chronic fatigue syndrome largely depends on the level of
medical support and
factual documentation that can be provided to the insurance carrier. It is very important that your doctors are willing to state that you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and that this condition is not expected to resolve. Further, it is most helpful if your doctors are able to provide documentation of any
objective testing or
observation of your condition. Specialized testing may be available to further enhance the documentation of your claim.
Beyond this, it is important for you to document how fatigue impacts your ability to perform your job and other functions of daily life. For example, if you are unable to keep up with work emails or you start making mistakes that you normally would not make, note this in a journal for later reference. Ask your family and close friends to write down instances when they observed your fatigue interfering with your life. Over time, a detailed written record can be strong supporting evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is interfering with your work and life.
The experienced
disability attorneys at Hawks Quindel are available to assist you with your disability claim. Whether you need help applying for disability benefits, have been denied benefits and need to appeal, or need an attorney to file a lawsuit against the insurance company, we can help. Please
contact us today for a free consultation.