Unum Life Insurance Company of America is facing a disability insurance lawsuit over denied disability benefits from a Texas woman who claims the company did not properly review her claim.

The woman alleges the disability insurance giant had wrongfully denied her disability benefits, even after presenting sufficient evidence of eligibility.

Plaintiff Dianethea H. is filing this lawsuit over denied disability benefits after proving she met all eligibility requirements for long term disability benefits but was still denied.

According to the lawsuit over denied disability benefits, Dianethea was previously fully employed at Baylor as a Monitor Tech since 2003. Since her disability, Dianethea says she has been unable to work in a similar occupation or earn sufficient income to support herself and pay for her medical bills.

During her employment, Dianethea was recognized repeatedly for her outstanding work performances and earned several raises. However Dianethea’s degenerative disc condition progressed to a point where she could no longer work due to the pain interfering with her occupational duties.

Overview of Unum Claim Denial Lawsuit

Dianethea was officially diagnosed with the condition in 2014, which has reportedly worsened despite treatment. In the lawsuit over denied disability benefits, Dianethea complained of chronic lower back and leg pain along with numbness in her right hand.

Even though she was prescribed pain medication, Dianethea could not keep up with her occupational duties not only due to her medical condition but also from the sedation side effects of her pain medication.

By the time Dianethea had to cease working, she could not sit for more than three hours at a time while her duties as a Monitor Tech required up to a 12 hour period of work.

Before applying for long term disability benefits, Dianethea applied for short term disability benefits and had been approved to receive them for six months in 2016. The lawsuit over denied disability benefits points out that Unum previously acknowledged Dianethea as disabled and eligible for benefits.

Unum officially denied Dianethea’s claim for long term disability benefits on Aug. 16, 2016, even though she followed all filing requirements and submitted applicable medical documentation. After being initially denied benefits, Dianethea appealed the decision but Unum upheld its decision on Sept. 16, 2016.

The lawsuit over denied disability benefits cites parts in the claim denial letter in which Unum reportedly contradicted Dianethea’s personal physician’s conclusion. The company stated that Dianethea was able to work in her occupation, due to the company not being able to “visually observe” the disc condition in Dianethea’s MRI.

Dianethea is filing this lawsuit over denied disability benefits after exhausting all administrative options and is seeking all missing payments. In addition, Dianethea is calling for a full and fair review of her claim for long term disability benefits.

This Unum Claim Denial Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-01060-N, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.