When I review a long-term disability denial that includes a vocational assessment from the insurance company, I am consistently reminded of why I love what I do. More often than not, the vocational specialist for the insurance company has provide inaccurate vocational information that has impacted the claim decision. Without an understanding of how their work history should be classified or how a transferable skills analysis is conducted, the faulty information does not always stand out.
I was working on a case recently for a former nurse who was denied at the any occupation phase. She had an associate degree and was an LPN, but had no further education or credentials. She had limited computer skills. The claimant had worked as a quality assurance nurse, which required her to manage patient safety and security, while also creating plans for emergency management. She regularly toured multiple facilities within her employer's network, which required standing and walking most of the day.
Despite having detailed information about the job duties, the occupation was classified as a Nurse Case Manager. The vocational specialist noted that she performed the duties of a telephonic nurse case manager, which was sedentary in physical demand. This information was clearly contradicted by the job description and the description of the work by the claimant. The job was light in physical demand.
As a result of the incorrect work history, the transferable skills analysis and the results were null and void. It is impossible to evaluate the work fields and work activities for the claimant's past occupations when the occupations are incorrectly classified. The vocational specialist determined the claimant could perform the job of Admitting Officer and Nurses' Registry Director. These occupations were not consistent with the claimant's qualifications and she would not be considered by employers for these occupations.
Without a vocational assessment, these errors, as well as others that were outlined in the report, may have been overlooked. It is rewarding to help claimants who have been denied benefits based on inaccurate information. I am reminded of the quote by Steve Jobs, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
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