Vascular Surgeon Wins Lifetime Disability Benefits for Back Pain

A vascular surgeon is entitled to long-term disability benefits from Unum and Provident because his back pain is caused by an injury rather than a sickness, a federal judge ruled.

The surgeon’s back problems “more likely than not” stem from repetitive stress injuries associated with his high-volume surgical practice, which required him to stand in a “contorted position” for many hours while wearing a lead vest to prevent radiation exposure, Judge Paul L. Maloney said. He’s therefore entitled to lifetime disability benefits under the terms of his policy, Maloney ruled Thursday in the US District Court for the Western District ...