Opinion ID: 1359690
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: LTD Benefits for Colitis-Related Surgery

Text: On June 13, 2003, after Hobson underwent two surgical procedures relating to her colitis, MetLife reinstated her LTD benefits. At the time, a MetLife nurse consultant disagreed with the reinstatement and recommended that Hobson's benefits be discontinued because her colitis had been corrected by the surgery, and her medical records did not indicate that she was physically or psychologically impaired. Hobson submitted a physician's report indicating that she had a yeast or fungal infection, and suffered from a major depressive disorder whereby she was unable to engage in stress[ful] situations or interpersonal interactions, and her emotional and adaptive functioning ma[d]e [returning to work] unfeasible. MetLife's nurse consultant concluded that the submitted medical findings do not document a significant severity of condition or provide evidence of a functional impairment that would preclude [Hobson] from performing the duties of her sedentary job. On July 20, 2004, Dr. Nesta, the physician who reviewed Hobson's file upon her initial appeal, reevaluated her case and again concluded that her alleged impairments did not preclude her from working. On July 27, 2004, Hobson's treating internist responded to the reevaluation, stating that he disagree[d] with [MetLife's] [r]eview due to insufficient data, and expressing concern about Hobson's possible systemic yeast infection. In August 2004, MetLife terminated Hobson's LTD benefits for the second time.