Opinion ID: 42893
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Text: Chandler worked at Time Warner, Inc. Findings,” where the attending physician is (“Time Warner”), from April 27, 1988, asked to list all relevant laboratory tests and through September 8, 1999. At the time rele- results. Chandler ceased working because of vant to this action, she held the position of her impairment on September 8, 1999. account executive. After receiving Chandler’s claim, Hartford In August 1999 Chandler filed a claim with requested her tests results from de Jesus and Hartford, the administrator of Time Warner’s asked him to explain what, exactly, prevented Short-Term Disability Plan, seeking benefits her from performing the largely sedentary under the Plan, which provides benefits to em- duties of an account executive. De Jesus did ployees who are “totally disabled.” An em- not send any test results and failed to give ployee is totally disabled if he is prevented by, Hartford a precise explanation of Chandler’s inter alia, bodily injury, sickness, or mental ill- physical limitations. Accordingly, in Novemness from performing the essential duties of his ber 1999 Hartford denied Chandler’s claim for occupation. A statement submitted to Hart- benefits under the Plan, stating that the eviford by Time Warner described the activities dence submitted in support of her claim did of an account executive as “sedentary or light not establish that she was totally disabled. work.” Hartford informed Chandler that she could apThe Attending Physician’s Statement, sub- mitted by Chandler along with her claim form 1 Generally, individuals diagnosed with UCTD and signed by Dr. Alex de Jesus, stated that display symptoms indicative of an autoimmune disshe had been diagnosed in April 1998 with order or connective tissue disease but do not have undifferentiated connective tissue disease enough symptoms to meet the diagnosis for a well- (“UCTD”), a chronic inflammatory auto- defined connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Connective tissue includes skin, cartilege, and other tissue in the joints and surrounding the organs. An autoim-