Opinion ID: 77924
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reasonableness Finding

Text: Doyle argues that the district court erred in finding that Liberty Life's denial of her claim for disability benefits was reasonable. Specifically, she argues that it was unreasonable for Liberty Life not to consider her subjective claims of pain and suffering, which she argues are substantiated by her fibromyalgia diagnosis. After reviewing the record, we agree with the district court that Liberty Life's decision was reasonable. We express no opinion on whether it was right or wrong. Liberty Life considered Doyle's medical records and employed the services of two independent physicians to review those records. It concluded that she did not meet the plan's definition of disability. We conclude that it was not unreasonable for Liberty Life to disregard Doyle's complaints of intangible pain and suffering. Under ChoicePoint's policy, a plan beneficiary must provide proof that she is disabled in order to obtain LTD benefits. The policy defines proof as including chart notes, lab findings, test results, x-rays and/or other forms of objective medical evidence in support of a claim for benefits. (R.2-12 at 9) (emphasis added). Therefore, it was reasonable for Liberty Life to rely only on objective medical evidence supporting Doyle's claim, evidence which Liberty Life's reviewing physicians found lacking. See, e.g., R.1-12 at 278 (statement of Liberty Life's reviewing physician, Dr. Silver, that Doyle's complaints are not substantiated by objective clinical findings); R.2-12 at 104 (statement of Liberty Life's reviewing physician, Dr. Truchelut, that Doyle's subjective reports are disproportionate to the physical, radiological, laboratory, and neurodiagnostic records). We find no error in the district court's determination that Liberty Life's decision was reasonable.