Allison v. Unum Life Insurance Co. of America

HENRY, Circuit Judge.

Peggy Allison challenges the decision by UNUM’s claims administrator to deny long-term disability benefits under her employer’s group disability plan. Ms. Allison suffers from multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I syndrome), a relatively uncommon inherited disease that often causes overactivity and enlargement of certain endocrine glands, including the parathyroid and the pancreas.

After conducting a pre-existing condition review, UNUM denied Ms. Allison long-term disability benefits and rejected Ms. Allison’s appeal. Ms. Allison sought further review, claiming that…