Won my LTD appeal after 14 months - sharing everything that worked

My long-term disability claim was denied in February 2025. My insurer was UNUM. After 14 months of fighting, I finally got a fully favorable decision on my external appeal last month, with back pay going all the way to the original denial date. I want to share everything I did because when I was in the middle of it I couldn't find enough concrete information.

What made the difference: I hired a disability attorney who handles ERISA cases. Mine took 33% of the back pay award only - no upfront cost. She knew exactly how UNUM operates, what documentation their reviewers look for, and which medical records to include in the appeal file. The thing I had done wrong on my own was submitting my appeal without understanding that the appeal record is the only record an external reviewer can consider. My attorney built a comprehensive file including updated medical records, a Residual Functional Capacity form completed by my treating physician, and a vocational expert's assessment of why I could not perform my own occupation.

Second thing that helped: I filed a complaint with my state's Department of Insurance about delays in the appeals process. UNUM had been sitting on my administrative appeal for 6 months when they're supposed to respond within 90 days. The DOI complaint accelerated that immediately.

If you're fighting an LTD denial, especially with UNUM or CIGNA, please consult with an ERISA disability attorney before you file your own appeal. The appeal is your only shot to build the record. Do it right.