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Fatigue is one of the most common鈥攁nd also one of the most difficult鈥攕ymptoms to prove in a long term disability (鈥淟TD鈥�) claim. Whether it鈥檚 caused by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, Long COVID, autoimmune disease, or another chronic condition, fatigue often lacks clear test results or visible signs. Because of that, insurance companies frequently question its severity or deny these claims altogether.

Below we鈥檒l answer commons questions on building a strong LTD claim when fatigue is your primary disabling symptom.

Is dysautonomia disabling?

Yes, dysautomia can be disabling. If you are dealing with dysautonomia and struggling with dizziness, fatigue, or difficulty remaining upright, the issue is usually not just the diagnosis 鈥� it is whether your symptoms prevent you from working consistently on a full-time basis.

Dysautonomia claims are often challenging because symptoms can fluctuate, are not always visible, and may not be fully captured through standard testing. Insurers frequently argue that a claimant can perform sedentary work, without accounting for the difficulty of maintaining posture, concentration, or reliability throughout the day.

This page explains when dysautonomia can qualify for long term disability benefits, what evidence matters most, and why these claims are often denied.

Even after the worst initial symptoms of COVID-19 have subsided, many COVID-19 patients experience lingering, often debilitating symptoms that could result in long term disability. The term 鈥渓ong haulers鈥� has been used to describe those still coping with COVID-19 symptoms long after their first diagnosis. The number of COVID-19 long haulers could already be in the hundreds of thousands, as experts estimate as many as 10% of COVID-19 patients will classify as long haulers. Many may qualify for long term disability benefits.

Below we will examine the disabling symptoms commonly reported by long haulers, as well as how to determine whether you may be eligible for long term disability benefits if you are a COVID-19 long hauler.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (鈥淐FS鈥�), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (鈥淢E鈥�) or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (鈥淪EID鈥�), is a debilitating, often misunderstood disease.  It is generally characterized by severe, overwhelming fatigue that does not improve with rest, and post-exertional malaise 鈥� or the inability to recover normally from even minimal physical or cognitive exertion. Individuals with CFS/ME also experience general weakness, cognitive problems, un-refreshing sleep, muscle or joint pain and flu-like symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no known treatment to cure this disease. 

鈥淏ill鈥� was a successful mergers and acquisitions attorney with a major law firm. Bill suffered from debilitating fatigue and cognitive deficits as a result of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The insurance company denied his claim on the sole ground that Bill stated in his application form that he was 鈥渆xercising lightly three or four times a week.鈥� The insurer claimed that this was inconsistent with his claim of disability.