Celiac Disease

The Relationship Between Celiac Disease and Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders and Your Long-Term Disability Insurance Claim

Celiac disease (CD) is a small intestinal inflammatory disease, which is an immune-mediated response in genetically predisposed individuals who consume gluten. Gluten is a complex found in wheat and related grains, such as barley, rye, and oats. Approximately 1% of the Western population has celiac disease, which typically presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, apparent malabsorption, weight loss, and dermatitis.

Many disability insurance carriers deny celiac disease claims on the basis that it can be controlled by diet and, therefore, is not disabling.

However, celiac disease is associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD). Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are multifactorial disorders caused by immune system dysfunction.

While there’s epidemiological evidence of an interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers such as infections, diet, iodine, and smoking, medical research has shown there is a common genetic background between the two.

In fact, the diagnosis of celiac disease can happen before or after a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disorder (AITD). There are shared genes between celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid disorder. Serological testing, small intestine biopsy, genetic testing, and EmA, IgA, and IgG class gliadin antibody testing can help tease this out and prove that you have celiac disease and / or an AITD.

How Does This Help a Long-Term Disability Claim?

When you apply for your disability insurance benefits, the disability carrier will want to see an objective basis for the diagnosis of celiac disease and an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Since celiac disease is not considered to be disabling in and of itself, it’s important that you develop any other medical conditions caused or contributed to by the celiac disease or, alternatively, that the AITD has caused celiac disease.

In addition to proving a diagnosis, you want to prove the disabling symptoms of the celiac disease and the AITD individually and in combination so that you can prove that you’re unable to do the material and substantial duties of your own occupation or any occupation.

This will require that you understand the policy definition of disability and occupation. Think about the occupational duties that you are having difficulty doing because of uncontrolled celiac disease or an AITD. You might want to create a diary of these symptoms, and when you ask your doctor to complete the necessary long-term disability forms, give that diary to your doctor. This can help you explain to your doctor your occupational duties and the difficulties you have performing those duties.

You also want your doctor to document in your medical records the objective basis of the diagnosis, comment on the objective testing, your symptoms, your functionality, and what restrictions or limitations you have that would prevent you from performing the material and substantial duties of your own or any other occupation.

It takes teamwork to get your disability benefits for celiac disease and AITD.