Federal Disability Retirement - Knowledge is the Path to Success

Ultimately, Federal Disability Retirement is aand such knowledge must be adequately and
benefit which must be fought for, and secured, indescriptively conveyed to the Office of Personnel
order to attain a level of financial security forManagement.
one's future. The questions which are asked whenNote the important distinctions between a Federal
first confronted with a medical condition which hasDisability Retirement application and applying for
begun to interfere with - and which leads to one'sOWCP (Worker's Comp) benefits. Worker's Comp
inability to perform one or more of the essentialis not a retirement system; its purpose is to
elements of one's job - are varied and many.temporarily compensate an injured worker for
Where to go for the answers, whom to trust,the purpose of rehabilitation and eventual return
and then to decide what knowledge is bothto the workplace; causality of the injury can be
accurate and useful, are the keys to a successfulan important issue; and the person who seeks
application for Federal Disability Retirementcompensation from Worker's Comp may be
benefits for Federal and Postal employees undersubjected to examination by a doctor who is not
FERS and CSRS.your treating doctor - what is often termed as a
The Internet has flourished and expanded."Second Opinion" or "Independent Medical
Information on any subject is merely a googleExamination", and further, by a "referee" or Third
search away. However, a distinction must alwaysOpinion doctor. Also, one should not be surprised if
be made between information and knowledge.OWCP sends a nurse to visit with you during your
The vast amount of information on any subjectclinical meetings with your own treating doctor.
does not necessarily result in knowledge aboutOne question which is often asked is whether a
the subject. This dictum is true in the field ofparticular kind or type of medical condition
information and knowledge concerning Federal and"qualifies" for Federal Disability Retirement benefits.
Postal Disability Retirement.OPM Disability Retirement is not so much
At the outset, one must determine the type,concerned with an official diagnosis; rather, what is
extent, and severity of the medical condition.the greater focus in Federal Disability Retirement
Thus, is the medical condition physical in nature, orcases involves the underlying symptoms of the
psychiatric, or is there a combination of bothmedical condition (or conditions), and their impact
physical and psychiatric medical conditions? Ifupon one's ability to perform one or more of the
physical, do the medical conditions impact one'sessential elements of one's job. Thus, some
ability to perform one or more of the essentialcommon physical conditions may include (but are
elements of one's job? Does the job itself - thenot limited to): Cervical, Lumbar or Thoracic
Position Description - require physical demandsdisabilities; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome;
which are impacted by the particular medicalCarpal Tunnel Syndrome; Plantar Fasciitis; Migraine
conditions? If psychiatric, have the properheadaches; Systemic Lupus; various Cardiac
treatments been engaged - have psychotropicproblems; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Multiple
medications been prescribed? HaveChemical Sensitivity; Parkinson's Disease;
psychotherapeutic interventions occurred?Fibromyalgia; and many, many more medical
Proper medical documentation is important to theconditions. Note that the importance of such
foundation of compiling an effective Federalmedical conditions are not so much the "official"
Disability Retirement application. Note thediagnosis; rather, what is important are the
distinction between proper "medical treatment"symptoms which then impact one's physical
and "medical documentation". Such a distinction isinability to perform one or more of the essential
not to be easily overlooked. For, while one'selements of one's job.
treating doctor may be the best OrthopedicSimilarly, in psychiatric medical conditions - from
Specialist in the world, or a top-notchMajor Depression, Anxiety, Panic attacks,
Neurosurgeon, if that same doctor is unwilling toAgoraphobia, Bipolar Disorder,
formulate and take the time to write a thorough,Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic
proper medical narrative report, then suchStress Disorder - to paranoia, ADD, ADHD,
specialty of knowledge and expertise areSchizophrenia, suicidal or homicidal ideations: the
ineffective in preparing and submitting a Federalcognitive dysfunction, the inability to focus,
Disability Retirement application.concentrate, be able to perform
A Federal Disability Retirement application is acognitive-intensive work, or work which requires
paper submission. Thus, as part of compiling thedaily and sustained focus and attention, are the
Federal Disability Retirement application, the twoimportant focal emphasis of the medical conditions
most important components are: (1) Supportingdescribed and delineated.
medical documentation and (2) The Applicant'sUltimately, it is the cumulative knowledge of
Statement of Disability (Standard Form 3112A,multiple factors which will ensure the success of a
both for FERS and CSRS employees). As a paperFederal Disability Retirement application under
submission, with no clinical examinations by aFERS or CSRS submitted to the Office of
doctor at the Office of Personnel ManagementPersonnel Management. Knowledge is obtained
(the Agency which reviews and decides on thethrough a combined synthesis of knowing the
approval or denial of all Federal Disabilitymedical conditions, obtaining the proper medical
Retirement applications under FERS or CSRS,narratives and documentation which will enhance
both for Federal employees and Postalthe viability of one's Statement of Disability, as
employees), the description of the medicaldescribed in Standard Form 3112A. As knowledge
conditions, the impact of the medical conditionsis the path to success, so proper knowledge of
upon one's inability to perform one or more ofthe medical issues, the legal tools, and the
the essential elements of one's job - all must begathering of effective documentation will provide
effectively conveyed in the medical narrativefor greater success in getting an approval of a
reports, as well as in the Applicant's Statement ofFederal Disability Retirement application.
Disability. Thus, knowledge is the path to success,