Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

c. Development.
(1) It is the CE's responsibility to develop the necessary information to determine
whether the "chain-of-causation" test is met if it is asserted, or there is evidence to
suggest, that a mental disturbance or physical condition is present and such condition was
causally related to the injury or conditions of employment. Statements as to the
employee's mental or physical condition prior to the suicide should be requested from the
employee's family, supervisor, co-workers, and other associates who might have pertinent
knowledge or information concerning the circumstances surrounding and leading to the
suicide. Since almost all, if not all, suicides are investigated by local authorities, a copy of
the investigation report should be obtained. Copies of any notes or other communication
left by the employee should also be obtained.
(2) A rationalized opinion concerning the relationship between the suicide and the
employment-related injury should be obtained from the employee's attending physician or
second opinion specialist. The physician should be advised of the test to be met for the
death to be compensable (that the suicide was a direct result of the employment injury) and
should be asked to describe the employee's mental and physical condition prior to the
suicide. If a conflict of medical opinion develops in the case, it should be resolved by
referral to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
(3) For the suicide to be compensable, the chain of causation from the injury to the
suicide must be unbroken. Therefore, if the evidence indicates or suggests the existence of
other factors in the employee's life which may break the chain-of-causation (such as
personal or family problems, non-employment-related injuries, etc.), the CE must develop
such factors to determine what effect, if any, they had in causing the employee to commit
suicide, and whether they constitute independent intervening factors sufficient to break the
direct chain of causation from the injury to the suicide.
(4) All development efforts in a suicide case must be documented clearly in the case
file, and all reasoning behind the recommended decision (be it approval or denial) must be
made a part of the record in the form of a Memorandum to the Director.
(5) A decision either accepting or denying a suicide case must be made by the District
Director or higher authority.
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 193