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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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the following steps, depending on when the disability occurred:<br />

(a) Disability at the time <strong>of</strong> acceptance requires the CE to establish the extent<br />

and degree <strong>of</strong> injury-related disability by arranging a second opinion referral with a<br />

specialist in the indicated field <strong>of</strong> medicine. See <strong>FECA</strong> PM 2-0810 concerning<br />

preparation <strong>of</strong> such referrals. The referral should include a request to perform any<br />

necessary testing.<br />

(b) Disability after acceptance may be due to surgery or worsening <strong>of</strong> the<br />

accepted condition. When a claim is filed, the CE should prepare a Statement <strong>of</strong><br />

Accepted Facts (SOAF) and ask the attending physician or second opinion specialist<br />

how the medical condition changed, whether the disability is employment-related,<br />

and when recovery is expected to occur. (These actions are not necessary when<br />

surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is at issue, however, since surgery is <strong>of</strong>ten the<br />

recommended treatment for this condition).<br />

(4) Potential Expansion <strong>of</strong> Claim. Where it appears that additional conditions may be<br />

claimed, the CE should document the record by requesting full details <strong>of</strong> exposure and<br />

detailed medical opinion concerning any period <strong>of</strong> total or partial disability. However, the<br />

CE should not delay adjudication <strong>of</strong> the claim for receipt <strong>of</strong> this information.<br />

c. Extended Development. Most other kinds <strong>of</strong> OD claims require full-scale development<br />

because the nature <strong>of</strong> exposure is in question, the diagnosis is not clearly identified, or the<br />

relationship <strong>of</strong> the condition to the exposure is not obvious. Such cases include:<br />

(1) Hearing loss and asbestos-related illnesses, which usually require second opinion<br />

medical referrals before adjudication.<br />

(2) Stress-related conditions (cardiac, emotional, gastrointestinal). These cases can be<br />

classified as basic OD only when the period <strong>of</strong> disability is closed and in the past and all five<br />

basic requirements are clearly addressed.<br />

(3) Other conditions, such as pulmonary conditions; gastrointestinal illnesses due to<br />

physical causes; loss <strong>of</strong> vision, dental conditions, inguinal hernias, nerve injuries, tumors,<br />

and pregnancy (in Peace Corps cases).<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 227

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