Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

(4) Only if the CE has taken these actions and documented them in a Memorandum to
the File may he or she refer a claimant who can work less than eight hours per day for other
vocational services.
(5) Cases in which rehabilitation services were previously terminated for reasons which
are either unclear or no longer pertinent may be referred as long as the claimant is able to
work eight hours, or the inability to do so is properly documented.
b. Making the Referral. The CE refers cases for vocational rehabilitation services using Form
OWCP-14, which should state:
(1) The name of the attending physician;
(2) The opinion and date of opinion which represents the weight of medical evidence, if
the file contains varying descriptions of work limitations;
(3) The date on which wage loss or recurrence of wage- loss disability began, to identify
the one-year time frame for placement with the previous employer;
(4) Any medical or adjudicatory action (e.g., second opinion examination or referral for
investigation) which is in process or imminent;
(5) Whether or not the CE authorizes the RS or RC to contact the attending physician
directly. The CE may authorize such contact when it will not potentially disturb the weight
of medical evidence concerning work limitations. However, the CE should not authorize
such contact when work tolerance limitations have been established by a second opinion or
referee examination;
(6) Where the claimant is employed at less than full capacity based on work limitations,
the CE's assessment of the situation and the desired action from the RC.
(7) The gross amount of compensation the claimant is awarded each four weeks and the
pay rate on which this amount is based.
c. Other Actions.
(1) If varying descriptions of work limitations appear in file, the CE may wish to ask the
physicians who submitted them to comment on each other's descriptions.
(2) When the referral is made, the CE should advise the claimant by letter which opinion
represents the weight of medical evidence, and why.
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 67