If you are applying for Federal Disability Retirement, it is important to have a clear understanding of the role your doctor plays in the process. Your medical provider will be responsible for providing detailed medical documentation to support your case. This documentation is critical to proving that you are unable to continue working at your federal agency.
In this article, we will discuss what medical documentation must be provided to give you the best chance of being approved for Federal Disability Retirement. Contact our office today to see if you qualify for this amazing benefit!
Preparing for your application
Before starting the Federal Disability Retirement application process, you must have been treating with an established provider for at least 6 months. You should have a conversation with your medical provider regarding your work struggles and your decision to pursue Federal Disability Retirement.
Make sure your doctor is willing to assist you throughout this process and provide supporting documents and statements. You should have a comprehensive plan from your doctor that outlines your treatment. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will expect a detailed narrative from your medical provider to serve as support for your case as well. This narrative is a part of the Standard Form 3112 that must be filled out completely and correctly to be approved.
If your condition did not arise while working in your federal agency, you will need documentation that shows your condition has worsened due to your current job requirements. This could be an increase in VA disability, increased treatment, or worsening work performance.
You will also have to exhaust all of your reasonable accommodation/reassignment options with your agency before you are able to be approved for Federal Disability Retirement.
Qualifying Doctors
Having the right doctors’ support can make a significant difference in your OPM disability case. Not all medical professionals will be willing to take the time to help you, but make sure they know how critical their support could be to your case.
It can be helpful to seek treatment with a specialist, especially if you are suffering from a mental health condition, but it is not necessary. If you want to learn more about qualifying conditions, watch our webinar on Qualifying Disabilities for Disability Retirement.
Your provider does not have to be a medical doctor, but they do have to be licensed in their specialty. Therapists, psychiatrists, neurologists, physicians’ assistants, etc. could all provide statements to support your Federal Disability Retirement case.
What is Considered Helpful Medical Documentation?
Your doctor should provide detailed medical evidence to support your case such as-
- Any diagnoses, results from testing, and lab results
- Any treatments and their results
- Subjective evidence and opinions on your ability to perform your job duties
Having clearly stated medical restrictions are helpful but not required before starting your application. Medical restrictions help provide the OPM with a direct link from your medical condition to your work performance. Some other helpful documentation could be-
- Workers Compensation forms
- Functional capacity evaluations or fit for duty exams
- FMLA forms
- VA disability rating- especially if it has increased
- If approved for SSDI, any documentation used for support of an approved SSDI claim
Each of these documents serves as a way to prove to the OPM that you can no longer perform useful and efficient service at your federal agency.
How we help
Gathering medical documentation and keeping everything organized can be overwhelming, but we are here to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible. We will request and gather all important medical records and help you build a claim with solid medical evidence.
We thoroughly review all medical documents to ensure only the most supportive evidence is included in your application, so you have the best chance at receiving this benefit.
Remember, you must continue treating with your medical professional throughout the application process in case the OPM requests updated information. Small gaps in treatment are okay, but the gap should not be while you are applying.
Sorting through medical documentation and compiling the most supportive evidence for your case can be a long and arduous process, but that is exactly what we can help you with.
We have assisted over 6,000 clients apply for Federal Disability Retirement, and with a 99.9% success rate, we know exactly what the OPM is looking for in your medical documentation. Schedule a FREE consultation with our firm so we can help secure the future you deserve.
