Last Updated on July 11, 2008 by FERS Disability Attorney
In fighting to prove one’s eligibility for Federal Disability Retirement benefits, a recurring argument which the Office of Personnel Management often alleges is that an applicant failed to follow the treatment recommendations of the treating doctor.
Such an argument can prove to be fatal to an applicant’s case, but it is good to know the parameters of what it means to “fail to follow” reasonable medical treatment. For instance, non-compliance with a medication regimen can be fatal to a case. Thus, OPM will successfully argue that an individual who has failed to follow the medication regimen of the treating doctor has thus failed to show that the individual could have returned to work precisely because non-compliance with a medication regimen would logically undermine the potential efficacy of the medical treatment.
On the other hand, invasive surgery is normally not required, and the Merit Systems Protection Board has stated that an “estimated probability of success of future surgery is speculative, just as a prediction as to the worsening of a condition may be, and will not necessarily provide a basis for denial of a disability annuity.”
These are two light-posts on the spectrum of what is deemed “reasonable treatment”. Most issues concerning reasonable medical treatment fall somewhere between these two extremes, and the best course of action (obviously) is never to self-treat, or make medical decisions without the input of your treating doctor. Indeed, to not follow the medication regimen of your doctor is a manner of self-treatment; on the other hand, to elect not to have surgery because of the speculative success/failure rate is a reasonable decision which the Merit Systems Protection Board will not second-guess. What falls in-between these two extremes should always be with the guidance of “reasonableness”, in close consultation with your treating doctor.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
We previously spoke some time ago about filing for disability retirement based on cervical herniated discs (3). I am filing an OWCP claim and have a doctor supporting my claim for occupational disease. Should I file for OPM disability concurrently with the OWCP claim? I am still working and have no performance issues, though my attendance has deteriorated primarily due to treatment and medications. On my attendance, I am still not considered to have a problem – just a lot of absences. What do I need to have in hand before contacting you for representation?