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     Every Federal and Postal employee has a unique historical background, especially with respect to his or her medical condition; how the medical condition was incurred; how the medical condition progressed, deteriorated, and degenerated one's physical abilities, until that person came to a point where he or she could no longer perform the essential elements of one's job.  Each person has a unique story to tell, and indeed, some of the historical background is... Read More

     There is still some confusion with respect to the relevance of preexisting medical conditions, or medical conditions which were incurred while working, or outside of the workplace, and the impact of such medical disabilities upon one's right to file for disability retirement under FERS or CSRS.  This confusion is evident from some of the questions I have been recently asked.  Remember that preexisting medical conditions are irrelevant to filing for... Read More

     Obviously, as with all areas of law, the primary role of an attorney in representing a Federal disability retirement applicant (aside from the obvious role of obtaining the disability retirement annuity), is to render useful and effective advice in the representation of the Applicant's submission before the Office of Personnel Management.  Often, however, in the process of performing such a role, engagement with the Federal or Postal employee's Agency and... Read More

     Fervent loyalty by the Federal and Postal Employee to want to work for as long as possible, and to do the best job possible, is often taken for granted; what is not as common, however, is a "bilateral loyalty" -- meaning, loyalty shown by the Agency back to the Federal or Postal employee, especially when such loyalty is needed, during the long process of filing for, and obtaining, disability retirement benefits from the Office of Personnel... Read More