When a FERS or CSRS disability retirement application has made its way in the “process” to the “Third Stage” — the Merit Systems Protection Board — then I (as an attorney) must be unequivocal in my recommendation: You need an attorney. I believe that individuals who file for Federal Disability Retirement benefits should retain a competent attorney at every stage of the process, but there are always considerations of financial ability, and perhaps other considerations, which prevent someone from hiring an attorney at the initial stages of the process.
At the MSPB level, however, it is important for two (2) reasons (there are many, many other reasons as well, but for brevity’s sake, I choose the main reasons): 1. It is extremely important to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements, to an Administrative Judge, who is both a lawyer and a Judge, and therefore has the knowledge and background to make a reasoned assessment of the evidence presented, and 2. You must be able to present the case in such a way that, if the Administrative Judge makes an error in his or her decision, you are prepared to appeal the case to the next level. In order to be able to appeal the case to the next level, you must know the law, be able to present your evidence at the MSPB in accordance with the law, and therefore be able to argue that a decision rendered against you is in violation of the law. In order to do this, you need an Attorney.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
Filed under: OPM Disability Actors - The Attorney, OPM Disability Process - 3rd Stage: MSPB Stage, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) | Tagged: a federal disability attorney that will take your case to the very last, an attorney opm knows he'll take your case far to the end, an attorney who will represent you during the mspb hearing, attorney representing federal employees, considering an attorney with experience before the mspb, CSRS disability retirement federal attorney, eligibility requirements to receive fed employment disability, federal employees disability eligibility requirements, federal medical retirement FERS disability, FERS disability retirement, georgia opm postal disability retirement, helping the ill injured and disabled in the US Postal Service, I need the help of an opm disability retirement lawyer, legal argumentation to the administrative judge, MSPB Administrative Judge (AJ), mspb attorney, MSPB disability attorney, MSPB disability lawyer, MSPB Third Stage, opm disability law and the preponderance of evidence concept, OPM disability retirement, Postal disability, preparing your opm disability case for the mspb stage, preponderance of the evidence concept in fers disability law, preponderance of the evidence documents, pushing your fers disability application to the limit, representing federal employees from any us government agency, representing federal employees in and outside the country, representing us government disability employees anywhere, taking your fers disability claim to the administrative judge, the Administrative Judge at the MSPB, the scrutiny of the administrative law judge, the scrutiny of the mspb administrative judge, thinking full review board mspb during the third stage, USPS disability retirement, when the applicant needs legal counseling, when the opm knows the attorney you have just hired, when you are serious about your opm disability case, when you need to involve the MSPB in disability claim, when you really need a federal disability retirement lawyer!, winning an opm disability case at the mspb stage |
OPM Disability Retirement 
I completely agree, however, some of us (like me) can’t even pay our bills due to loss of income and are trying to keep our homes and not go bankrupt. I have no choice but to go it alone because I will not let the bastards win without fighting to the end. I just filed my notice to appeal to MSPB.
That is just reality. I appreciate the great info on your website.
Regards,
V