Disability Retirement for Federal Workers: The Measure of Success

What constitutes a compromise from perfection?  The ultimate goal is to attain the height of any endpoint, but at what juncture does one declare a level of satisfaction and determine the necessity of submission?  In any endeavor, one attempts to formulate in the best manner possible.  However, practical considerations — of time constraints, the products which one must work with, and the coordination of efforts with others, all must be taken into account into coming to a completion and fruition.

In preparing, formulating and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, whether under FERS or CSRS, one must always understand that the preparatory stage of the process must take into account the pragmatic issues which come up — the extent of time a doctor will take in preparing a Medical Narrative Report; the constraints imposed by the duties of one’s position description; and, of course, time constraints of filing a case in a timely manner.

Formulating one’s Statement of Disability is what often makes the Federal or Postal employee hesitate, as well it should, precisely because the level of perfection which should be reached is important.  This is where the description — the “nexus” — between one’s medical conditions and one’s positional duties, must be described and delineated in such a manner that it is compelling, effective, persuasive and measured by accuracy.  It is the difference between having a professional driver in the seat of a stunt car, and one who has never tried it.

Perfection is a goal; it need not be reached, but the measure of success of often determined by how close one gets to it.

Sincerely,

Robert R. McGill, Esquire