Medical Conditions which May Qualify
It is important to understand that, in filing an application for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS, there is no “table of medical conditions” by which one may qualify. Instead, the focus is upon the symptoms exhibited, as opposed to a formally diagnosed medical condition. This distinction is important to understand, because once you grasp the conceptual importance of the “symptoms” manifested by the underlying medical condition, then it becomes clearer to the applicant that the focus in proving one’s eligibility for Federal Disability Retirement benefits must be in bridging the gap between two basic issues: (A) one’s medical condition, and (B) the essential elements of one’s job. That being said, Federal Disability Retirement benefits can be applied for based upon many different medical conditions, including (but certainly not limited to, as the following is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but merely an example of some of the medical conditions):
| GERD Anemia Asthma Osteoporosis Arthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis Cervical & Lumbar disc disease Degenerative Disc Disease Spondylolisthesis Multi-level disc degeneration Plantar Fasciitis Diverticulitis Hepatitis Shingles Insomnia Lyme Disease Crohn’s Disease Lupus Bursitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Torn Rotator Cuff Radiating pain & numbness Neuropathy Gout Alcoholism Narcolepsy Chronic knee problems |
Dementia Meniere’s Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diffuse & chronic pain Failed Back Syndrome Cardiac problems Profound Fatigue Fibromyalgia Migraine headaches Vertigo Tendonitis Sleep Apnea Diabetes Chemical Sensitivity Issues COPD Multiple Sclerosis HIV Shoulder Impingement Effects from a stroke Diabetes RSD Hiatal hernia Cardiomyopathy Seizures and epilepsy |
Additionally, one should not make the distinction between “physical” medical conditions and “psychiatric” medical conditions in filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits. Both are equally “valid” in filing for FERS or CSRS Disability Retirement benefits, and the law does not distinguish one from the other in determining the viability of a medical condition and its impact upon one’s inability to perform all of the essential elements of one’s job. Thus, the following is a non-exhaustive list of the type of psychiatric conditions for which one may apply for Federal Disability Retirement benefits:
| Major Depression Panic Attacks Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ADHD Paranoia Asperger Syndrome Delusional disorders |
Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Suicidal or homicidal ideations Schizophrenia Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Agoraphobia Personality/Adjustment disorders |
Finally, if one is taking prescription medications, the effects of the medications themselves may qualify one for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS. Again, this is because the focus of a Federal Disability Retirement application is based upon the importance between the symptoms one has, and the impact of those symptoms upon one’s ability to perform one or more of the essential elements of one’s job. Thus, if there is an underlying medical condition, and one is prescribed medications as a necessary part of the treatment modality of that particular medical condition, then the symptoms or side-effects which the medication regimen may produce, can adversely impact one’s ability to perform the essential functions of one’s job. As a result, one may qualify for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS because of the side-effects of a prescribed medication regimen.