The work of a last mile USPS worker may put them in harm’s way due to the physically demanding nature of the work, having to carry large packages across neighborhoods or flights of stairs as well as navigating busy roads in an efficient manner in order to get to their destination in a timely manner. Therefore, it is no surprise when these individuals get injured and have to take time off work due to the disabling nature of the injury.

From broken arms to head injuries to severe animal bites and even occupational illnesses such as allergic rhinitis or neurological disorders, USPS workers bear the brunt of not only the environment but also often-ornery clients and aggressive dogs. This creates an environment where you not only suffer physical injuries, but develop a mental pathology such as depression, severe anxiety, PTSD and so on.

FERS disability compensation exists in order to provide a financial lifeline to injured USPS workers who can no longer be of useful service at their position. That said, the program, overseen by the Office of Personnel Management or OPM requires that you demonstrate you have a disabling condition as well as furnish medical evidence and rationale for compensation. However, what happens if one is provided with a dual diagnosis such as a physical condition compounded by a mental health disorder? This creates a procedural complication, as OPM requires that the “primary disabling condition” be identified for proper compensation. In this article, we shall take a look at the oddities of dual diagnosis claims in order to provide you, the injured USPS worker with a clear understanding on how we prove total disability on your behalf when both your mind and body are affected, putting you out of commission – read on to find out more.

Are you looking for the best FERS disability compensation lawyer? Please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. The experienced injured USPS worker attorneys at McCready Law have represented thousands of injured or unwell federal workers who are either looking to apply for benefits such as schedule awards, or those who have sustained a disabling injury or illness that has rendered them temporarily or permanently incapacitated or disabled, requiring early retirement by way of FERS disability compensation.

We have nationwide reach as we work closely with referral attorneys and law firms to cater to all injured USPS workers from every corner of the country, and we help expedite your claim by personally handling all communications with OPM, send you off to physicians who are conversant with the unique needs and injuries as well as illnesses experienced by USPS workers who can perform exams and assessments as well as craft objective, compelling medical reports demonstrating not only causation or aggravation, but the fact that you are unable to perform essential work functions.

We understand and empathize with you with regard to the sometimes-inaccessible nature of legal services: at McCready Law, we aim to ensure that all injured USPS workers are able to access these services and that is why we are pleased to announce the availability of flat, affordable and never-changing hourly fees that we can discuss and agree upon prior to the commencement of representation.

In addition, our fees are usually assessed by OPM to ensure they are fair and reasonable prior to starting our representation as the idea is to leave the injured USPS worker with as much financial resources as possible so they can comfortably take care of their medical, home upkeep and any other financial needs that arise. If you were injured or fell ill while working for the USPS as a last-mile worker or in any department for that matter, please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation – our intake team is standing by.

Dual Diagnosis and Injured USPS Workers – Common Causes

Dual diagnosis under FERS disability retirement compensation refers to the presence of two or more co-occurring medical condition where one is physical and the other, mental or psychological whereby the combination of the two results in total disability of the employee, making them unable to provide useful and efficient service.

Let’s take a look at a few dual diagnosis instances:

1. Chronic pain with comorbid depression and anxiety: You may have sustained a severe back injury after tripping and falling backwards, leading to chronic and intractable pain which in turn leads to social isolation, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety, making mental concentration and physical work an impossibility
2. Neurological disorder and executive dysfunction: You may fall and hit your head due to a loose tile or pavement you didn’t see due to the largesse of the package you were carrying, leading to post-concussion syndrome where you then suffer headaches and dizziness coupled with concentration and executive function deficits – either mental and cognitive – making it difficult to manage one’s duties as well as navigate delivery routes.

How OPM Deals With Dual Diagnosis

For the most part, OPM focuses on the primary disabling condition; however, if a dual diagnosis is presented by your physician, they will take into account the dual diagnosis and assess the combined impact of the two. That said, dual diagnosis claims often present the problem of the chicken or the egg conundrum, where it may be challenging to determine the primary condition or if such a thing exists or is meaningful when it comes to describing the total disability.

Having said that, OPM places a premium on the following with regard to dual diagnosis claims:

1. Comprehensive medical documentation from two specialists highlighting the conditions such as orthopedists and psychiatrists
2. Clear diagnosis and symptoms for each condition and in line with medical standards such as the DSM-5-TR
3. Functional limitations caused by each condition, where every condition must have specific limitations written out
4. The interactive effect of these two conditions in concert with regard to the creation of total disability
5. The medical reports must also show the relationship to service deficiencies; that is to say, there must be a link between these physical or psychological limitations and your inability to carry out USPS last-mile worker duties such as walking routes, maintaining focus, interaction with the public and so on.

Best FERS Disability Retirement Benefits Attorneys – Call Us Today!

As an injured USPS worker dealing with dual conditions, you may feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. We shall help in the collection of medical evidence, the integration of medical narratives, focus on functional limitations and counter any OPM rebuttals that may come your way. Don’t go it alone – if you were injured in the line of duty as a last-mile USPS worker, please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation wherever you are in the country. Thanks for choosing us, and we look forward to serving you.