Appeals court eases disability retirement rules for feds

Some federal employees may now have an easier time qualifying for disability retirement benefits, following a recent precedential decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Appeals court eases disability retirement rules for feds. Some federal employees may now have an easier time qualifying for disability retirement benefits, following a recent precedential decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In April, the court ruled that federal employees’ disability retirement applications cannot be denied solely based on a lack of “objective” medical evidence. The ruling applies in cases where federal employees have already been removed from their jobs due to a “medical inability to perform.” Objective documentation, like lab tests or prescription lists, can support an argument but cannot be the sole basis for denying claims, the court said. “Subjective” medical evidence, like a diagnosis based on self-described symptoms, must also be considered. If employees’ disability retirement claims re...