dwalsh: what "didn't" your dr. provide? they should have spelled it out for you. they usually state what he didn't put in his statement. it should be easy for him to resubmite what info they need, getting you back down to 4 hours. just a thought. could make things easier for the future.

postaljoe: there really "isn't" a time limit. i went back 14 years. if a sup or mgr still works there and you took leave for a surgery, that's great. but your dr. notes will have any conversation you stated. and you have what your job duties were. and the dr. narrative will really have to be good. your records of leave are still on file also to show that you missed work. it should be easy to "tie" it together. it's good that your dr. is standing by you. mine was repetitive lifting with weight, twisting, etc. and i had knee surgery. the thing is, you need to state that you DID NOT KNOW it was related. and during your conversation with your dr., relating your past duties, etc., HE stated to you he felt they were job related. be very clear on that. because the truth is, you did not know... the truth is on your side.

Yipee! I have gotten my first compensation check. For anyone who wants to know, it took almost four weeks. But I have a new question. Today I received a letter from OWCP stating that they have assigned a nurse to "assist in my recovery from my work related injury" and also to "work with your employer to enable you to return to full duty when medically appropriate". Can anyone tell me if this is the normal routine and if so any thoughts.
Thanks

Edited by author 11-20-2009 01:02 AM
/m0613

I would be very careful what you say or do around that nurse. I had one that drug me around to 8 different doctors.
The first clown that they sent me to said I could work 4 hours a day. Also he never even examined me. I saw him two weeks before I got my first check. the day my check came my wife and I were going out the door, the phone rang I answered it. the scumbag injury compensation office from my command said I had to be at work no later than 0800 the following Monday morning. Then later that evening the nurse called me and said she would be there at my work. She paraded me around to different doctors. Finally I was at my Family doctors office. My family doctor run her out of the exam room and her office. Also all of the other doctors that the OWCP nurse took me to also had law degrees hanging on their walls.
Be very careful....they say they are there to help you. NOT they are there to get you to go to A doctor that works for them to get you off of OWCP

Also now the three ring circus begins good luck you will need it.

yawnee55-
Yes this is quite normal. I would proceed with caution. You do not have to allow her in exam room. Also caution your doctor that medical decisions should be between you and him/her, NOT the nurse. She will try and be your friend, remember she works for PO.

So they can make me go to one or several of their doctors with this nurse even though my surgery is already sceduled with my chosen doctor?

yawnee55 /m6013 - In answer to your question my source says...

Once a claim is accepted and placed on periodic roll payment, the claim is assigned to a field nurse. The primary goal is to facilitate recovery and return to some type of employment capacity. It could be light duty to full duty position based on the medical evidence provided by the physician.

The field nurse is under the jurisdiction of the DOL(OWCP). This is a normal routine.

I sure hope I don't have too many problems. It is my intention to recover from my surgery and then return to my route full time. I'm just a little worried about the transition from surgery to light duty and light duty to full duty given the current state of light duty in the Postal Service. I don't want to lose my job, I just want to recover and get back to work. I only have 3 years till retirement. Am learning a lot from this forum. Thanks to everyone who contributes.

Has anyone ever had a claim/case go before ECAB? Please, if you have will you share your experience...how long did it take - what was it like - do you believe you were treated (sorta) fairly - did it seem that ECABs review of your claim was more thorough and made more sense than your CE's and OWCP's. Or anything else you can share about your ECAB experience.

postaljoe-
I did not have personal experience but READing thru case decisions gave me some insight. Whatever your issue, you need EVIDENCE to back it up. Yes I believe ECAB makes decisions clearer.

Snowed
My lawyer said that I do have to allow the nurse into my room with me and the Dr. I do not believe in this because I am shy and unable to discuss my case pain depression while she is there. Do I have to allow the nurse in the room with Dr. and Me?

JCranch /m6022 - As far as I know - No, you do not. Additionally, if the nurse come into the exam room your physician can ask them to leave the room. I HAVE had my physician do that before.

Edited by author 11-21-2009 02:05 PM
I have had a nurse show up at a doctor.s appointment. I asked her to to wait outside and she did.
she also came to my home after my surgery to see how I was doing and asked if I needed anything to help with my recovery. After that I never saw another nurse.

Edited by author 11-21-2009 03:52 PM
JCranch-
As Rick stated, NO you do not have to allow her in during exam with doctor. You could allow her to come in after the exam. Some have had no problems with their nurse.

yawnee55 /m6017 - My source tells me...

The field nurse will not make you go to any other physician. Only DOL (OWCP) has the authority to schedule a second opinion examination. Having said that, the nature of the surgery will determine the next cause of action. For example, knee or shoulder arthroscopy does not require additional medical development.

It is likely that your surgery has been authorized via your attending physician. The authorization is a pre-requisite to assigning the field nurse and placement to the periodic roll payment.