ATTENTION: FAX NUMBER
DR. PHILLIPS, 256-551-6507
DR. SMELSER, 256-533-3171
DR. WASHBURN, 256-533-3379
DR. WRIGHT. 256-539-4099
09/22/2013
I am going to apply for disability retirement.
I have been sick for the past 3 years.
It became worse after starting dialysis, I am extremely exhausted.
I try very hard to put a smile on my face every day as to not bring down the spirit of others around me (to a fault, even family and friends).
But now it has gotten too much to get up every day, drive an hour, work 8 hours, and then drive an hour home. I leave at 7 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. I am totally wiped out at the end of the day. Felt the same way when I lived in Huntsville and only drove 20 minutes to work. Sometimes I even over sleep and don't get to work until 0830 (suppose to be there at 0800) requiring me to work until 5p.m.
I am unable to concentrate at all. I stopped my PHD program because I just could not think and was too exhausted to complete my dissertation. When I came home I would go straight to bed. I tried for 2 years to just develop the methodology and support the need for my research, to prove my hypothesis. Paid $800+ for 4 dissertation courses and could not complete my dissertation. I made "A's" in all my courses, except one, received a "B" in one prior to taking my dissertation courses. I was at the last step of my degree and had to quit, finally accepting "another" Masters.
At work I have spent a week trying to complete fill in forms for performance standards for personnel in my branch. In the past I would have completed these in a couple of hours. I can't walk distances. I call in to meetings of my division, because I am unable to walk to the conference room. I am totally exhausted to focus and complete my assigned duties.
Everyday my left side (hand, ankle, and feet) swells. I see edema, and take off 1 or 2 KG. But that sometimes results in cramps of my legs and feet. The nurse told me the heart surgery may be the cause of the swelling on the left side. The bottoms of my feet hurt so bad, I hesitate to walk to the bathroom. Not sure if I can make. I always find a reason to stop by someone's cubicle with an extra chair to take a rest (going and coming from the bathroom). I skip lunch because I am too tired to eat or too tired to walk to the lunch room and warm my food. Had lots of food in the refrigerator at work, but too tired and hurting to eat.
The following are the requirements for disability retirement and believe I meet the criteria. Please review and complete the attached forms. I will pay any costs associated with completion of the forms. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter. I am available at your convenience for an appointment to discuss this matter.
Sincerely,
Janice M Isbell
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To decide if your disability claim is allowable, OPM considers the documentary evidence you, your agency, and your physician provide. Your claim can be allowed only if the evidence establishes that you meet all of the following criteria:
1. A deficiency in service with respect to performance, conduct or attendance, or, in the absence of any actual service deficiency, a showing that your medical condition is incompatible with other useful service or retention in the position.
2. A medical condition, which is defined as a health impairment resulting from a disease or injury, including a psychiatric disease.
3. A relationship between the service deficiency and the medical condition such that the medical condition has caused the service deficiency.
4. The disability must be expected to last at least one year.
5. You became disabled while serving under the Federal Employees Retirement System.
6. The inability of your employing agency to make reasonable accommodation to your medical condition.
7. The absence of another available position, within the employing agency and commuting area, at the same grade or pay level and tenure, for which you are qualified for
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