Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§7906 Services of post-combat case coordinators

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart F— - Labor-Management and Employee Relations › Chapter CHAPTER 79— - SERVICES TO EMPLOYEES › § 7906

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each agency must give a post-combat case coordinator to any employee who is injured, disabled, or gets an illness while working because of a war-risk hazard or because they were captured, detained, or held by a hostile force or person. Words like "employee" and "war-risk hazard" use meanings from another law. A "qualified employee" is one described above. The Office of Personnel Management will make rules for how coordinators work. Coordinators must be the main contact for benefits under chapter 81 or 89, help gather papers and speed up claims, help arrange medical care and coordinate benefits, fix benefit problems, and make sure the employee is screened and treated for combat-related PTSD or for suicidal or homicidal thoughts or behaviors. Services stay available until the employee accepts or rejects a reasonable job offer in the agency (no more than 2 grades or pay levels below their prior grade and within their commuting area) or until the employee gives written notice that they no longer want the help.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §7906

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of this section—

(1)the terms “employee”, “agency”,11 So in original. The definition of “agency” does not appear in section 8101 of this title. “injury”, “war-risk hazard”, and “hostile force or individual” have the meanings given those terms in section 8101; and

(2)the term “qualified employee” means an employee as described in subsection (b).

(b)The head of each agency shall, in a manner consistent with the guidelines prescribed under subsection (c), provide for the assignment of a post-combat case coordinator in the case of any employee of such agency who suffers an injury or disability incurred, or an illness contracted, while in the performance of such employee’s duties, as a result of a war-risk hazard or during or as a result of capture, detention, or other restraint by a hostile force or individual.

(c)The Office of Personnel Management shall, after such consultation as the Office considers appropriate, prescribe guidelines for the operation of this section. Under the guidelines, the responsibilities of a post-combat case coordinator shall include—

(1)acting as the main point of contact for qualified employees seeking administrative guidance or assistance relating to benefits under chapter 81 or 89;

(2)assisting qualified employees in the collection of documentation or other supporting evidence for the expeditious processing of claims under chapter 81 or 89;

(3)assisting qualified employees in connection with the receipt of prescribed medical care and the coordination of benefits under chapter 81 or 89;

(4)resolving problems relating to the receipt of benefits under chapter 81 or 89; and

(5)ensuring that qualified employees are properly screened and receive appropriate treatment—

(A)for post-traumatic stress disorder or other similar disorder stemming from combat trauma; or

(B)for suicidal or homicidal thoughts or behaviors.

(d)The services of a post-combat case coordinator shall remain available to a qualified employee until—

(1)such employee accepts or declines a reasonable offer of employment in a position in the employee’s agency for which the employee is qualified, which is not lower than 2 grades (or pay levels) below the employee’s grade (or pay level) before the occurrence or onset of the injury, disability, or illness (as referred to in subsection (a)), and which is within the employee’s commuting area; or

(2)such employee gives written notice, in such manner as the employing agency prescribes, that those services are no longer desired or necessary.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 7906

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73