FEDERAL (EEOICPA) PROCEDURE MANUAL Chapter 2-2100 

 Energy Case Management 

Part 2 – Claims System (ECMS)--Decisions 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Paragraph and Subject Page Date Trans. No. 

Chapter 2-2100 Energy Case Management System--Decisions 

 

 Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . i 07/10 10-08 

1 Purpose and Scope. . . . . . . . . 1 07/10 10-08 

2 Required Coding for Approvals. . . 1 07/10 10-08 

3 Required Coding for Recommended 

Denials . . . . . . . . . . . 2 07/10 10-08 

4 General Decision Coding. . . . . . 2 

5 Recommended Decision Codes . . . . 11 07/10 10-08 

6 Between Recommended and 

 Final Decisions . . . . . . . 25 07/10 10-08 

7 FAB Decision Codes . . . . . . . 30 07/10 10-08 

8 Alternative Filing Codes . . . . . 50 07/10 10-08 

9 Reconsideration Codes. . . . . . . 50 07/10 10-08 

10 Closure Codes. . . . . . . . . . . 67 07/10 10-08 

11 New Claims for New Medical 

 Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . 72 07/10 10-06 

12 Director’s Orders. . . . . . . . . 74 07/10 10-06 

13 Consequential Acceptances. . . . . 78 07/10 10-06 

 

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1. Purpose and Scope. This chapter describes how to use the 

Energy Case Management System (ECMS) with respect to decisions 

rendered by the District Offices (DOs), Secondary Claims 

Examiner (CE2) Unit, and the Final Adjudication Branch (FAB). 

It also addresses ECMS coding procedures as it relates to 

alternative filings, reconsiderations, closure of claims, and 

claims filed for new conditions after a final decision. EEOICPA 

PM 2-2000 addresses ECMS coding in general, focusing on the 

early and developmental stages of a claim. The information in 

this chapter applies to both ECMS B and ECMS E, unless otherwise 

indicated. 

Decisions specify which benefits are awarded/accepted, denied, 

or under development, and under which Part of the Act (B or E or 

both). Recommended Decisions and Final Decisions are reflected 

in ECMS by decision code/reason code combinations that relate to 

the Part B portion in ECMS B, and to the Part E portion in ECMS 

E. This is necessary to ensure accurate statistics about 

decisions made under Parts B and E. 

2. Required Coding for Approvals. All approved claims must 

contain at least one medical condition with a medical condition 

type, an ICD-9 code, a diagnosis date, and an “A” for Accepted 

in the cond status field. [For Part B cases, the medical 

condition type must be equal to BD, BS, CN, CS, MT, OL (for 

RECA), or PD (for RECA). 

The medical status effective date must be equal to the claim 

filing date. If the case is a B/E case with different filing 

dates under Part B and E, then ECMS B and E will reflect 

different filing dates and status effective dates. The earliest 

of the two status effective dates for a Part B/E condition will 

be transmitted to central bill pay for medical eligibility 

processing. 

Any verified worksite data must be updated with information from 

the verification(s) received, and the Covered Employment Ind 

field (case screen) and the Payee Eligibility field (located on 

the payee screen) must be “Y,” for “Yes." 

 

A recommended decision code to fully or partially accept (A0, 

A1, A2, A8) must be entered in the Claim Status History with an 

appropriate reason code. See Paragraphs 4 and 5 below for an 

in-depth discussion of recommended decision coding. 

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3. Required Coding for Recommended Denials. A recommended 

denial claim status code (D1, D3, D4, D5, D7) and associated 

reason code (for D5 and D7 only) are required in the Claim 

Status History. See Paragraphs 4 and 5 below for an in-depth 

discussion of recommended decision coding. 

The recommended denial code must correspond with the primary 

reason for recommendation of denial under that Part of the Act 

(B or E). That means that the claim status code should match 

with the most reasonable basis for the denial. Therefore, only 

one claim status code is entered per claimant (per part – B or 

E). The hierarchy is as follows: 

 

a. ‘D3’ Code. If a claimant files who is an ineligible 

survivor, the claim should be denied on the basis of being 

an ineligible survivor, regardless of any lack in medical 

or employment evidence. 

b. ‘D4’ Code (B only). If a claimant files only for a 

non-covered condition, the CE develops for a covered 

occupational illness. Until a covered condition is found, 

employment is not developed. If a covered occupational 

illness is never claimed, the claim should be denied on the 

basis of a non-covered condition (‘D4’). 

 

c. ‘D7’ Code. If a claimant files for a covered 

occupational illness, and employment is developed, but 

after development there is not enough medical evidence to 

support the covered condition, the claim is denied because 

of insufficient medical evidence to support a covered 

condition (‘D7’). This is true whether or not employment 

verification has been completed and regardless of whether 

employment is covered. 

 

d. ‘D1’ Code. If a claimant files for a covered 

occupational illness and enough medical evidence is 

received to accept the medical portion of the claim, but 

the employment requirements are not met after development, 

the claim is denied due to lack of covered employment 

(‘D1’). 

 

4. General Decision Coding. When a recommended or final 

decision is issued, the Claims Examiner (CE), Senior Claims 

Examiner (SrCE), or Hearing Representative (HR) enters the 

appropriate claim status code(s) into ECMS. The coding must 

match the wording in the decision. There are three possible 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

outcomes for each claimed element: accept, deny, or defer. 

Deferring a decision means that a decision is not being made on 

that element at this time because further development is needed, 

essentially holding the decision in abeyance. 

It is important that decisions do not state that a decision on 

additional elements is being deferred unless additional elements 

have actually been claimed. For example, a decision should not 

state, “A decision regarding impairment and wage loss benefits 

is being deferred pending further development” if those items 

have never been claimed. These types of statements in decisions 

lead the claimant to believe they will be receiving decisions on 

those items, which they will not, unless claimed. If matching 

deferral coding is input into ECMS, it will cause reporting 

problems. 

a. Primary Decision Codes. All decisions require at 

least one ‘primary’ decision code. If the decision 

addresses Part B benefits only, a primary decision code is 

entered into ECMS B. If the decision addresses Part E 

benefits only, a primary decision code is entered into ECMS 

E only. If the decision addresses Part B and Part E 

benefits, there is a primary decision code entered into 

ECMS B and a separate primary decision code in ECMS E. 

Generally, there is no more than one primary decision code 

in either ECMS B or ECMS E, per decision. Exceptions will 

be listed in this chapter. The status effective date for 

the decision codes is the date of the decision. 

When selecting a primary decision code, the CE/SrCE/HR must 

look at what is happening overall on the decision for Part 

B or Part E, separately. For example, if a decision is 

accepting lung cancer under Part B and denying it under 

Part E because the survivor is ineligible, the coding must 

reflect a primary decision code in ECMS B that only 

reflects an acceptance (A0/F0), while ECMS E must only 

reflect a denial (D3/F3). It is not coded as a partial 

accept/partial deny (A8/F9) in both systems. 

Some primary decision codes also have reason codes 

associated with them that give more detail as to what is 

being accepted or denied. Primary recommended decision 

codes and their associated reason codes are discussed in 

detail in Paragraph 5. Primary final decision codes and 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

their associated reason codes are discussed in detail in 

Paragraph 7. 

b. Secondary Decision Codes. On Part E decisions that 

are more than straight acceptances or denials, it is 

necessary to enter a second claim status code that gives 

additional information on what is being denied or deferred 

in the decision. This additional claim status code is 

called a ‘secondary’ decision code. 

A secondary decision status code must be used in ECMS E 

only and must be used in conjunction with a ‘primary’ 

decision status code entered with the same status effective 

date of the primary decision status code. There should 

never be more than one of each of the secondary decision 

status codes per decision. Secondary decision status codes 

(and their reason codes) are listed and described below. 

(1) The ‘PD’ [Partial Deny] secondary decision status 

code must never be used without tandem entry in ECMS E 

of a primary decision status code describing a partial 

Part E acceptance or denial. That is, ‘PD’ must never 

be entered without first entering, with the same 

status effective date, one of the following ‘primary’ 

decision status codes in ECMS E: A2/G2 (Partial 

Accept/Partial Develop/Partial Deny), A8/F8 (Partial 

Accept/Partial Deny), D5/F5 (Deny-cancer not work 

related), D7/F9 (Non-cancer causation/insufficient 

medical denial), or F6 (FAB Reversed to Accept). 

The ‘PD’ status code can be used in conjunction with 

the D5/F5 or D7/F9 denial code to address multiple 

types of denials, such as insufficient medical in 

addition to a non-cancer causation denials or to a 

cancer not work related denial (See example 4 below). 

The ‘PD’ status code can be used in conjunction with 

the ‘F6’ (FAB Reversed to Accept) code if at least one 

portion of the recommended decision is reversed from a 

denial to an acceptance, and there is still another 

element being denied in the final decision. The 

reason code associated with F6 would encompass 

whatever is being accepted and the reason code under 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

the ‘PD’ status code would reflect what is being 

denied. 

Once the ‘PD’ status code is entered, the CE/SrCE/HR 

selects the reason code from the drop-down menu that 

corresponds with the element(s) being denied. Both 

the DO/CE2 Unit and FAB use this code when issuing 

decisions that require partial denial coding. 

(a) IN – ‘Insufficient Medical to Establish 

Claimed Illness’ - Used when a covered illness is 

claimed under E but medical evidence is 

insufficient to establish the illness. 

(b) CAU – ‘Causation’ - Used when a covered 

illness is claimed under E, but causation cannot 

be established. 

(c) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ - Used when claimed wage 

loss is being denied. 

(d) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

a covered illness is claimed under Part E, but 

causation cannot be established and claimed wage 

loss must also be denied. 

(e) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ - Used when the 

claim for impairment is being denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% based upon the AMA Guides 

or because a claim for impairment was filed, but 

the claimant failed to provide the necessary 

medical documentation. 

(f) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ - Used when 

the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment is non-ratable, such as 

certain psychiatric conditions. 

(g) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ - Used when 

the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment was resolved (i.e., does 

not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the 

decision. 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

(h) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when wage loss and impairment are both the only 

portions being denied. The claim for impairment 

is denied because it has a 0% rating based upon 

the AMA Guides or because a claim for impairment 

was filed, but the claimant failed to provide the 

necessary medical documentation. 

(i) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage 

Loss’ -Used when wage loss and impairment are 

being denied. Impairment is denied because the 

condition being claimed is not ratable for 

impairment, such as certain psychiatric 

conditions. 

(j) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss’ 

- Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied. The claim for impairment is being 

denied because the impairment was resolved (i.e., 

does not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of 

the decision. 

(k) C0W – ‘Causation, Impairment (0%) and Wage 

Loss’ - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously. The impairment is denied because 

the impairment rating is 0% based upon the AMA 

Guides or because a claim for impairment was 

filed, but the claimant failed to provide the 

necessary medical documentation. 

(l) CNW – ‘Deny Causation, Wage Loss, & 

Impairment (Not Ratable)’ - Used when claims are 

made for causation, wage loss, and impairment, 

all of which are being denied. The impairment is 

being denied because it is for a non-ratable 

condition, such as certain psychiatric 

conditions. 

(m) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and 

Wage Loss’ - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously as portions of the claim as a 

whole. The impairment claim is being denied 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does 

not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the 

decision. 

(n) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ - Used 

when causation and 0% impairment based upon the 

AMA Guides are being denied simultaneously or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(o) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (Not 

Ratable)’ - Used when causation and a non-ratable 

impairment are being denied simultaneously. 

(p) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ 

- Used when causation and impairment, that is 

resolved prior to the issuance of the decision, 

are being denied simultaneously. 

(q) MBM – Maximum Payable Benefit Met’ – Used 

when the maximum payable benefit is already paid 

and a decision is required for an impairment 

and/or wage loss claim. 

(2) The ‘DV’ [Partial Develop] secondary decision 

status code is used exclusively in ECMS E to record 

findings in a decision that describe a partial 

deferral for a claimed element under Part E. The ‘DV’ 

status code is entered in conjunction with a primary 

decision status code. Both the primary and secondary 

decision codes have the same status effective date 

(the date the decision is issued). 

 

The ‘DV’ status code must be used in conjunction with 

one of the following ‘primary’ decision status codes 

in ECMS E: A2/G2 (Partial Accept/Partial 

Develop/Partial Deny) or A1/G1 (Partial Accept/Partial 

Develop); and can be used with D5/F5 (Deny-cancer not 

work related), D7/F9 (Non-cancer causation/ 

insufficient medical denial), or F6 (FAB Reversed to 

Accept). 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

The ‘DV’ status code can be used in conjunction with 

the D5/F5 or D7/F9 denial codes to address partial 

deny/partial develop decisions. The reason code 

associated with D5/F5 or D7/F9 would encompass 

whatever is being denied and the reason code under the 

‘DV’ status code would reflect what is being deferred. 

The ‘DV’ status code can also be used in conjunction 

with the ‘F6’ (FAB Reversed to Accept) code if at 

least one portion of the recommended decision is 

reversed from a denial to an acceptance and there is 

still a decision on another element being deferred in 

the final decision. The reason code associated with 

F6 would encompass whatever is being accepted and the 

reason code under the ‘DV’ status code would reflect 

what is being deferred. 

The associated primary decision code could also be in 

ECMS B if the decision only addresses Part B benefits 

and completely defers the adjudication of any pending 

Part E element(s). (See example 1 below). 

Once the ‘DV’ status code is entered, the CE/SrCE/HR 

selects the reason code from the drop-down menu that 

corresponds with the element(s) being held in abeyance 

for further development. Both the DO/CE2 Unit and the 

FAB use this code when issuing decisions that require 

partial development or deferral codes. 

(a) CAU – ‘Causation’ - Causation for another 

claimed condition requires further development. 

(b) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ - Causation 

for another claimed condition and wage loss 

require further development. 

(c) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment’ - Causation 

for another claimed condition and impairment 

require further development. 

(d) IMP – ‘Impairment’ - Claimed impairment 

requires further development. 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

(e) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ - Claimed wage loss 

requires further development. 

(f) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Claimed 

impairment and claimed wage loss require further 

development. 

(g) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss’ 

- Causation for another claimed condition, 

claimed impairment and claimed wage loss require 

further development. 

c. Examples. A decision that accepts a claimed condition 

under E and denies a second claimed condition under B is 

not considered a ‘partial’ decision outcome for coding 

purposes. Instead, the ‘A0’ acceptance status code in ECMS 

E and the appropriate ‘D_’ denial status code in ECMS B 

should be used. It is incorrect to consider the ECMS E 

outcome as ‘A8’ [Partial Accept/Partial Deny] because the 

partial deny outcome does not apply to Part E. The 

following examples further illustrate these rules. 

Example 1: If there is a recommended decision to deny 

cancer for Probability of Causation (PoC) under Part B, and 

the Part E case has yet to be developed for causation based 

on toxic exposure, so that the Part E decision is deferred, 

the coding would be: ’D5’ [Recommended Deny - Cancer not 

work related/PoC<50%], with Reason Code ‘B’ [Part B] in 

ECMS B, and ‘DV’ [Partial Develop] with no primary 

recommended decision status code in ECMS E (the tandem 

primary code is in ECMS B). 

The final decision code, if upheld by FAB, would be: ‘F5’ 

[Final Deny - Cancer not work related/PoC<50%] in ECMS B, 

with Reason Code ‘B’ [Part B] and ‘DV’ [Partial Develop] 

with no primary final decision status code in ECMS E 

(assuming the Part E claim is still under development). 

Example 2: If there is a recommended decision to accept 

CBD for both Parts B and E, but the claims for wage loss 

and impairment are being deferred under Part E, the coding 

would be: ‘A0’ [Recommended Accept] in ECMS B, with Reason 

Code ‘B’ [Part B] (since all of the medical conditions are 

accepted and completed in Part B), and ‘A1’ [Recommended 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

Partial Accept/Partial Develop] in ECMS E, with Reason Code 

‘CAU’, since the CBD is being partially accepted (for 

causation). 

 

To record in ECMS E that the claims for wage loss and 

impairment are being deferred (the case is only deferred if 

there is an actual claim for wage loss/impairment in the 

case file), status code ‘DV’ [Partial Develop], with Reason 

Code ‘IMW’ [Impairment and Wage Loss], would be entered. 

The final decision coding, if upheld by FAB, would be: ‘F0’ 

[Final Accept] in ECMS B, with Reason Code ‘B’ [Part B] and 

‘G1’ [Final Partial Accept/Partial Develop] in ECMS E, with 

Reason Code ‘CAU.’ To record in ECMS E that the claims for 

wage loss and impairment are being deferred, status code 

‘DV’ [Partial Develop], with Reason Code ‘IMW’ [Impairment 

and Wage Loss], would be entered. 

 

Example 3: If there is a recommended decision to accept 

Asbestosis in Part E, and defer wage loss and impairment, 

and also to deny cancer in both Parts B and E (because the 

claimant did not prove he or she had cancer), the coding 

would be: ‘D7’ [Recommended Deny - medical information 

insufficient to support claim/non-cancer causation denial], 

with Reason Code ‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B (since the cancer 

was denied for insufficient medical evidence), and ‘A2’

[Recommended Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Develop] 

in ECMS E, with Reason Code ‘CAU’ (for accepting Asbestosis 

for causation). 

To record in ECMS E that the claims for wage loss and 

impairment related to Asbestosis are being deferred, status 

code ‘DV’ [Partial Develop], with Reason Code ‘IMW’ 

[Impairment and Wage Loss], would be entered. To record in 

ECMS E that the claim for cancer is being denied, status 

code ‘PD’ [Partial Deny], with Reason Code ‘IN’ 

[Insufficient Medical to establish claimed illness], would 

be entered. 

The final decision coding, if upheld by FAB, would be 

nearly identical to the recommended decision coding: Status 

Code ‘F9’ [Final Deny - medical information insufficient to 

support claim/non-cancer causation denial] with Reason Code 

‘B’ in ECMS B and ‘G2’ [Final Partial Accept/Partial 

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4. General Decision Coding. (Continued) 

Deny/Partial Develop] with Reason Code ‘CAU’ in ECMS E, 

along with status codes ‘DV’, with Reason Code ‘IMW’; and 

‘PD’, with Reason Code ‘IN’. 

Example 4: If there is a recommended decision to deny 

cancer and asbestosis in Part E because causation could not 

be established and peripheral neuropathy is denied because 

medical evidence was not provided to support a diagnosis of 

the claimed illness and wage loss is also being denied, the 

coding would be ‘D5’[Recommended Deny – Cancer not work 

related] with Reason Code ‘CAW’ [to encompass the cancer 

and asbestosis causation denials and wage loss denial] 

followed by ‘PD’ [Partial Denial], with Reason Code ‘IN’, 

to capture the denial of peripheral neuropathy because of 

the lack of evidence of a diagnosis. 

The final decision coding, if upheld by FAB, would be 

nearly identical to the recommended decision coding: 

‘F5’[FAB Affirmed Deny – Cancer not work related] with 

Reason Code ‘CAW’ [to encompass the cancer and asbestosis 

causation denials and wage loss denial] followed by ‘PD’ 

[Partial Denial], with Reason Code ‘IN’, to capture the 

denial of peripheral neuropathy because of the lack of 

evidence of a diagnosis. 

5. Recommended Decision Codes. The CE/SrCE must enter the 

appropriate recommended decision code when issuing a recommended 

decision. The status effective date of the code equals the 

recommended decision issuance date. 

a. A0 - ‘Recommended Accept – Sent to FAB’. When the 

CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision on a claim for 

approval for benefits, where there are no other pending 

elements on the claim (including additional medical 

conditions, wage loss, or impairment), the DO/CE2 Unit 

enters the ‘A0’ code. The status effective date is the 

date of the recommended decision. 

Upon entering the ‘A0’ code, the CE/SrCE must select a 

specific reason code from the “reason cd” field, which is a 

drop-down box corresponding to the ‘A0’ claim status code. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

To record any accepted Part B component of the decision, 

the CE must select reason code ‘B’ [Part B] for entry in 

ECMS B. 

To record any accepted Part E component of the decision, 

the CE must select one of the following reason codes from 

the drop-down menu to record all claimed elements 

(causation, wage loss, and/or impairment) being accepted in 

the current decision. These drop-down codes are required 

exclusively for Part E ECMS. 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when causation 

is established under Part E, which results in medical 

benefits for an employee or death benefit for an 

eligible survivor. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and wage loss are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and impairment are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(4) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment is 

all that is being accepted in this decision under Part 

E. 

 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision and 

wage loss is all that is being accepted in this 

decision under Part E. 

 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation was established in a previous decision 

and the current decision accepts for wage loss and 

impairment. 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and wage 

loss are all being accepted in the current Part E 

decision. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(8) DEF – ‘Decision Deferred’ - Deactivated. This 

code was only to be entered by the FAB in certain rare 

circumstances where a decision to accept was made 

without the DO/CE2 Unit having issued a recommended 

decision. This code has been deactivated with the 

potential to be reactivated if the need arises.

b. A1 - ‘Recommended Partial Accept/Partial Develop’. 

When the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision where part 

of the claim is approved for benefits, while another part 

of the claim needs further development (including 

additional medical conditions, wage loss, or impairment), 

the DO/CE2 Unit enters the ‘A1’ code. The status effective 

date is equal to the date of the recommended decision. 

This code allows benefit disbursement, if FAB upholds the 

decision, while other development continues. 

For Part B cases only, the CE/SrCE should use status code 

‘A1’ with reason code ‘B’ [Part B] for Recommended 

decisions that describe a partial acceptance for at least 

one claimed condition under Part B and partial development 

for one or more other conditions under Part B. 

For Part E cases only, the CE/SrCE must select the 

appropriate reason code from the drop-down menu for input 

into ECMS E. The reason code for the decision explains 

only what is being accepted in the current decision. These 

are the Part E reason codes available in the drop down 

menu: 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation’ - Used when causation for a 

claimed condition is accepted for benefits and 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation and wage loss are being accepted and 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required. 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment’ - Used when 

causation and impairment are being accepted and 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(4) IMP – ‘Impairment’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted and impairment alone is being 

accepted and the additional development of another 

claimed element is required. 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted and wage loss alone is being 

accepted and additional development of another claimed 

element is required. 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation has been previously accepted, impairment and 

wage loss are both currently being accepted, and 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required (e.g., a cancer that is undergoing dose 

reconstruction at the National Institute of 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss’ - 

Used when causation is accepted along with both 

impairment and wage loss and additional development of 

another claimed element is required (e.g., a cancer 

that is undergoing dose reconstruction at NIOSH). 

The portion(s) of the claim being held in abeyance for 

additional development is/are identified by the secondary 

decision status code ‘DV’ [Partial Develop] and 

corresponding reason code set out in Paragraph 4 above. 

c. A2 - ‘Recommended Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Develop’. When the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision 

where part of the claim is approved for benefits, while 

another part of the claim is denied, and yet another part 

of the claim needs further development (including 

additional medical conditions, wage loss, or impairment), 

the DO/CE2 Unit enters the ‘A2’ code . The status 

effective date is the date of the recommended decision. 

This code allows for benefits to be administered, if FAB 

upholds the decision, while other development continues. 

For Part B cases only, status code ‘A2’ is used with reason 

code ‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B for recommended decisions that 

describe a partial acceptance for at least one claimed 

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condition under Part B and partial denial and partial 

development for one or more other conditions under B. 

For Part E cases only, the CE/SrCE must select the 

appropriate reason code from the drop-down menu in ECMS E. 

The reason code for the decision explains only what is 

being accepted in the current decision. These are the Part 

E reason codes available in the drop down menu: 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation’ - Used when causation for a 

claimed condition is accepted for benefits, a portion 

of the claim is being denied, and a portion of the 

claim requires additional development. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation and wage loss are being accepted, a portion 

of the claim is being denied, and a portion of the 

claim requires additional development. 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment’ - Used when 

causation and impairment are being accepted, a portion 

of the claim is being denied, and a portion of the 

claim requires additional development. 

(4) IMP – ‘Impairment’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted, impairment alone is being 

accepted, a portion of the claim is being denied, and 

a portion of the claim requires additional 

development. 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted, wage loss alone is being 

accepted, a portion of the claim is being denied, and 

a portion of the claim requires additional 

development. 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation has been previously accepted, impairment and 

wage loss are both currently being accepted, a portion 

of the claim is being denied, and a portion of the 

claim requires additional development. 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss’ - 

Used when causation is accepted along with impairment 

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and wage loss, a portion of the claim is being denied, 

and a portion of the claim requires additional 

development (e.g., a cancer is undergoing dose 

reconstruction at NIOSH). 

The portion(s) of the claim being denied or held in 

abeyance for additional development are identified by the 

secondary decision status codes ‘PD’ [Partial Denial] and 

‘DV’ [Partial Develop] and corresponding reason codes set 

out in Paragraph 4 above. 

d. A8 - ‘Recommended Partial Accept/Partial Deny’. When 

the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision where part of 

the claim is going to be approved for benefits, while 

another part of the claim is going to be denied, the DO/CE2 

Unit enters the ‘A8’ code in ECMS. The status effective 

date is equal to the date of the recommended decision. 

This code allows for benefit administration, if FAB upholds 

the decision, while development continues. 

For Part B cases only, the CE/SrCE should use status code 

‘A8’ with reason code ‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B for 

recommended decisions that describe a partial acceptance 

for at least one claimed condition under Part B and partial 

denial for one or more other conditions under B. 

For Part E cases only, the CE/SrCE must select the 

appropriate reason code from the drop-down menu. The 

reason code for the decision explains only what is being 

accepted in the current decision. These are the Part E 

reason codes available in the drop down menu: 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation’ - Used when causation for a 

claimed condition is accepted for benefits and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation and wage loss are being accepted and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment’ - Used when 

causation and claimed impairment are being accepted 

and a portion of the claim is being denied. 

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(4) IMP – ‘Impairment’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted, claimed impairment alone is 

currently being accepted, and a portion of the claim 

is being denied. 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ - Used when causation has been 

previously accepted, wage loss alone is currently 

being accepted, and a portion of the claim is being 

denied. 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used when 

causation has been previously accepted, impairment and 

wage loss are both currently being accepted, and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss’ - 

Used when causation is accepted along with impairment 

and wage loss, and a portion of the claim is being 

denied (another claimed medical condition). 

The portion(s) of the claim being denied is identified by 

the secondary decision status code ‘PD’ [Partial Deny] and 

corresponding reason code set out in Paragraph 4 above. 

e. D1 - ‘Recommended Deny – Non-Covered Employment’. 

When the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision to deny 

benefits due to employment that is not covered, the CE/SrCE 

enters the ‘D1’ code. The status effective date is equal 

to the date of the recommended decision. There are no 

associated reason codes. 

f. D3 - ‘Recommended Deny - Survivor Not Eligible’. When 

the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision to deny benefits 

because the claimed survivor is not eligible, the DO/CE2 

Unit enters the ‘D3’ code. The status effective date is 

equal to the date of the recommended decision. There are no 

associated reason codes. 

g. D4 – ‘Recommended Deny – Condition Not Covered’(B 

only). When the CE/SrCE renders a decision to deny Part B 

benefits because the condition is not covered under Part B, 

the DO/CE2 Unit enters a ‘D4’ code. The status effective 

date is equal to the date of the recommended decision. 

There are no associated reason codes. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

h. D5 - ‘Recommended Deny - Cancer Not Work Related 

(PoC)’. When the CE/SrCE renders a recommended decision to 

deny benefits based wholly or in part on the PoC result 

from NIOSH being less than 50%, the DO/CE2 Unit enters the 

‘D5’ code. The status effective date is equal to the date 

of the recommended decision. This means if more than one 

condition is being denied, but at least one of them is a 

cancer case that went to NIOSH, the ‘D5’ primary decision 

code must be selected. This is also the only decision 

status code approved for use when denying a cancer claim 

based upon the PoC being less than 50% under both B and E. 

This code is also to be used in cases of CLL-cancer only, 

wherein the PoC is presumed to be zero. 

Upon entry of the ‘D5’ code, the CE/SrCE selects a specific 

reason code from the "reason cd" field, which is a dropdown box that corresponds with the ‘D5’ claim status code. 

The only reason code allowable for ECMS B is ‘B’ [Part B]. 

The remaining reason codes available for the ‘D5’ claim 

status code are to be used in ECMS E. 

Note 1: In ECMS E, the ‘D5’ code can also be used in 

conjunction with the ‘DV’ code to capture partial 

deny/partial develop decisions, for which there isn’t a 

single, unique primary decision status code. The CE/SrCE 

enters the ‘D5’ code with a reason code denoting what is 

being denied. The CE/SrCE then enters the ‘DV’ status code 

and appropriate associated reason code listed in Paragraph 

4 above to identify which benefits are being held for 

further development. The status effective date of both 

codes is the date of the decision. 

Note 2: If there is also a finding in the Part E decision 

to deny one or more claimed conditions because medical 

evidence was not provided to support diagnosis of the 

claimed condition, in addition to the cancer(s) 

specifically included in the NIOSH PoC determination 

(described by using the ‘D5’ code), it is appropriate to 

enter, in tandem with the ‘D5’ entry, status code ‘PD’ 

[Partial Deny] with ‘IN’ reason code to describe/record the 

additional denial. Essentially, the coding would be 

deny/partial deny. This captures one or more conditions 

were denied because causation could not be established and 

at least one other condition had insufficient medical to 

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establish the diagnosis of the claimed illness. Additional 

elements being denied, such as impairment, wage loss, and 

other causation denials can be captured in the reason code 

for ‘D5’, unless specifically requested in relation to the 

condition(s) being denied under ‘PD’. 

For example, if prostate cancer and wage loss are denied 

for lack of causation (PoC and toxic exposure) and 

asbestosis is denied because medical evidence was not 

provided, the Part E case would be coded ‘D5/F5-CAW’ and 

‘PD-IN’. 

The reason codes associated with the ‘D5’ code are: 

(1) B – ‘Part B’ (B only) - Used when cancer is 

claimed under Part B, but is being denied based on the 

NIOSH PoC. 

(2) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when cancer is 

claimed under Part E, but causation cannot be 

established (through dose reconstruction or toxic 

exposure development). 

(3) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used in the rare 

circumstance when a wage loss claim is received and 

adjudicated after a cancer denial. 

 

(4) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used 

when cancer and wage loss are claimed under Part E, 

but causation cannot be established (through dose 

reconstruction or toxic exposure development) and wage 

loss must also be denied. 

(5) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used in the 

rare circumstance when an impairment claim is received 

and adjudicated after a cancer denial. The impairment 

rating may not have been completed because causation 

was not established or if one was provided with a 0% 

impairment rating. 

(6) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - Used 

in the rare circumstance when an impairment claim is 

received and adjudicated after a cancer denial and 

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the claim for impairment is for a non-ratable 

condition, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(7) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - Used in 

the rare circumstance when an impairment claim is 

received and adjudicated after a cancer denial and the 

claimed impairment was resolved (i.e., does not exist 

anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(8) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ (E only) -

Used when wage loss and impairment related to a 

previously denied cancer are both being denied. The 

claim for impairment is denied because it has a 0% 

rating or because an impairment rating was not 

completed due to lack of causation. 

 

(9) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied related to a previously denied cancer. 

The claim for impairment is denied because the 

condition being claimed is not ratable for impairment, 

such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(10) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied related to a previously denied cancer. 

The claim for impairment is being denied because the 

impairment was resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) 

prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(11) C0W – ‘Causation, Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ 

(E only) - Used when claims for causation, impairment, 

and wage loss are denied simultaneously. Impairment 

is denied because the impairment rating is 0% or 

because the claimant failed to provide the necessary 

medical documentation or because the impairment rating 

was not performed because causation could not be 

established. 

(12) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is made for 

causation, wage loss, and impairment, all of which are 

being denied simultaneously. The impairment claim is 

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being denied because it is for a non-ratable 

condition. 

(13) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously. The impairment claim is denied 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to issuance of the decision. 

(14) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E only) -

Used when causation and 0% impairment are being denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% or because the claimant failed 

to provide the necessary medical documentation or 

because the impairment rating was not performed 

because causation could not be established. 

(15) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (not ratable)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment for a 

non-ratable condition, such as certain psychiatric 

conditions, are being denied simultaneously. 

(16) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment that is 

resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision are being denied 

simultaneously. 

h. D7 - ‘Recommended Deny – Medical Information 

Insufficient to Support Claim/Non-Cancer Causation Denial’. 

This code is used when the CE/SrCE renders a recommended 

decision to deny benefits because, after developing the 

claimed covered condition(s), there is insufficient medical 

evidence to support an acceptance; the decision is for a 

non-cancer causation denial; the maximum payable benefit is 

met; or the decision solely addresses impairment and/or 

wage loss claims where the related condition was not 

previously denied under D5. 

The status effective date is the date of the recommended 

decision. Upon entry in ECMS of the ‘D7’ code, the CE/SrCE 

selects a specific reason code from the "reason cd" field, 

which is a drop-down box that corresponds with the ‘D7’ 

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claim status code. The reason codes available for the ‘D7’ 

claim status code are listed below. The reason code ‘B’ 

[Part B] is only to be used in ECMS B. 

Note 1: In ECMS E, the ‘D7’ code can also be used in 

conjunction with the ‘DV’ code to capture partial 

deny/partial develop decisions, for which there isn’t a 

single, unique primary decision status code. The CE/SrCE 

enters the ‘D7’ code with a reason code denoting what is 

being denied. The CE then enters the ‘DV’ status code and 

appropriate associated reason code listed in Paragraph 4 

above to identify which benefits are being held for further 

development. The status effective date of both codes is 

the date of the decision. 

Note 2: If the decision contains findings to deny multiple 

claimed conditions, and one denial is for insufficient 

medical evidence to establish the claimed illness and 

another denial is for inability to establish causation, 

impairment or wage loss, the CE/SrCE should enter ‘D7’ with 

the reason code describing the causation/impairment/wage 

loss denial. In tandem with the ‘D7’ entry, the CE/SrCE 

should enter ‘PD’ [Partial Deny] with reason code ‘IN’ to 

record the denial for insufficient medical to establish 

illness. 

(1) B – ‘Part B’(B only) - Used when a condition is 

denied in ECMS B. 

(2) DMB – ‘Deny Specific Medical Benefits on Accepted 

Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a specific medical 

benefit is being denied on an accepted condition in a 

formal decision (not just a letter). (See EEOICPA PM 

3-0300.) 

(3) RMB – ‘Reduce Medical Benefits on Accepted 

Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a medical benefit 

on a previously paid item for a covered condition is 

reduced in a formal decision (not just a letter). 

(See EEOICPA PM 3-0300.) 

 

(4) IN – ‘Insufficient Medical to Establish Claimed 

Illness’(E only) - Used when a covered illness is 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

claimed under Part E but medical evidence is 

insufficient to establish the illness. 

 

(5) R4C – ‘RECA 4 Cancer’(E only) - Used when a Part E 

cancer case is denied because the claimant had 

received benefits under RECA Section 4. 

(6) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when a covered 

illness is claimed under Part E, but causation cannot 

be established. 

(7) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when the claim 

for wage loss is being denied due to lack of medical 

evidence to support the claimed period of wage-loss is 

causally related to the covered illness. 

(8) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used 

when a covered illness is claimed under Part E, but 

causation cannot be established and claimed wage loss 

must also be denied. 

(9) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used when the 

claim for impairment is being denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% under the AMA Guides or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(10) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - Used 

when the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment is non-ratable, such as certain 

psychiatric conditions. 

(11) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - Used 

when the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(l2) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ (E only) - 

Used when wage loss and impairment are both being 

denied. The claim for impairment is denied because it 

has a 0% rating or because a claim for impairment was 

filed, but the claimant failed to provide the 

necessary medical documentation. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(13) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage Loss’ 

(E only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied. The claim for impairment is denied 

because the condition being claimed is not ratable for 

impairment, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(14) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied. The claim for impairment is being 

denied because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does 

not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the 

decision. 

(15) C0W – Causation, Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ 

(E only) - Used when claims for causation, impairment, 

and wage loss are denied simultaneously. Impairment 

is denied because the impairment rating is 0% or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(16) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is made based 

on causation, wage loss, and impairment, all of which 

are being denied. The impairment is being denied 

because it is for a non-ratable condition. 

(17) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and Wage 

Loss’ (E only) - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously. The impairment claim is being denied 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(18) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E only) - 

Used when causation and impairment are being denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% or because a claim for 

impairment was filed, but the claimant failed to 

provide the necessary medical documentation. 

(19) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (Not Ratable)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment that is 

not ratable are being denied simultaneously. 

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5. Recommended Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(20) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment that is 

resolved prior to the issuance of the decision are 

being denied simultaneously. 

 

(21) MBM – ‘Maximum Payable Benefit Met’ (E only) – 

Used when the maximum payable benefit is already met 

and a formal decision is required for an impairment 

and/or wage loss claim. 

6. Between Recommended and Final Decisions. When the FAB 

receives a case from the DO, the case is transferred in ECMS 

using the codes discussed in EEOICPA PM 1-0700, Exhibit 2. The 

date the file is “transferred in” is the date the transfer sheet 

is date stamped in. 

When the case is transferred in, the ‘FD’ (FAB Received RD) code 

is entered into the Claim Status History for each active 

claimant with a status effective date of the date FAB received 

the case. 

At this time, ECMS automatically generates a docket number for 

each claim, viewable at the top of the ECMS claim screen and 

payee screen. This number is generated the first time the case 

goes to FAB. Subsequent decisions that go to the FAB for review 

are not given new docket numbers. This number is referenced on 

decisions issued by the FAB and is used on published decisions. 

 

a. ‘FN’ – FAB Initial Review Complete. After the case is 

transferred into FAB and coded ‘FD’/”docketed”, it is 

assigned to the appropriate CE or Hearing Representative 

(HR). The CE/HR completes an initial review of the case, 

assigns a CE2 if necessary, and enters an ‘FN’ (FAB Initial 

Review Complete). The status effective date of the ‘FN’ 

code is the date the CE/HR completes the initial review. 

 

b. ‘FJ’ – FAB Received Waiver of Objections. When FAB 

receives a waiver of objections, a ‘FJ’ code is entered 

into the claim status history for the claimant who provided 

the completed waiver. 

The status effective date of the ‘FJ’ code is the date that 

the waiver is received and date stamped into any FAB office 

only (not the DO, National Office, or a Resource Center). 

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6. Between Recommended and Final Decisions. (Continued) 

ECMS requires the selection of a reason code from the 

associated drop-down box. The reason codes available for 

the ‘FJ’ status code are: 

 

(1) ‘PW’- Partial Waiver – Used when a bifurcated 

waiver is received, waiving the right to object to a 

portion of the decision and reserving the right to 

object to another. 

 

(2) ‘WF’ - Full Waiver – Used when a waiver is 

received waiving the right to object to all findings 

and conclusions in the recommended decision. 

When choosing between a full waiver and a partial waiver, 

the CE/HR must look at what is being done in Parts B and E 

separately (as with the decisions). Here are some sample 

scenarios illustrating the use of this code: 

Example 1: If a decision grants benefits under Part E and 

denies under Part B, and a partial waiver is received 

(waiving the Part E decision and reserving the right to 

object to the Part B decision), the CE/HR would enter an 

‘FJ-WF’ (full waiver) in ECMS E and nothing in ECMS B. 

Essentially there is a full waiver on the Part E decision 

and no waiver on the Part B decision. 

Example 2: If the Part B decision is an acceptance and the 

Part E decision is a partial accept/partial deny, and a 

bifurcated (partial) waiver is received, the CE/HR would 

enter a ‘FJ-WF’ (full waiver) into ECMS B and an ‘FJ-PW’ 

(partial waiver) into ECMS E. Please note that if a 

bifurcated waiver is received for a recommended decision 

pertaining to one part of the Act and the final decision to 

accept is issued prior to the final decision to deny 

because the claimant has reserved his or her right to 

object to the denial, that decision must be coded as a 

“partial develop” because a portion of the decision has 

been deferred. In this particular example the Part B 

decision would be coded ‘F0-B’ and the first Part E 

decision would be coded ‘G1’ (partial accept/partial 

develop) with an appropriate reason code + ‘DV’ (partial 

develop) with an appropriate reason code. The second Part 

E decision that would be issued after the objection period 

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6. Between Recommended and Final Decisions. (Continued) 

expired, would be coded as a denial (assuming nothing 

changed from the recommended decision). 

 

c. Coding Objections. If the claimant submits an 

objection, it must be coded into ECMS. While every 

claimant is affected by an objection, the objection only 

needs to be coded for the claimant who submits it. 

However, based on the portion of the decision (Part B or 

Part E) to which the claimant is objecting; it is coded 

only into ECMS B or ECMS E. If it is unknown whether the 

objection pertains to Part B or E, or the claimant 

specifies both, the objection will be coded into both ECMS 

B and ECMS E. 

A claimant who objects may request either a review of the 

written record or an oral hearing. In either case, the 

Appeals screen must be completed. To access the appeals 

screen, the CE/HR clicks on the “Appeals/Recons” button on 

the claim screen. The CE/HR then goes to the section 

marked appeals, selects an area in that field and clicks 

“Insert”. This will take the CE/HR to the appeals screen, 

for which completion is discussed below. These fields are 

completed as the appropriate information becomes available: 

 

(1) Rec Decision – This field will be populated with 

the recommended decision code entered by the DO/CE2 

Unit. If multiple recommended decisions have been 

issued, select the one referenced in the objection 

from the drop-down menu. 

 

(2) Auth Rep – This field is completed with the name 

of the claimant’s authorized representative, if any. 

If there is no authorized representative, this field 

is left blank. 

 

(3) FAB Rep – This field is completed with the ID of 

the FAB employee assigned to the case by using the 

drop-down menu. 

 

(4) Appeal Rcpt Dt – This field is completed with the 

date that the objection was received in any FAB office 

only (not the DO, National Office, or a Resource 

Center). 

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6. Between Recommended and Final Decisions. (Continued) 

(5) Dist Office – This field is automatically 

populated with the office location of the FAB 

representative. 

(6) Ext Thru – This is an optional field used for the 

CE/HR’s information if an extension is granted. If 

time allows, the CE/HR can grant one extension, at the 

claimant’s request, for submission of additional 

evidence.

 

(7) Appeal Type – This field is used to indicate how 

the objection is being addressed. The following 

reasons are available via the drop-down menu: 

 

(a) ‘FQ – Hearing’ – Selected when the claimant 

has requested an oral hearing. 

 

(b) ‘FT – Hearing Teleconference’ – Selected when 

the claimant requests a telephonic hearing. 

 

(c) ‘FW – Review of the Written Record’ – 

Selected when the claimant requests a review of 

the written record or if the claimant objects and 

fails to specify that a hearing is desired. 

 

(8) Objection – This field is used to specify the 

main reason that the claimant is objecting. There is 

a drop-down box that describes several types of 

objections, such as more evidence available, secondary 

exposure, general, etc. The CE/HR selects the one 

that best applies to the claimant’s objection. 

 

(9) Date to FAB Rep – This field is completed with 

the date the objection is assigned to the CE/HR. 

 

(10) AckReq Dt – This field is completed with the 

date FAB sends a letter to the claimant acknowledging 

that the objection has been received. 

 

(11) Hearing Scheduled Dt – This field is completed 

only for hearing requests, using the date the hearing 

arrangements were made. 

 

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6. Between Recommended and Final Decisions. (Continued) 

(12) Notice Sent Dt – This field is completed only for 

hearing requests, using the date the hearing 

notification letter was sent to the claimant. 

 

(13) Hearing Dt – This field is completed only for 

hearing requests, using the date of the hearing. 

 

(14) Date RWR – This field is completed only for 

reviews of the written record (RWR), using the date 

the RWR is completed/the date of the final decision. 

 

(15) Location and State – These fields are completed 

only for oral hearing requests, using the city where 

the hearing is to take place. The state where the 

hearing is to occur can then be selected from the 

drop-down menu associated with the state field. 

 

(16) Appeal Status and Appeal Status Date – The CE/HR 

selects the current status of the objection process 

(such as “Hearing Convened” or “Appeal Request 

Untimely”) along with completing the date of the 

current status in the appeal status date field. 

 

(17) Notes – This is an optional field where any notes 

regarding the objections can be listed. For example, 

if the received date for an appeal appears untimely 

because the appeal receipt date is more than 60 days 

after the recommended decision, but the postmark date 

is within 60 days, the timely postmark date would be 

mentioned in the notes section. 

 

(18) Final Decision – This field is completed when the 

final decision is issued. On cases where objections 

have been filed and an oral hearing or RWR was 

performed, the Final Decision Code is entered through 

the appeals screen. To enter the final decision code 

in these circumstances, the CE/HR selects the button 

next to the final decision field on the appeals screen 

and enters the appropriate final decision code (see 

Paragraph 7 below). 

 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. The FAB CE/HR must ensure that all 

coding throughout the claim file is correct when a FAB decision 

is issued. If FAB must enter missing codes on behalf of the 

DO/CE2 Unit, the FAB CE/HR must select the appropriate office’s 

“dist office cd” on the claim status code (update) screen to 

reflect the office that actually took the action. The FAB CE/HR 

must ensure that the status effective date of any added or 

updated codes have the correct status effective date. 

When issuing final decisions, the appropriate final decision 

code (see list below) is entered into ECMS. The status 

effective date of the code will be the date the final decision 

was issued. 

 

Currently there are two systems for ECMS separately tracking 

Part B and Part E activity. The final decision coding is entered 

with a decision code/reason code combination that relates to the 

‘Part B’ portion in ECMS B, and a decision code/reason code 

combination that relates to the ‘Part E’ portion in ECMS E. This 

is necessary to ensure accurate statistics about what decisions 

were made in relation to the ‘Part B’ and ‘Part E’ portions of 

the case. For example, if a decision is issued that accepts 

Part B and denies Part E, it would not be coded as a partial 

accept/partial deny in both systems. It would be coded as an 

acceptance in ECMS B and a denial in ECMS E. 

Under Part E, “causation” for employee claimants means that the 

claimed covered illness was caused by exposure to a toxic 

substance at a covered Part E facility or site. “Causation” for 

a survivor claimant means that exposure to a toxic substance at 

a covered Part E facility or site was a significant factor in 

aggravating, contributing to, or causing the death of the 

employee. 

 

a. F0 - ‘Final Accept’. When the CE/HR renders a final 

decision on an approved claim for benefits, where there are 

no other pending elements on the claim (including 

additional medical conditions, wage loss, or impairment), 

the CE/HR enters the ‘F0’ code. The status effective date 

is the date of the final decision. 

Upon entering the ‘F0’ code, the CE/HR must select a 

specific reason code from the “reason cd” field, which is a 

drop-down box corresponding to the ‘F0’ claim status code. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

To record any accepted Part B component of the decision, 

the CE/HR must select reason code ‘B’ [Part B] for entry in 

ECMS B. 

To record any accepted Part E component of the decision, 

the CE/HR must select one of the following reason codes 

from the drop-down menu to record all of the claimed 

elements being accepted in the current decision. These 

reason codes are to be entered exclusively in ECMS E: 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when causation 

is established under Part E, which results in medical 

benefits for an employee or death benefit for an 

eligible survivor. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and wage loss are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and impairment are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(4) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment is 

all that is being accepted in this decision under Part 

E. 

 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision and 

wage loss is all that is being accepted in this 

decision under Part E. 

 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation was established in a previous decision 

and the current decision accepts for wage loss and 

impairment. 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and wage 

loss are all being accepted in the current Part E 

decision. 

 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

b. G1 - ‘Final Partial Accept/Partial Develop/Defer’. 

When the CE/HR renders a final decision where part of the 

claim is going to be approved for benefits, while another 

part of the claim needs further development/deferral 

(including additional medical conditions, wage loss, or 

impairment), the CE/HR enters the ‘G1’ code. The status 

effective date is the date of the final decision. 

This code allows for benefits to be administered while 

development continues. Status code ‘G1’ is used with 

reason code ‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B for final decisions that 

describe a partial acceptance for one claimed condition 

under Part B and partial development/deferral for one or 

more other conditions under B. 

For Part E cases only, the CE/HR must select the 

appropriate reason code from the drop-down menu for input 

into ECMS E. The reason code for the decision explains 

only what is being accepted in the current decision. These 

are the Part E reason codes available in the drop down 

menu: 

(1) CAU – ‘Accept Causation’ - Used when causation 

for a claimed condition is accepted for benefits and 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required. 

(2) CAW – ‘Accept Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation and claimed wage loss are being 

accepted and additional development of another claimed 

element is required. 

(3) CAI – ‘Accept Causation and Impairment’ - Used 

when causation and claimed impairment are being 

accepted and additional development of another claimed 

element is required. 

(4) IMP – ‘Accept Impairment’ - Used when causation 

has previously been accepted, claimed impairment alone 

is being accepted, and the additional development of 

another claimed element is required. 

(5) WAG – ‘Accept Wage Loss’ - Used when causation 

has previously been accepted, claimed wage loss alone 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

is being accepted, and the additional development of 

another claimed element is required. 

(6) IMW – ‘Accept Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation was previously accepted, impairment and 

wage loss are both claimed, a decision is being issued 

that accepts both impairment and wage loss for 

benefits, and the additional development of another 

claimed element is required. 

(7) CIW – ‘Accept Causation, Impairment, and Wage 

Loss’ - Used when causation is accepted along with 

both claimed impairment and wage loss, and the 

additional development of another claimed element is 

required (e.g., a cancer claim is pending dose 

reconstruction at NIOSH). 

The portion(s) of the claim being held in abeyance for 

additional development or because the decision cannot be 

issued at this time (possibly because of a partial waiver) 

are identified by the secondary decision status code ‘DV’ 

[Partial Develop] and corresponding reason code as set out 

in Paragraph 4 above. 

 

c. F1 - ‘Final Deny - Employee Not Covered’. When the 

CE/HR renders a final decision to deny benefits due to 

employment that is not covered, the CE/HR enters the ‘F1’ 

code. The status effective date is the date the final 

decision was issued. 

 

d. G2 - ‘Final Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Develop/Defer’. When the CE/HR renders a final decision 

where part of the claim is going to be approved for 

benefits, while another part of the claim is going to be 

denied, and yet another part of the claim requires further 

development or is being deferred, the FAB CE/HR enters the 

‘G2’ code. The status effective date is the date of the 

final decision. 

This code allows for benefits to be administered while 

development continues. Status code ‘G2’ is used with reason 

code ‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B for final decisions that 

describe a partial acceptance for one claimed condition 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

under Part B and partial denial and partial development for 

one or more other conditions under Part B. 

For Part E cases, the CE/HR must select the appropriate 

reason code from the drop-down menu. The reason code for 

the decision explains only what is being accepted in the 

current decision. These are the Part E reason codes 

available in the drop down menu: 

(1) CAU – ‘Accept Causation’ - Used when causation 

for a claimed condition is accepted for benefits and a 

portion of the claim is being denied and a portion of 

the claim requires additional development. 

(2) CAW – ‘Accept Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation and wage loss are being accepted, a 

portion of the claim is being denied, and a portion of 

the claim requires additional development. 

(3) CAI – ‘Accept Causation and Impairment’ - Used 

when causation and impairment are being accepted, a 

portion of the claim is being denied, and a portion of 

the claim requires additional development. 

(4) IMP – ‘Accept Impairment’ - Used when causation 

has been previously accepted, impairment alone is 

being accepted, a portion of the claim is being 

denied, and a portion of the claim requires additional 

development. 

(5) WAG – ‘Accept Wage Loss’ - Used when causation 

has been previously accepted, wage loss alone is being 

accepted, a portion of the claim is being denied, and 

a portion of the claim requires additional 

development. 

(6) IMW – ‘Accept Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation has been previously accepted, a 

decision is being issued that accepts both impairment 

and wage loss, a portion of the claim is being denied, 

and a portion of the claim requires additional 

development. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(7) CIW – ‘Accept Causation, Impairment, and Wage 

Loss’ - Used when causation is accepted along with 

both impairment and wage loss, a portion of the claim 

is being denied, and a portion of the claim requires 

additional development (e.g., a cancer claim is 

undergoing dose reconstruction at NIOSH). 

The portion(s) of the claim being held in abeyance for 

additional development or because the decision cannot be 

issued at this time (possibly because of a partial waiver) 

is identified by the secondary decision code ‘DV’ [Partial 

Develop] and corresponding reason codes set out in 

Paragraph 4 that are only available in ECMS E. The 

portion(s) of the claim denied are identified by the 

secondary decision status codes ‘PD’ [Partial Denial]. 

e. F3 - ‘Final Deny - Survivor Not Eligible’. When the 

CE/HR renders a final decision to deny benefits because the 

claimed survivor is not eligible, the CE/HR enters the ‘F3’ 

code. The status effective date is the date of the final 

decision. 

 

f. F4 – ‘Final Deny – Condition Not Covered’. (B only) 

When the CE/HR renders a final decision to deny Part B 

benefits because the condition is not covered under Part B, 

the FAB CE/HR enters a ‘F4’ code in ECMS B. The status 

effective date is equal to the date of the Final Decision. 

g. F5 - ‘Final Deny - Cancer Not Work Related (PoC)’. 

When the CE/HR renders a final decision to deny benefits 

because the PoC result from NIOSH is less than 50%, the 

CE/HR enters the ‘F5’ code. This means if more than one 

condition is being denied, but at least one of them is a 

cancer case that went to NIOSH, the F5 primary decision 

code must be selected. This code is also to be used in 

cases of CLL-cancer only, wherein the PoC is presumed to be 

zero. The status effective date is the date of the final 

decision. This code is used for BOTH Part B and Part E 

cancer denials based upon a PoC of less than 50%. 

Upon entry of the ‘F5’ code, the CE/HR selects a specific 

reason code from the "reason cd" field, which is a dropdown box that corresponds with the ‘F5’ claim status code. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

The reason codes available for the ‘D5’ claim status code 

are listed below. 

The only reason code allowable for ECMS B is ‘B’ [Part B]. 

Note 1: In ECMS E, the ‘F5’ code can also be used in 

conjunction with the ‘DV’ code to capture partial 

deny/partial develop decisions, for which there isn’t a 

single, unique primary decision status code. The CE/HR 

enters the ‘F5’ code with a reason code denoting what is 

being denied. The CE/HR then enters the ‘DV’ status code 

and appropriate associated reason code listed in paragraph 

4 above to identify which benefits are being held for 

further development. The status effective date of both 

codes is the date of the decision. 

Note 2: If there is also a finding in the Part E decision 

to deny one or more claimed conditions because medical 

evidence was not provided to support diagnosis of the 

claimed condition, in addition to the cancer(s) 

specifically included in the NIOSH PoC determination 

(described by using the ‘F5’ code), it is appropriate to 

enter, in tandem with the ‘F5’ entry, status code ‘PD’ 

[Partial Deny] with ‘IN’ reason code to describe/record the 

additional denial. Essentially, the coding would be 

deny/partial deny. This captures one or more conditions 

were denied because causation could not be established and 

at least one other condition had insufficient medical to 

establish the diagnosis of the claimed illness. Additional 

elements being denied, such as impairment, wage loss, and 

other causation denials can be captured in the reason code 

for ‘F5’, unless specifically requested in relation to the 

condition(s) being denied under ‘PD’. 

For example, if prostate cancer and wage loss are denied 

for lack of causation (PoC and toxic exposure) and 

asbestosis is denied because medical evidence was not 

provided, the Part E case would be coded ‘F5’-‘CAW’ and 

‘PD’-‘IN’. 

The reason codes associated with the F5 code are: 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(1) B – ‘Part B’ (B only) - Used when cancer is 

claimed under Part B, but is being denied based on the 

NIOSH PoC. 

(2) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when cancer is 

claimed under Part E, but causation cannot be 

established (through dose reconstruction or toxic 

exposure development). 

(3) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used in the rare 

circumstance when a wage loss claim is received and 

adjudicated after a cancer denial. 

 

(4) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used 

when cancer and wage loss are claimed under Part E, 

but causation cannot be established (through dose 

reconstruction or toxic exposure development) and wage 

loss must also be denied. 

(5) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used in the 

rare circumstance when an impairment claim is received 

and adjudicated after a cancer denial. The impairment 

rating may not have been completed because causation 

was not established or if one was provided with a 0% 

impairment rating. 

(6) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - Used 

in the rare circumstance when an impairment claim is 

received and adjudicated after a cancer denial and 

the claim for impairment is for a non-ratable 

condition, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(7) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - Used in 

the rare circumstance when an impairment claim is 

received and adjudicated after a cancer denial and the 

claimed impairment was resolved (i.e., does not exist 

anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(8) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ (E only) -

Used when wage loss and impairment related to a 

previously denied cancer are both being denied. The 

claim for impairment is denied because it has a 0% 

rating or because an impairment rating was not 

completed due to lack of causation. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(9) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied related to a previously denied cancer are 

both being denied. The claim for impairment is denied 

because the condition being claimed is not ratable for 

impairment, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(10) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied related to a previously denied cancer. 

The claim for impairment is being denied because the 

impairment was resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) 

prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(11) C0W – Causation, Impairment (0%), and Wage Loss’ 

(E only) - Used when claims for causation, impairment, 

and wage loss are denied simultaneously. Impairment 

is denied because the impairment rating is 0% or 

because the claimant failed to provide the necessary 

medical documentation or because the impairment rating 

was not performed because causation could not be 

established. 

(12) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is made for 

causation, wage loss, and impairment, all of which are 

being denied simultaneously. The impairment claim is 

being denied because it is for a non-ratable 

condition. 

(13) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only). Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously. The impairment claim is denied 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to issuance of the decision. 

(14) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E only) -

Used when causation and 0% impairment are being denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% or because the claimant failed 

to provide the necessary medical documentation or 

because the impairment rating was not performed 

because causation could not be established. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(15) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (not ratable)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment for a 

non-ratable condition, such as certain psychiatric 

conditions, are being denied simultaneously. 

(16) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and impairment that is 

resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision are being denied 

simultaneously. 

h. F6 - ‘Final Accept – Reversal From Denial.’ When the 

CE/HR renders a final decision to approve benefits despite 

the recommended decision to deny, the CE/HR enters the ‘F6’ 

code. The status effective date is the date of the final 

decision. 

This code should also be used if the recommended decision 

is a partial accept/partial deny and the denial portion is 

reversed. 

Upon entering the ‘F6’ code, the CE/HR must select a 

specific reason code from the “reason cd” field, which is a 

drop-down box corresponding to the ‘F0’ claim status code. 

To record any accepted Part B component of the decision, 

the CE/HR must select reason code ‘B’ [Part B] for entry in 

ECMS B. 

If a Part B final decision reversed at least a portion of a 

recommended decision to deny, while the other Part B 

elements are accepted, the CE/HR must use an additional 

primary final decision code to capture the denial. The 

CE/HR must enter the ‘F6’ code with reason code ‘B’ and 

another applicable final decision for the element that is 

being denied. 

To record any accepted Part E component of the decision, 

the CE/HR must select one of the following reason codes 

from the drop-down menu to record all of the claimed 

elements being accepted in the current decision. These 

reason codes are to be entered exclusively in ECMS E: 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(1) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when causation 

is established under Part E, which results in medical 

benefits for an employee or death benefit for an 

eligible survivor. 

(2) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and wage loss are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(3) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - Used 

when causation and impairment are being accepted 

simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(4) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment is 

all that is being accepted in this decision under Part 

E. 

 

(5) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision and 

wage loss is all that is being accepted in this 

decision under Part E. 

 

(6) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - Used 

when causation was established in a previous decision 

and the current decision accepts for wage loss and 

impairment. 

(7) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and wage 

loss are all being accepted in the current Part E 

decision. 

If a Part E final decision reversed at least a portion of a 

recommended decision to deny to a final decision to accept, 

while other Part E elements are still being denied and/or 

deferred, the CE/HR must use the secondary decision codes 

‘PD’ and/or ‘DV’ along with the ‘F6’ code. The reason code 

associated with the ‘F6’ will show what elements are being 

accepted, including what was reversed. The reason codes 

associated with the ‘PD’ and/or ‘DV’ code(s) will reflect 

what is still being denied and/or deferred, respectively. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

If a Part B final decision reversed at least a portion of a 

recommended decision to deny to a final decision to accept, 

while other Part B elements are still being denied and/or 

deferred, the CE/HR must use a primary decision code along 

with the ‘F6’ code with reason code ‘B’. The primary 

decision code will reflect what is still being denied 

and/or deferred. 

i. F7 – ‘FAB Remanded’. This code is entered when FAB 

remands a decision of the DO/CE2 Unit. Upon issuance of 

the remand order, the CE/HR must enter the claim status 

code ‘F7’ in the Claim Status History. The status 

effective date is equal to the date of the remand 

order. The CE/HR must also select the appropriate reason 

code from the drop-down menu that best describes the reason 

the case is being remanded. 

The reason code reflects whether the remand is based on a 

DO/CE2 Unit error that could have been avoided or an 

unavoidable reason that was not a DO/CE2 Unit error. The 

reason codes (listed below) give more detail to the reason 

for the remand (“other” is the catch-all if no other reason 

codes fit.) 

The FAB CE/HR codes ‘F7’ into the appropriate system (ECMS 

B for a B only remand, ECMS E for an E only remand, and 

both for a Part B/E remand. If the Part B and E decisions 

are remanded, an ‘F7’ goes into ECMS B and E, but could 

have different reason codes in each. 

Do not enter multiple ‘F7’s and reason codes per system to 

capture multiple types of errors, instead select the reason 

code that captures the most egregious error (per part type) 

or “other” if none really fit. If there are multiple 

reasons for a remand, some avoidable and some unavoidable, 

select the avoidable reason code. 

 

(1) DO/CE2 Unit Error – Any remand that the FAB 

considers to be have been avoidable by the DO/CE2 

Unit: 

(a) ERM – ‘Error – Medical (Dx, Disease, 

Causation, DMC related)’ – This reason code is 

selected if the remand is based on an error in 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

the medical development or conclusions, such as 

incorrect causation determinations, DMC 

referrals, and diagnoses. 

(b) ERE Error – ‘Employment (Dates/Time Pd, 

Exposure, SEM Use)’ – This reason code is 

selected if the remand is based on an error in 

the employment development or conclusions, such 

as incorrect employment dates/facilities, 

exposures, or SEM usage. 

(c) ERS Error – ‘Survivorship’ – This reason code 

is selected if the remand is based on an error in 

the survivorship development or conclusions. 

(d) ERO Error – ‘Other (Error – Not Med, Emp, or 

Survivorship)’ – This reason code is selected if 

the remand is based on a DO/CE2 Unit error that 

is not predominately medical, employment, or 

survivorship in nature. 

 

(2) No DO/CE2 Unit Error – Any remand that FAB 

considers to have been unavoidable by the DO/CE2 Unit: 

(a) DEA – ‘No DO Error – Death of Claimant’ – 

This reason code is selected when the FAB becomes 

aware of the claimant’s death while the case is 

pending a final decision. 

(b) RTN – ‘No DO Error – Recommended Decision 

Returned by Post Office’ – This reason code is 

selected when the recommended decision is 

returned by the post office and a new address 

cannot be obtained to re-issue the recommended 

decision and issue the final decision to the 

claimant(s). 

(c) CLS – ‘No DO Error – Administrative Closure 

(not claimant death) – This reason code is 

selected when the claim must be remanded to the 

DO/CE2 Unit for an administrative closure for a 

reason other than death or bad address. 

 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(d) OTH – ‘Error – Other (Error – Not Med, Emp, 

or Survivorship)’ – This code is used for remands 

that could not be avoided for a reason other than 

death of claimant, bad address, or administrative 

closure. An example of ‘OTH’ errors that are 

unavoidable are remands based on new evidence, 

change in law, regulation, policy or procedure, 

new SECs, and new PEPs. 

 

When issuing partial decisions that include a remand order, 

codes should be entered in this order: 

(1) Partial Accept/Partial Remand – ‘F0’ + reason 

code to show what is accepted, followed by ‘F7’ + 

remand reason code. 

(2) Partial Reverse to Accept/Partial Remand – ‘F6’ 

+ reason code to show what is accepted, followed by 

‘F7’ + remand reason code. 

(3) Partial Deny/Partial Remand – Denial code (‘F1’, 

‘F3’, ‘F4’, ‘F5’, or ‘F9’) + reason code showing what 

is denied, followed by ‘F7’ + remand reason code. 

(4) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Remand – 

(a) If the Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Remand is for Part B – code ‘F8’ (FAB Accept in 

Part/Deny in Part) + reason code ‘B’, followed by 

‘F7’ + remand reason code in ECMS B. 

 (b) If the Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Remand is for Part E – code ‘F8’ (FAB Accept in 

Part/Deny in Part) + reason code that shows what 

is accepted, ‘PD’ + reason code to show what is 

denied, and ‘F7’ + remand reason code in ECMS E. 

(5) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Develop/ 

Partial Remand – 

(a) If the Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Develop/Partial Remand is for Part B – code ‘G2’ 

(FAB Accept in Part/Deny in Part/Develop in Part) 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

+ reason code ‘B’, followed by ‘F7’ + remand 

reason in ECMS B. 

(b) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Develop/Partial Remand is for Part E – code 

‘G2’(FAB Accept in Part/Deny in Part/Develop in 

Part) + reason code, ‘PD’ + reason code to show 

what is denied, ‘DV’ + reason code to show what is 

deferred, and ‘F7’ + remand reason code in ECMS E. 

(6) Partial Accept/Partial Develop/Partial Remand – 

(a) If the Partial Accept/Partial Develop/ 

Partial Remand is for Part B – code ‘G1’ (FAB 

Accept in Part/Develop in Part) + reason code ‘B’, 

followed by ‘F7’ + remand reason code in ECMS B. 

(b) If the Partial Accept/Partial Develop/ 

Partial Remand is for Part E – code ‘G1’(FAB 

Accept in Part/Develop in Part) + reason code, 

‘DV’ + reason code to show what is deferred, and 

‘F7’ + remand reason code in ECMS E. 

The status effective date for all the primary and secondary 

decision codes is the date of the final decision. 

j. F8 - ‘Final Partial Accept/Partial Deny’. When the 

CE/HR renders a final decision where part of the claim is 

approved for benefits, while another part of the claim is 

denied, the CE/HR enters the ‘F8’ code. The status effective 

date is equal to the date of the final decision. 

For Part B cases, status code ‘F8’ is used with reason code 

‘B’ [Part B] in ECMS B for final decisions that describe a 

partial acceptance for one claimed condition under Part B 

and partial denial for one or more other conditions under 

B. 

For Part E cases, the CE/HR must select the appropriate 

reason code from the drop-down menu and enter it into Part 

E ECMS. The reason code for the decision explains only 

what is being accepted in the current decision. These are 

the Part E reason codes available in the drop down menu: 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(1) CAU – ‘Accept Causation’ - Used when causation 

for a claimed condition is accepted for benefits and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(2) CAW – ‘Accept Causation and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation and wage loss are being accepted and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(3) CAI – ‘Accept Causation and Impairment’ - Used 

when causation and impairment are being accepted and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(4) IMP – ‘Accept Impairment’ - Used when causation 

was previously accepted, impairment alone is currently 

being accepted, and a portion of the claim is being 

denied. 

(5) WAG – ‘Accept Wage Loss’ - Used when causation 

was previously accepted, wage loss alone is currently 

being accepted, and a portion of the claim is being 

denied. 

(6) IMW – ‘Accept Impairment and Wage Loss’ - Used 

when causation was previously accepted, impairment and 

wage loss are both currently being accepted, and a 

portion of the claim is being denied. 

(7) CIW – ‘Accept Causation, Impairment, and Wage 

Loss’ - Used when causation is accepted along with 

impairment and wage loss, and a portion of the claim 

is being denied (e.g., a cancer claim is pending dose 

reconstruction at NIOSH). 

The portion(s) of the claim being denied in the decision is 

identified by the secondary decision status code ‘PD’ 

[Partial Deny] and corresponding reason code set out in 

Paragraph 4 above. 

k. F9 - ‘Final Deny - Medical Information Insufficient To 

Support Claim/Non-Cancer Causation Denial’. This code is 

used when the CE/HR renders a final decision to deny 

benefits because there is insufficient medical evidence to 

support an acceptance; for any non-cancer causation 

denials; for when the maximum payable benefit is met; or 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

for decisions that solely address impairment and/or wage 

loss claims (whose related conditions were not previously 

denied under F5). The status effective date is the date of 

the final decision. 

Upon entry of the ‘F9’ code, the CE/HR selects a specific 

reason code from the "reason cd" field, which is a dropdown box that corresponds with the ‘F9’ claim status code. 

The reason codes available for the ‘F9’ claim status code 

are listed below. The reason code ‘B’ [Part B] is only to 

be used in ECMS B. 

Note 1: In ECMS E, the ‘F9’ code can also be used in 

conjunction with the ‘DV’ code to capture partial 

deny/partial develop decisions, for which there isn’t a 

single, unique primary decision status code. The CE/HR 

enters the ‘F9’ code with a reason code denoting what is 

being denied. The CE/HR then enters the ‘DV’ status code 

and appropriate associated reason code listed in Paragraph 

4 above to identify which benefits are being held for 

further development. The status effective date of both 

codes is the date of the decision. 

Note 2: If the decision contains findings to deny multiple 

claimed conditions, and one denial is for insufficient 

medical evidence to establish the claimed illness and 

another denial is for inability to establish causation, 

impairment or wage loss, the CE/HR should enter ‘F9’ with 

the reason code describing the causation/impairment/wage 

loss denial. In tandem with the ‘F9’ entry, the CE should 

enter ‘PD’ [Partial Deny] with reason code ‘IN’ to record 

the denial for insufficient medical to establish illness. 

(1) B – ‘Part B’(B only) - Used when a condition is 

denied in ECMS B. 

(2) DMB – ‘Deny Specific Medical Benefits On Accepted 

Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a specific medical 

benefit is being denied on an accepted condition in a 

formal decision (not just a letter). (See EEOICPA PM 

3-0300.) 

(3) RMB – ‘Reduce Medical Benefits On Accepted 

Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a medical benefit 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

on a previously paid item for a covered condition is 

reduced in a formal decision (not just a letter). 

(See EEOICPA PM 3-0300.) 

 

(4) IN – ‘Insufficient Medical To Establish Claimed 

Illness’(E only) - Used when a covered illness is 

claimed under Part E but medical evidence is 

insufficient to establish the illness. 

 

(5) R4C – ‘RECA 4 Cancer’(E only) - Used when a Part E 

cancer case is denied because the claimant had 

received benefits under RECA Section 4. 

(6) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when a covered 

illness is claimed under Part E, but causation cannot 

be established. 

(7) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when the claim 

for wage loss is being denied due to lack of medical 

evidence to support the claimed period of wage-loss is 

causally related to the covered illness. 

(h) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used 

when a covered illness is claimed under Part E, but 

causation cannot be established and claimed wage loss 

must also be denied. 

(9) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used when the 

claim for impairment is being denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% under the AMA Guides or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(10) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - Used 

when the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment is non-ratable, such as certain 

psychiatric conditions. 

(11) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - Used 

when the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the claimed impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

(l2) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss (E only) - 

Used when wage loss and impairment are both being 

denied. The claim for impairment is denied because it 

has a 0% rating or because a claim for impairment was 

filed, but the claimant failed to provide the 

necessary medical documentation. 

(13) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage Loss (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied. The claim for impairment is denied 

because the condition being claimed is not ratable for 

impairment, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(14) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are both 

being denied. The claim for impairment is being 

denied because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does 

not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the 

decision. 

(15) C0W – Causation, Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss 

(E only) - Used when claims for causation, impairment, 

and wage loss are denied simultaneously. Impairment 

is denied because the impairment rating is 0% or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(16) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is made based 

on causation, wage loss, and impairment, all of which 

are being denied. The impairment is being denied 

because it is for a non-ratable condition. 

(17) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and Wage 

Loss’ (E only) - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment and wage loss are being denied 

simultaneously. The impairment claim is being denied 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does not 

exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the decision. 

(18) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E only) - 

Used when causation and impairment are being denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

impairment rating is 0% or because a claim for 

impairment was filed, but the claimant failed to 

provide the necessary medical documentation. 

(19) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (Not Ratable)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and an impairment that is 

not ratable are being denied simultaneously. 

(20) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and impairment that is 

resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision are being denied 

simultaneously. 

(21) MBM – ‘Maximum Payable Benefit Met’ (E only) – 

Used when the maximum payable benefit is already met 

and a formal decision is required for an impairment 

and/or wage loss claim. 

l. F10 - ‘Regulatory Final Decision’. The FAB CE/HR 

enters this claim status code if a case is identified as 

having a “regulatory/administrative” decision based on the 

“one year/365-day rule.” The claim status date of the code 

is different depending on whether objections are present, 

or if it is a Director’s Order to reopen for a new final 

decision and a decision is pending for more than one year: 

(1) For cases where no objection was filed, the 

recommended decision becomes final 365 days from the 

time the 60-day objection period expires (if no final 

decision has been issued), that is, 425 days after the 

recommended decision date. 

(2) For cases where an objection was filed, the 

recommended decision becomes final on the one-year 

anniversary date that the letter of objection was 

received (if no final decision has been issued.) 

(3) For cases where a Director’s Order was issued 

reopening a case for issuance of a new final decision, 

the recommended decision becomes final on the one-year 

anniversary date of the Director’s Order (if no new 

final decision has been issued.) 

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7. FAB Decision Codes. (Continued) 

All of these cases must be submitted to National Office for 

reopening. See Paragraph 12 in this chapter for reopening 

coding instructions. 

8. Alternative Filing Codes. When a claimant requests an 

alternative filing under Part E, the ECMS codes below are used. 

(1) XR – ‘Alternative Filing Review Requested’ – Used when 

a claimant requests an alternative filing. The status 

effective date is the postmark date or date stamp the 

letter is received in the office, whichever is earlier. 

 

(2) XC – ‘Alternative Filing Review Completed’ – Used when 

the CE/SrCE sends out a final response to the alternative 

filing request. The status effective date is the date of 

the written response. Depending upon the determination 

reached in the review, two findings are possible: positive 

and negative. 

The CE/SrCE selects the appropriate reason code from the 

drop-down menu to indicate whether or not a causal link was 

found to have existed. If the finding of the causal review 

is positive, the CE/SrCE selects ‘P’ (Positive). If the 

finding of the causal review is negative, the CE/SrCE 

selects ‘N’ (Negative) to show that no causal link was found 

to exist. 

 

9. Reconsideration Codes. When a claimant submits a request 

for reconsideration, it must be appropriately coded on the 

reconsideration screen (this screen is completed only for the 

claimant(s) who request reconsideration). 

To access the reconsideration screen, the CE/HR presses the 

“Appeals/Recons” button on the claim screen, highlights a field 

in the “Reconsiderations” section of the FAB screen, and clicks 

insert. The following fields are completed as information on 

the reconsideration becomes available: 

 

a. Claimant Objections. This field is completed using 

the associated drop-down menu. The CE/HR selects the 

reason that best describes why the claimant wants 

reconsideration, e.g., “challenges law” or “non-specific”. 

 

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b. Date to HR. This field is the date the HR is made 

aware of the reconsideration request. 

 

c. Recon Req Date. This field is completed with the date 

the reconsideration request was received in any FAB office 

only (not the DO, National Office, or a Resource Center). 

 

d. Hearing Rep. This field is completed with the 

code/name of the CE/HR assigned to the case. 

 

e. Recon Status. This field is completed by selecting 

the status of the reconsideration process, granted or 

denied, from the drop-down box associated with the recon 

status field. Then, the date associated with the 

reconsideration status is entered in the box associated 

with the recon status date field. 

This entry reflects whether the request for reconsideration 

has been granted or denied, not the case itself. If the 

reconsideration is granted, it will have a new, postreconsideration final decision code entered [see item “g” 

below]. If the reconsideration is denied, the reason will 

be annotated in the note section [see item “f” below]. 

 

f. Note. This field is used to input any applicable notes 

regarding the request for reconsideration. For example, if 

the received date for reconsideration appears untimely 

because the reconsideration receipt date is more than 30 

days after the final decision, but the postmark date is 

within 30 days, the timely postmark date would be mentioned 

in the notes section. 

A note should be entered when a request for reconsideration 

is denied, because there is an untimely filing, no new 

argument or evidence is submitted, or the new argument or 

evidence does not contradict the conclusions of the final 

decision. 

 

g. Post-Recon Final Decision. This field is completed 

when FAB accepts the request for reconsideration. A 

reconsideration code is not entered on cases where there is 

an untimely filing, no new argument or evidence is 

submitted, or the new argument or evidence does not 

contradict the conclusions of the final decision. A note 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

should be entered for those types of reconsideration 

denials. 

When a reconsideration decision is made, the appropriate 

post-reconsideration final decision code must be entered 

into this field for all active claimants (even though the 

reconsideration screen is only completed for the 

individual(s) who requested the reconsideration). The codes 

are listed below. The status effective date of the 

reconsideration code is the date the new final decision is 

issued. (Do not overwrite the previous final decision 

code.) 

If the post-reconsideration final decision partially denies 

or defers a claimed element on a Part E decision, the 

secondary decision codes PD and DV should be used along 

with the reconsideration code, just as they are with 

primary recommended and final decision codes. Multiple 

Post-Reconsideration codes (R_) should not be entered for 

one Part B or Part E decision, unless there is a partial 

remand. (Note: The post-reconsideration final decision 

generally parallels the related final decision unless there 

is a reversal to accept or a remand issued when the case is 

reconsidered.) 

(1) R0 - ‘FAB RECON - ACCEPT’. When the 

reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued on an 

approved claim for benefits where there are no other 

pending elements on the claim (including additional 

medical conditions, wage loss, or impairment), the 

CE/HR enters the ‘R0’ code. The status effective date 

is the date the post-reconsideration final decision is 

issued. R0 should only be used if the related final 

decision that was being reconsidered was an F0. 

Upon entering the ‘R0’ code, the CE/HR must select a 

specific reason code from the “reason cd” field, which 

is a drop-down box corresponding to the ‘R0’ claim 

status code. 

The reason codes available for the ‘R6’ claim status 

code are listed below. The reason code should reflect 

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everything being accepted in the current decision for 

that Part of the Act. 

(a) B – ‘Part B’ – Used to record any accepted 

Part B component of the decision. 

(b) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when 

causation is established under Part E, which 

results in medical benefits for an employee or 

death benefit for an eligible survivor. 

(c) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and wage loss are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(d) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and impairment are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(e) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment 

is all that is being accepted in this decision 

under Part E. 

 

(f) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision 

and wage loss is all that is being accepted in 

this decision under Part E. 

 

(g) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation was established in a previous 

decision and the current decision accepts for 

wage loss and impairment. 

(h) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and 

wage loss are all being accepted in the current 

Part E decision. 

To record any accepted Part E component of the 

decision, the CE/HR must select one of the 

following 

 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

(2) R1 - ‘FAB RECON – DENY, EMPLOYMENT NOT COVERED’. 

When the reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued to deny 

benefits due to employment that is not covered, the 

CE/HR enters the ‘R1’ code. The status effective date 

is the date the post-reconsideration final decision 

was issued. 

(3) R2 – ‘FAB RECON – DENY, CONDITION NOT RELATED TO 

EMPLOYMENT’. When the reconsideration is granted and 

the post-reconsideration final decision is issued to 

deny benefits due to the condition not being related 

to employment, the CE/HR enters the ‘R2’ code. The 

status effective date is the date the postreconsideration final decision was issued. 

(4) R3 – ‘FAB RECON – DENY,SURVIVOR NOT ELIGIBLE’. 

When the reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued to deny 

benefits due to the survivor not being eligible, the 

CE/HR enters the ‘R3’ code. The status effective date 

is the date the post-reconsideration final decision 

was issued. 

(5) R4 – ‘FAB RECON – DENY, CONDITION NOT COVERED’. 

(B only) When the reconsideration is granted and the 

post-reconsideration final decision is issued to deny 

benefits due to the condition not being covered under 

Part B, the CE/HR enters the ‘R4’ code. The status 

effective date is the date the post-reconsideration 

final decision was issued. 

(6) R5 – ‘FAB RECON – DENY,CANCER NOT WORKRELATED,POC’. When the reconsideration is granted and 

the post-reconsideration final decision is issued to 

deny benefits because the PoC result from NIOSH is 

less than 50%, the CE/HR enters the ‘R5’ code. If 

more than one condition is being denied in the current 

decision, but at least one of them is a cancer case 

that went to NIOSH, the F5 primary decision code must 

be selected. This code is also to be used in cases of 

CLL-cancer only, wherein the PoC is presumed to be 

zero. The status effective date is the date the postreconsideration final decision is issued. This code 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

is used for BOTH Part B and Part E cancer denials if 

the above criteria for POC < 50% is met. 

Upon entry of the ‘R5’ code, the CE/HR selects a 

specific reason code from the "reason cd" field, which 

is a drop-down box that corresponds with the ‘R5’ 

claim status code. 

The reason codes available for the ‘R5’ claim status 

code are listed below. 

(a) B – ‘Part B’ (B only) - Used when cancer is 

claimed under Part B, but is being denied based 

on the NIOSH PoC. 

(b) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when cancer 

is claimed under Part E, but causation cannot be 

established (through dose reconstruction or toxic 

exposure development). 

(c) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used in the rare 

circumstance when a wage loss claim is received 

and adjudicated after a cancer denial. 

 

(d) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - 

Used when cancer and wage loss are claimed under 

Part E, but causation cannot be established 

(through dose reconstruction or toxic exposure 

development) and wage loss must also be denied. 

(e) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used in 

the rare circumstance when an impairment claim is 

received and adjudicated after a cancer denial. 

The impairment rating may not have been completed 

because causation was not established or if one 

was provided with a 0% impairment rating. 

(f) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - 

Used in the rare circumstance when an impairment 

claim is received and adjudicated after a cancer 

denial and the claim for impairment is for a 

non-ratable condition, such as certain 

psychiatric conditions. 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

(g) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - 

Used in the rare circumstance when an impairment 

claim is received and adjudicated after a cancer 

denial and the claimed impairment was resolved 

(i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision. 

 (h) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss’ (E 

only) -Used when wage loss and impairment related 

to a previously denied cancer are both being 

denied. The claim for impairment is denied 

because it has a 0% rating or because an 

impairment rating was not completed due to lack 

of causation. 

(i) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage 

Loss’ (E only) - Used when wage loss and 

impairment are both being denied related to a 

previously denied cancer. The claim for 

impairment is denied because the condition being 

claimed is not ratable for impairment, such as 

certain psychiatric conditions. 

(j) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss’ 

(E only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are 

both being denied related to a previously denied 

cancer. The claim for impairment is being denied 

because the impairment was resolved (i.e., does 

not exist anymore) prior to the issuance of the 

decision. 

(k) C0W – Causation, Impairment (0%), and Wage 

Loss’ (E only) - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% or because the claimant 

failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation or because the impairment rating 

was not performed because causation could not be 

established. 

9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

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(l) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), 

and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is 

made for causation, wage loss, and impairment, 

all of which are being denied simultaneously. 

The impairment claim is being denied because it 

is for a non-ratable condition. 

 (m) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), 

and Wage Loss’ (E only). Used when claims for 

causation, impairment, and wage loss are being 

denied simultaneously. The impairment claim is 

denied because the impairment was resolved (i.e., 

does not exist anymore) prior to issuance of the 

decision. 

(n) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E 

only) -Used when causation and 0% impairment are 

being denied simultaneously. Impairment is denied 

because the impairment rating is 0% or because 

the claimant failed to provide the necessary 

medical documentation or because the impairment 

rating was not performed because causation could 

not be established. 

(o) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (not 

ratable)’ (E only) - Used when causation and an 

impairment for a non-ratable condition, such as 

certain psychiatric conditions, are being denied 

simultaneously. 

(p) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ 

(E only) - Used when causation and impairment 

that is resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) 

prior to the issuance of the decision are being 

denied simultaneously. 

(7) R6 – ‘FAB RECON - REVERSED TO ACCEPT’. When the 

reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued to approve 

benefits despite the recommended decision to deny, the 

CE/HR enters the ‘R6’ code. The status effective date 

9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

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is the date the post-reconsideration final decision is 

issued. 

Upon entering the ‘R6’ code, the CE/HR selects a 

specific reason code from the "reason cd" field, which 

is a drop-down box that corresponds with the ‘R6’ 

claim status code. 

The reason codes available for the ‘R6’ claim status 

code are listed below. The reason code should reflect 

everything being accepted in the current decision for 

that Part of the Act. 

(a) B – ‘Part B’ – Used to record any accepted 

Part B component of the decision. 

(b) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when 

causation is established under Part E, which 

results in medical benefits for an employee or 

death benefit for an eligible survivor. 

(c) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and wage loss are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(d) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and impairment are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(e) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment 

is all that is being accepted in this decision 

under Part E. 

 

(f) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision 

and wage loss is all that is being accepted in 

this decision under Part E. 

 

(g) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation was established in a previous 

9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

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decision and the current decision accepts for 

wage loss and impairment. 

(h) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and 

wage loss are all being accepted in the current 

Part E decision. 

(8) R7 – ‘FAB RECON – REMANDED’. When the 

reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued to remand a 

decision of the DO/CE2 Unit, the CE/HR enters the ‘R7’ 

code. The status effective date is the date the postreconsideration remand is issued. The CE/HR must also 

select the appropriate reason code from the drop-down 

menu that best describes the reason the case is being 

remanded. 

The reason code reflects whether the remand is based 

on a DOL error (either FAB or DO) that could have been 

avoided or an unavoidable reason that was not a DOL 

error. The reason codes (listed below) give more 

detail to the reason for the remand (“other” is the 

catch-all if no other reason codes fit.) 

The FAB CE/HR codes ‘R7’ into the appropriate system 

(ECMS B for a B only remand, ECMS E for an E only 

remand, and both for a Part B/E remand). If the Part 

B and E decisions are remanded, an ‘R7’ goes into ECMS 

B and E, but could have different reason codes in 

each. 

Do not enter multiple ‘R7’s and reason codes per 

system to capture multiple types of errors, instead 

select the reason code that captures the most 

egregious error (per part type) or “other” if none 

really fit. If there are multiple reasons for a 

remand, some avoidable and some unavoidable, select 

the avoidable reason code. 

 

DOL Error – Any remand that the FAB considers to be 

have been avoidable by the DO/CE2 Unit: 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

(a) ERM – ‘Error – Medical (Dx, Disease, 

Causation, DMC related)’ – This reason code is 

selected if the remand is based on an error in 

the medical development or conclusions, such as 

incorrect causation determinations, DMC 

referrals, and diagnoses. 

(b) ERE Error – ‘Employment (Dates/Time Pd, 

Exposure, SEM Use)’ – This reason code is 

selected if the remand is based on an error in 

the employment development or conclusions, such 

as incorrect employment dates/facilities, 

exposures, or SEM usage. 

(c) ERS Error – ‘Survivorship’ – This reason code 

is selected if the remand is based on an error in 

the survivorship development or conclusions. 

(d) ERO Error – ‘Other (Error – Not Med, Emp, or 

Survivorship)’ – This reason code is selected if 

the remand is based on a DOL error that is not 

predominately medical, employment, or 

survivorship in nature. 

 

No DOL Error – Any remand that FAB considers to have 

been unavoidable by the DOL: 

(a) DEA – ‘No DO Error – Death of Claimant’ – 

This reason code is selected when the FAB becomes 

aware of the claimant’s death prior to the end of 

the reconsideration period. 

(b) RTN – ‘No DO Error – Recommended Decision 

Returned by Post Office’ – This reason code is 

selected when the decision is returned by the 

post office and a new address cannot be obtained 

for re-issuance of the decision. 

(c) CLS – ‘No DO Error – Administrative Closure 

(not claimant death) – This reason code is 

selected when the claim must be remanded to the 

DO/CE2 Unit for an administrative closure for a 

reason other than death or bad address. 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

(d) OTH – ‘Error – Other (Error – Not Med, Emp, 

or Survivorship)’ – This code is used for remands 

that could not be avoided for a reason other than 

death of claimant, bad address, or administrative 

closure. An example of ‘OTH’ errors that are 

unavoidable are remands based on new evidence, 

change in law, regulation, policy or procedure, 

new SECs, and new PEPs. 

 

When issuing a post-reconsideration decision that is a 

partial remand, it is appropriate to use additional R_ 

codes and secondary decision codes to capture any partial 

acceptance, denial, or deferral that is happening along 

with the reconsideration remand. The R7 code should be the 

code that is entered through the reconsideration screen and 

linked to the final decision. Any additional secondary 

codes or R_ codes related to the post-reconsideration 

decision will have the same status effective date as the 

decision. 

(a) Partial Accept/Partial Remand – ‘R0’ + 

reason code to show what is accepted and ‘R7’ + 

remand reason code. 

(b) Partial Reverse to Accept/Partial Remand – 

Enter ‘R6’ + reason code to show what is accepted 

and ‘R7’ + remand reason code. 

(c) Partial Deny/Partial Remand – Enter denial 

code (‘R1’, ‘R2’, ‘R3’, ‘R4’, ‘R5’, or ‘R9’) + 

reason code showing what is denied and ‘R7’ + 

remand reason code. 

(d) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Remand for 

Part B – Enter‘R8’ (FAB Recon Accept in Part/Deny 

in Part) + reason code ‘B’, followed by ‘R7’ + 

remand reason code in ECMS B. 

(e) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Remand for 

Part E – Enter ‘R8’ (FAB Recon Accept in Part/Deny 

in Part) + reason code that shows what is 

accepted, ‘PD’ + reason code to show what is 

denied, and ‘R7’ + remand reason code in ECMS E. 

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(f) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial Develop/ 

Partial Remand for Part B – Enter ‘R8’ (FAB Recon 

Accept in Part/Deny in Part) + reason code ‘B’ 

and ‘R7’ + remand reason in ECMS B. There is no 

recon code equivalent to ‘G2’ (partial 

accept/partial deny/partial develop), so we cover 

as many elements to the decision as we can within 

the coding scheme. The claimed medical 

conditions that have been deferred will be 

notated with an ‘R’ status on the medical 

condition screen, which will reflect they have 

not yet been adjudicated. 

(g) Partial Accept/Partial Deny/Partial 

Develop/Partial Remand in Part E – Enter ‘R8’(FAB 

Recon Accept in Part/Deny in Part) + reason code 

to show what is accepted, ‘PD’ + reason code to 

show what is denied, ‘DV’ + reason code to show 

what is deferred, and ‘R7’ + remand reason code in 

ECMS E. 

(h) Partial Accept/Partial Develop/ Partial 

Remand for Part B – There is no recon code 

equivalent to ‘G1’ (FAB Accept in Part/Develop in 

Part), so the acceptance code R0 (FAB Recon 

Accept) + reason code ‘B’ and ‘R7’ + remand 

reason code is entered in ECMS B. The claimed 

medical conditions that have been deferred will 

be notated with an ‘R’ status on the medical 

condition screen, which will reflect they have 

not yet been adjudicated. 

(i) Partial Accept/Partial Develop/ Partial 

Remand for Part E – There is no recon code 

equivalent to ‘G1’ (FAB Accept in Part/Develop in 

Part), so enter the acceptance code R0 (FAB Recon 

Accept) + reason code showing what is accepted, 

‘DV’ + reason code to show what is deferred, and 

‘R7’ + remand reason code in ECMS E. 

(9) R8 – ‘FAB RECON - ACCEPT IN PART/DENY IN PART’. 

When the reconsideration is granted and the postreconsideration final decision is issued where part of 

the claim is approved for benefits, while another part 

of the claim is denied, the CE/HR enters the ‘R8’ 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

code. The status effective date is the date the postreconsideration final decision is issued. 

Upon entering the ‘R8’ code, the CE/HR selects a 

specific reason code from the "reason cd" field, which 

is a drop-down box that corresponds with the ‘R8’ 

claim status code. 

The reason codes available for the ‘R8’ claim status 

code are listed below. The reason code should reflect 

everything being accepted in the current decision for 

that Part of the Act. 

(a) B – ‘Part B’ – Used to record any accepted 

Part B component of the decision. 

(b) CAU – ‘Causation Accepted’ - Used when 

causation is established under Part E, which 

results in medical benefits for an employee or 

death benefit for an eligible survivor. 

(c) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and wage loss are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(d) CAI – ‘Causation and Impairment Accepted’ - 

Used when causation and impairment are being 

accepted simultaneously under Part E. 

 

(e) IMP – ‘Impairment Only Accepted (Causation 

Previously Accepted)’ - Used when causation was 

established on a previous decision and impairment 

is all that is being accepted in this decision 

under Part E. 

 

(f) WAG – ‘Wage Loss Only Accepted’ - Used when 

causation was established on a previous decision 

and wage loss is all that is being accepted in 

this decision under Part E. 

 

(g) IMW – ‘Impairment and Wage Loss Accepted’ - 

Used when causation was established in a previous 

decision and the current decision accepts for 

wage loss and impairment. 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

(h) CIW – ‘Causation, Impairment, and Wage Loss 

Accepted’ - Used when causation, impairment, and 

wage loss are all being accepted in the current 

Part E decision. 

The portion(s) of the claim being denied in the 

decision is identified by the secondary decision 

status code ‘PD’ [Partial Deny] and corresponding 

reason code set out in Paragraph 4 above. 

If the post-reconsideration final decision is to 

accept in part, deny in part, and defer in part, the 

portion(s) of the claim being denied in the decision 

is identified by the secondary decision status code 

‘PD’ [Partial Deny] and the portion of the claim being 

deferred is identified by the secondary decision 

status code ‘DV’ with the corresponding reason code 

set out in Paragraph 4 above. 

 

(10) R9 – ‘FAB RECON - DENY, MEDICAL INSUFFICIENT TO 

SUPPORT CLAIM’. When the reconsideration is granted 

and the post-reconsideration final decision is issued 

to deny benefits because there is insufficient medical 

evidence to support an acceptance; for any non-cancer 

causation denials; for when the maximum payable 

benefit is met; or for decisions that solely address 

impairment and/or wage loss claims (whose related 

conditions were not previously denied under F5). The 

status effective date is the date the postreconsideration final decision is issued. 

Upon entry of the ‘R9’ code, the CE/HR selects a 

specific reason code from the "reason cd" field, which 

is a drop-down box that corresponds with the ‘R9’ 

claim status code. The reason codes available for the 

‘R9’ claim status code are listed below. 

(a) B – ‘Part B’(B only) - Used when a condition 

is denied in ECMS B. 

(b) DMB – ‘Deny Specific Medical Benefits On 

Accepted Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a 

specific medical benefit is being denied on an 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

accepted condition in a formal decision (not just 

a letter). (See EEOICPA PM 3-0300.) 

(c) RMB – ‘Reduce Medical Benefits On Accepted 

Condition’ (B and/or E) - Used when a medical 

benefit on a previously paid item for a covered 

condition is reduced in a formal decision (not 

just a letter). (See EEOICPA PM 3-0300.) 

 

(d) IN – ‘Insufficient Medical To Establish 

Claimed Illness’(E only) - Used when a covered 

illness is claimed under Part E but medical 

evidence is insufficient to establish the 

illness. 

 

(e) R4C – ‘RECA 4 Cancer’(E only) - Used when a 

Part E cancer case is denied because the claimant 

had received benefits under RECA Section 4. 

(f) CAU – ‘Causation’ (E only) - Used when a 

covered illness is claimed under Part E, but 

causation cannot be established. 

(g) WAG – ‘Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when the 

claim for wage loss is being denied due to lack 

of medical evidence to support the claimed period 

of wage-loss is causally related to the covered 

illness. 

(h) CAW – ‘Causation and Wage Loss’ (E only) - 

Used when a covered illness is claimed under Part 

E, but causation cannot be established and 

claimed wage loss must also be denied. 

(i) IM0 – ‘Impairment – 0%’ (E only) - Used when 

the claim for impairment is being denied because 

the impairment rating is 0% under the AMA Guides 

or because a claim for impairment was filed, but 

the claimant failed to provide the necessary 

medical documentation. 

(j) IMN – ‘Impairment – Not Ratable’ (E only) - 

Used when the claim for impairment is being 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

denied because the claimed impairment is nonratable, such as certain psychiatric conditions. 

(k) IMR – ‘Impairment – Resolved’ (E only) - 

Used when the claim for impairment is being 

denied because the claimed impairment was 

resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to 

the issuance of the decision. 

(l) I0W – ‘Impairment (0%) and Wage Loss (E 

only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are 

both being denied. The claim for impairment is 

denied because it has a 0% rating or because a 

claim for impairment was filed, but the claimant 

failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(m) INW – ‘Impairment (Not Ratable) and Wage 

Loss (E only) - Used when wage loss and 

impairment are both being denied. The claim for 

impairment is denied because the condition being 

claimed is not ratable for impairment, such as 

certain psychiatric conditions. 

(n) IRW – ‘Impairment (Resolved) and Wage Loss 

(E only) - Used when wage loss and impairment are 

both being denied. The claim for impairment is 

being denied because the impairment was resolved 

(i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision. 

(o) C0W – Causation, Impairment (0%) and Wage 

Loss (E only) - Used when claims for causation, 

impairment, and wage loss are denied 

simultaneously. Impairment is denied because the 

impairment rating is 0% or because a claim for 

impairment was filed, but the claimant failed to 

provide the necessary medical documentation. 

(p) CNW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Not Ratable), 

and Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when a claim is 

made based on causation, wage loss, and 

impairment, all of which are being denied. The 

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9. Reconsideration Codes. (Continued) 

impairment is being denied because it is for a 

non-ratable condition. 

(q) CRW – ‘Causation, Impairment (Resolved), and 

Wage Loss’ (E only) - Used when claims for 

causation, impairment and wage loss are being 

denied simultaneously. The impairment claim is 

being denied because the impairment was resolved 

(i.e., does not exist anymore) prior to the 

issuance of the decision. 

(r) CA0 – ‘Causation and Impairment (0%)’ (E 

only) - Used when causation and impairment are 

being denied simultaneously. Impairment is 

denied because the impairment rating is 0% or 

because a claim for impairment was filed, but the 

claimant failed to provide the necessary medical 

documentation. 

(s) CAN – ‘Causation and Impairment (Not 

Ratable)’ (E only) - Used when causation and an 

impairment that is not ratable are being denied 

simultaneously. 

(t) CAR – ‘Causation and Impairment (Resolved)’ 

(E only) - Used when causation and impairment 

that is resolved (i.e., does not exist anymore) 

prior to the issuance of the decision are being 

denied simultaneously. 

(u) MBM – ‘Maximum Payable Benefit Met’ (E only) 

– Used when the maximum payable benefit is 

already met and a formal decision is required for 

an impairment and/or wage loss claim. 

 

10. Closure Codes. The CE must enter the following ECMS closure 

codes in the Claim Status History screen as appropriate. 

 

a. C0 - ‘Closed-Administrative Error’. This claim status 

code is used if a claim was created in error. The status 

effective date is the date of the memo to the file 

explaining the administrative closure. This code was 

created for use by the DO prior to the claims delete 

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10. Closure Codes. (Continued) 

capability being given to the field. Now that the field 

has the ability to delete or administratively close the 

claim, they need to know when to use each option. In 

situations where the claim has already started to be 

developed and related actions are coded into ECMS, use the 

C0 code. If the claim was created in error and discovered 

prior to any real development, the claim is be deleted. 

The status effective date is the date of the memo to the 

file explaining the administrative closure. 

b. C1 - ‘Closed-Claim Withdrawn by Claimant’. This claim 

status code is used if the claimant withdraws all 

unadjudicated claimed conditions in a system. (A claim in 

which a final decision has been issued cannot be 

withdrawn.) The CE will send a letter to the claimant, 

advising of the closure of the claim(s). The ‘C1’ is coded 

with a status effective date equal to the date of the 

letter to the claimant. 

If there are multiple claimed conditions that have not yet 

been adjudicated, and the claimant wants to withdraw only 

one or some of the conditions, delete the withdrawn 

condition(s) and input a case note in ECMS and a memo to 

the file explaining the situation. The ‘C1’ is not entered 

in ECMS. However, if there is only adjudication of one 

illness pending or all the pending conditions are being 

withdrawn (no other conditions or wage loss or impairment), 

‘C1’ is entered in ECMS. If wage loss or impairment is 

pending, wait to code ‘C1’ to ensure the claim remains on 

reports. Be aware that if ‘C1’ is used to close remaining 

claimed conditions after other conditions have been 

accepted, medical benefits will not be affected. 

Essentially, ‘C1’ should only be entered into ECMS B or E 

if everything on the claim is adjudicated and withdrawn or 

withdrawn for that Part (B or E). 

 

c. C2 - ‘Closed-Administrative Closure’. This claim 

status code is used if the claimant does not complete and 

return required forms, and therefore adjudication cannot 

continue. These include: tort suit or state workers’ 

compensation information, NIOSH smoking history, race and 

skin questionnaires, and OCAS-1 (only if there is one 

claimant). 

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10. Closure Codes. (Continued) 

The CE will send a letter to the claimant, advising of the 

closure of the claim. The ‘C2’ is coded with a status 

effective date equal to the date of the letter to the 

claimant. 

The types of administrative closures listed above do not 

require a reason code. However, there are some specific 

circumstances that require a reason code be selected from 

the drop down menu associated with the ‘C2’ claim status 

code: 

FS – ‘Failure To Sign Claim Form’. When a claimant 

files a claim telephonically with a Resource Center 

but then either refuses or fails to sign an actual 

claim form, the CE enters the ‘C2’ claim status code 

with the corresponding ‘FS’ (Failure to sign claim 

form) reason code. The status effective date is the 

date of the memo to the file explaining the 

administrative closure. 

d. C3 - ‘Closed-Employee Died’. This claim status code 

is used when the employee dies. If the death notification 

(i.e., phone call, letter) is received, and the case is 

either pre-recommended decision or post-final decision, the 

CE enters the ‘C3’ code, with a status effective date of 

when the Resource Center, DO, or FAB has been notified, 

whichever is earlier. 

If the death notification is received between the 

recommended and final decision, meaning FAB has yet to 

issue the final decision, and will in fact remand the case 

back to the DO due to the death of the claimant, then the 

‘C3’ code should not be entered until the DO receives the 

remand. The status effective date of code ‘C3’ will be 

that of the receipt date of the remand order, which is 

equivalent to the transfer-in date to the DO in ECMS. This 

code can be used in adjudicated and unadjudicated claims. 

If the first written notification of an employee’s death is 

on a newly-filed Form EE-2 from a survivor, where the date 

of death is included on the form, the status effective date 

is that of the date stamp of receipt in the Resource 

Center, DO, or FAB of the Form EE-2, whichever is earlier. 

[The date of death should also be entered on the Case 

screen.] 

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10. Closure Codes. (Continued) 

Bills submitted for unadjudicated and denied cases will be 

denied for processing and payment. Bills submitted for 

approved cases will be accepted for processing and possible 

payment up to the employee’s date of death. 

e. C8 - ‘Closed-Survivor Died Prior to Payment Being 

Made’. This claim status code is used on a survivor claim 

if the survivor dies before compensation is paid. If the 

death notification (i.e., phone call, letter) is received, 

and the case is either pre- recommended decision or postfinal decision, the CE enters the ‘C8’ code, with a status 

effective date of when the Resource Center, DO, or FAB has 

been notified, whichever is earlier. 

If the death notification is received between the 

recommended and final decision, meaning FAB has yet to 

issue the final decision, and will in fact remand the case 

back to the DO due to the death of the claimant, then the 

‘C8’ code should not be entered until the remand is 

received back at the DO. 

The status effective date of the ‘C8’ code will be that of 

the receipt date of the remand order, which is equivalent 

to the transfer in date to the DO in ECMS. 

f. C9 - ‘Closed-RECA Awaiting DOJ Adjudication’. This 

claim status code is used if a claim is filed with EEOICPA 

prior to adjudication by the Department of Justice (DOJ), 

and the claim is still pending with DOJ. The CE will send 

a letter to the claimant, advising of the closure of the 

claim. The ‘C9’ is coded with a status effective date 

equal to the date of the letter to the claimant. 

Note: Once DOL receives a decision from DOJ that was 

pending, development is resumed. At that time, the CE 

codes ‘RD’ (development resumed) with a status effective 

date equal to the date-stamp of receipt of the DOJ 

decision. 

g. C10 – ‘Partial Claim Closure’. This claim status code 

is used when the wage loss or impairment portion of the 

claim is being closed without the issuance of a recommended 

or final decision. (Other closure codes reflect a closure 

of the entire claim, but this code closes only the 

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10. Closure Codes. (Continued) 

individual impairment or wage loss component.) Once the 

‘C10’ status code is entered, the CE selects the reason 

code from the drop-down menu that corresponds with the 

reason the impairment or wage loss claim is being closed. 

(1) NM – ‘Not at MMI’ - When impairment is claimed, 

but the employee has not reached Maximum Medical 

Improvement (MMI), the CE enters the ‘C10’ claim 

status code with the corresponding reason code ‘NM’ 

Not at MMI) reason code. The status effective date of 

the code is the date of the letter to the claimant 

informing him or her that an impairment rating cannot 

be made at this time due to the fact that he or she 

has not reached MMI. 

Note: Once medical evidence is received in the DO 

indicating that the claimant is at MMI, development is 

resumed and the ‘RD’ (Development Resumed) code will 

be entered into ECMS. The status effective date will 

be the date the DO/CE2 Unit receives such evidence of 

MMI. 

(2) WLW – ‘Wage Loss Claim Withdrawn’ - Where wage 

loss had been claimed, but the claimant chooses to 

withdraw the claim for wage loss in writing, the CE 

codes the ‘C10’ claim status code with the ‘WLW’ (Wage 

Loss Claim Withdrawn) reason code. The status 

effective date is the date stamp of receipt in the 

Resource Center, DO, or FAB, whichever is earlier. 

If the claimant decides to file at a later date, enter 

a new ‘WC’ code. 

(3) ICW – ‘Impairment Claim Withdrawn’ - Where 

impairment had been claimed, but the claimant chooses 

to withdraw the claim for impairment in writing, the 

CE codes the ‘C10’ claim status code with the ‘ICW’ 

(Impairment Claim Withdrawn) reason code. The status 

effective date is the date stamp of receipt in the 

Resource Center, DO, or FAB, whichever is earlier. 

If the claimant decides to file at a later date, enter 

a new ‘IC’ code. 

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10. Closure Codes. (Continued) 

Note: If claims for wage loss and impairment are 

withdrawn simultaneously, the CE will enter two ‘C10’ 

claims status codes, one with the ‘WLW’ reason code 

and the other with the ‘ICW’ reason code. 

 

11. New Claims for New Medical Conditions. When a case has a 

final decision, and a current claimant submits a subsequent 

claim form for a new medical condition, the new claim filing is 

recorded in ECMS by entry of claim status code ‘RD’-(Development 

Resumed). A new claim form for new covered medical conditions 

is required once a final decision is issued. 

a. Case File at DO. If the case file is at the DO, and a 

new claim form is received after a final decision has been 

issued: 

 

(1) The CE enters the new claim in ECMS by entering 

an ‘RD’- Development Resumed in the claim status 

history screen of ECMS. The status effective date 

will be the new claim filing date. This is the 

earliest of the following: postmark date or date stamp 

of receipt on the claim form, or the initial piece of 

evidence that instigated the claim in a DO or FAB 

office, or Resource Center. [The envelope must be kept 

with the claim form, and put in the case file.] 

Once the ‘RD’ code and status effective date are 

entered in ECMS, the CE enters the newly claimed 

medical condition on the Medical Condition screen. 

The CE reviews the new condition and begins 

development of the new medical evidence. 

 

(2) Development of the case will continue through new 

recommended and final decisions (or consequential 

acceptance letter if the newly claimed condition turns 

out to be a consequential illness). All previously 

entered ECMS codes in the Claim Status History are 

still relevant for the case and will apply to the new 

claim. They do not need to be re-entered following 

the ‘RD’ code. However, all new development for the 

claim must now be entered in ECMS, including all 

further development claim status history codes. 

 

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11. New Claims for New Medical Conditions. (Continued) 

(3) If the new medical condition becomes an accepted 

condition, and the CE enters an “A” in the cond status 

field, then the med status effective date is 

determined by the following: 

 

(a) If the original claim was for Beryllium 

Sensitivity, and was accepted, and the new claim 

is for CBD, the med status effective date of the 

CBD is the same as the filing date of the 

Beryllium Sensitivity. 

Similarly, if the original claim was for pleural 

plaques, and was accepted, and the new claim is 

for asbestosis, the med status effective date of 

the asbestosis is the same as the filing date of 

the pleural plaques. 

 

(b) For all other non-consequential medical 

conditions, regardless of the diagnosis date, the 

medical status effective date is the new claim 

filing date for any conditions eventually 

accepted, prior to issuance of the final 

decision. 

 

(c) For consequential conditions, the medical 

status effective date is equal to the filing date 

for the primary condition. 

b. Case File at FAB. If the case file is at FAB, and a 

new claim form or medical evidence for a new covered 

medical condition is received prior to a final decision: 

 

(1) If the case is in posture for acceptance, FAB 

will enter the new claim in ECMS by entering an ‘RD’- 

Development Resumed in the claim status history 

screen. The entry of the ‘RD’ code follows the same 

process as in the DO/CE2 Unit, with a status effective 

date equal to the new claim filing date. 

Once the ‘RD’ code is entered into ECMS, the FAB sends 

a letter to the claimant, addressing the receipt of 

the new claim form and instructing the claimant that 

the DO/CE2 Unit will further develop the new 

condition. 

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11. New Claims for New Medical Conditions. (Continued) 

The CE/HR then enters the newly claimed medical 

condition on the Medical Condition screen. The CE/HR 

does not begin development of the new medical 

condition. This is completed by either the CE2 or the 

CE upon case return to the DO. 

 

(2) If the case is in posture for denial, it 

is remanded back to the DO/CE2 Unit for development 

and adjudication of the new claimed condition. 

 

(3) If a new claim form or medical evidence for the 

same medical condition(s) is received after a final 

decision, regardless of its current location, and the 

claimant sends in additional medical evidence for the 

original medical condition(s) or a new claim form for 

the same medical condition(s) already adjudicated in 

the final decision, this is not considered a new 

claim. 

For either of these occurrences, the ‘RD’ - 

Development Resumed claim status code is not entered. 

Development cannot be resumed for any claims after a 

final decision without either a new claimed medical 

condition or a Director’s Order. New evidence for 

previously adjudicated medical conditions must be 

properly reviewed. 

12. Director’s Orders. At any time after FAB has issued a 

decision, the Director of the Division of Energy Employees 

Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) may reopen a claim 

and/or vacate FAB’s decision. 

For certain routine reopenings, signature authority has been 

delegated to the Policy Branch Chief, the Unit Chief for Policy, 

Regulations and Procedures (UPRP) or the District Director 

(DD). This rule applies to all decisions issued by the FAB. 

The reopening process, whether it originates with the claimant, 

the DO/CE2 Unit, the FAB, or under the auspices of the 

Director’s own discretionary authority, requires certain ECMS 

codes for identification and tracking, as follows: 

 

a. ‘MC’ - Claimant Requests Reopening. This code is used 

when the DO or FAB receives a request for reopening 

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12. Director’s Orders. (Continued) 

directly from the claimant, or an untimely request for 

reconsideration containing the requisite evidence 

warranting further review. The DO or the FAB enters the 

‘MC’ code into ECMS. The status effective date is the 

postmark date, if available, or the date the request is 

received in the Resource Center, DO, or FAB, whichever is 

earlier. 

For cases with multiple claimants, this code is entered in 

the claim status history only for the claimant(s) who 

submitted the request. (This is the only code related to 

Director’s Orders for which this is true. All other codes 

for Director’s Orders are entered for all active 

claimants.) 

‘MI’ – District Director (DD) Requests Reopening. When the 

DD or FAB manager asks the Director of DEEOIC (or designee) 

to review a claim for possible reopening, a memo outlining 

the DD or FAB manager’s concerns must be submitted. The DO 

or FAB will enter the ‘MI’ code prior to forwarding the 

file to the National Office (NO). This code is used 

whether a reopening request is based on a claimant’s 

request or the DD or FAB manager’s, except in the case of a 

FAB remand order sent to NO for a possible Director’s Order 

(i.e., remand challenge). The status effective date is the 

date of the DD or FAB manager’s memo to the Director of 

DEEOIC. 

 

This code can also be entered by the CE, senior, or 

supervisor when a memo is drafted to the DD/ADD requesting 

a case be reopened, possibly because of SEM database 

changes or new residual contamination information. 

 

c. ‘M7’ – DO Submits FAB Remand for Possible Vacate 

Order. When the DD disagrees with a FAB remand order, the 

DD will prepare a memo outlining his or her concerns and 

forward the memo and case file to the NO for review by the 

Director of DEEOIC. The DO will enter the ‘M7’ code into 

ECMS prior to sending the case file to NO. The status 

effective date is the date of the DD’s memo to the Director 

of DEEOIC. 

 

d. ‘MQ’ - Reopening Request Received in NO. NO staff 

enter this code. When a reopening request is received in 

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12. Director’s Orders. (Continued) 

NO from the DO, or the FAB, this code is required to denote 

receipt of the request and to indicate that the case file 

is physically present at the NO. The status effective date 

is the date of receipt of the request for a reopening in 

the NO. 

This code is also entered when the DD disagrees with a FAB 

remand order and submits a challenge to the remand order to 

the NO for review by the Director of DEEOIC. In this 

circumstance, the status effective date of the ‘MQ’ is the 

date the NO received the case file. 

 

e. ‘MN’ – NO Initiates Review for Reopening. NO staff 

(and DO staff when appropriate) enter this code. When the 

Director reviews a claim under the Director’s own 

initiative for either administrative purposes, a change in 

the law, or for reasons within the sole discretion of the 

Director, the NO staff (or DO staff when authority has been 

delegated) enter the ‘MN’ code to denote that the Director 

has identified the case as one necessitating a review for 

possible reopening and/or vacating of a FAB decision. The 

status effective date is the date the NO received the case 

file unless there is other specific guidance for this date, 

such as in new SEC or PEP bulletins. 

 

f. ‘MX’ – Reopening Request Denied. After the DD, the 

Director of the DEEOIC, the Policy Branch Chief, or Unit 

Chief for UPRP has reviewed the request for reopening and 

has determined that the request must be denied, the ‘MX’ 

code is entered to denote the status of the review. 

DO staff enters the ‘MX’ code if the DD is denying the 

reopening. NO staff enters the ‘MX’ code if the Director 

of the DEEOIC, Policy Branch Chief, or Unit Chief for UPRP 

is denying the reopening. The status effective date is the 

date of the letter denying the request for reopening. 

This code is also used by NO staff for remands that were 

submitted to the Director of the DEEOIC for review, where 

the remand is found to be correct. In this circumstance, 

the status effective date is the date of the memo to the DD 

explaining that the remand order stands. 

 

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12. Director’s Orders. (Continued) 

g. ‘MF’ – Claim Reopened, File Returned to FAB. After 

the Director has determined a claim must be reopened and a 

new FAB final decision must be issued, NO staff enters the 

‘MF’ code to denote that a reopening has been granted and 

that the file has been returned to the FAB for a new final 

decision. This ‘MF’ code is not used when a remand order 

has been vacated and requires a new final decision by FAB. 

The status effective date is the date of the order granting 

the reopening. 

 

h. ‘MD’ - Claim Reopened, File Returned to DO. NO staff 

enter this code into ECMS to denote that the Director of 

the DEEOIC, Policy Branch Chief, or Unit Chief for UPRP has 

granted the reopening request and the file is being 

returned to the DO for further action and the issuance of a 

new recommended decision. The status effective date of the 

‘MD’ code is the date of the Director’s Order vacating the 

final decision and granting the reopening. 

In situations where reopening authority has been delegated 

to the DDs, the DO will enter the ‘MD’ code with a status 

effective date of the date of the Director’s Order. 

 

i. ‘MV’ – FAB Remand Order Vacated, Requires New Final 

Decision. This code is used when the Director of the 

DEEOIC has determined that the remand order was improper 

and must be set aside, and a new final decision must be 

issued. NO staff enters this code into ECMS when the 

Director’s Order vacating the Remand Order is issued. The 

status effective date is the date of the order vacating the 

FAB remand order. 

 

j. ‘MZ’ – Receipt of Director’s Order in DO or FAB. Once 

the Director’s Order and accompanying case file is received 

from NO in the DO/FAB, the DO/FAB staff will enter the ‘MZ’ 

code to denote date of receipt. The status effective date 

is the date the DO/FAB receives the Director’s Order. 

This code is required for the return of every requested 

Director’s Order, regardless of whether the order was 

granted or denied. This code is also to be used where a 

remand order was submitted to the Director for review and 

the file was returned with a memo to the DD explaining that 

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12. Director’s Orders. (Continued) 

the remand order stands or returned with a Director’s Order 

to FAB vacating the remand order. 

In cases where the DD reopens the case, there is no need to 

enter the ‘MZ’ code. 

k. ‘MA’ – Residual Contamination Reopening. This code is 

used to denote that a reopening has been granted based on 

residual contamination. Authority has been delegated to 

the DDs to handle these types of reopenings, so this code 

is entered by the DD with a status effective date of the 

Director’s Order vacating the final decision and granting 

the reopening. 

l. ‘MB’ – Reopening Based on Change to SEM Database. This 

code is used when the DD, Director, or anyone else 

delegated reopening authority, reopens a case based on 

updated information to the SEM database. The status 

effective date is the date of the Director’s Order vacating 

the final decision and granting the reopening. 

Note: If a decision awarding medical benefits is vacated, the 

‘A’ medical condition status must be set back to ‘R’ and the 

condition “unlinked” from the final decision, until a new 

decision is rendered. This will require coordination with 

Energy Tech Support, but must be done to stop medical bills from 

being paid on ineligible claims. 

13. ‘CA’ - Consequential Acceptances. When a consequential 

illness is being accepted, the medical condition status must be 

updated to an ‘A’ (Accepted) status on the medical condition 

screen. When the consequential acceptance letter is issued, the 

CE enters the ‘CA’ (Consequential Acceptance) code in the claim 

status history with a status effective date equal to the 

acceptance letter’s date of issuance. When the CA code is 

entered, the CE will be prompted to link the accepted condition 

to the consequential acceptance in ECMS. 

When the CE enters the CA code, the system will also force the 

entry of one of the following reason codes: 

a. ‘ACP’ – Additional Conditions Pending. If 

there is at least one additional condition 

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12. Director’s Orders. (Continued) 

(regular or consequential) that requires a 

decision (either a new CA code or new 

Recommended & Final Decision), the CE 

selects the ‘ACP’ reason code. 

 

b. ‘CCR’ – Consequential Conditions Resolved. 

If there are no other medical conditions 

(regular or consequential) currently 

pending a decision (either a new CA code or 

new Recommended & Final Decision), the CE 

selects the ‘CCR’ reason code. This will 

essentially close out any newly claimed 

conditions entered with an ‘RD’ (Resume 

Development) code. 

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