Opinion ID: 796224
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fernandez's Medical Leave of Absence and Return to Work

Text: 4 Fernandez was injured on August 5, 1999 when he slipped and fell down a stairway while working as a CEO at Newark Airport for the United States Customs Service (now Customs and Border Protection). As a result of his fall, Fernandez sustained injuries to his neck, right shoulder, and lower back and underwent rehabilitation that caused him to miss work from September 1999 to August 20, 2001, when he returned to active duty. In the intervening time period, Fernandez was examined by several doctors who evaluated his ability to return to work. 5 On July 5, 2000, Fernandez was examined by Dr. Michael Carciente, who opined that Fernandez did not suffer from any neurological injury that would prevent him from returning to work as a CEO. On July 18, 2000, Fernandez was examined by Dr. Andrew Weiss, who also concluded that Fernandez was capable of returning to active duty employment without any restrictions. On September 20, 2000, however, Fernandez was examined by Dr. Igor Stiler, who diagnosed him with a herniated disc in the lumbar region and with injuries to the thoracic and cervical spines. Stiler opined that Fernandez was considered to have a partial disability and approved his return to work on restricted duty only. The restrictions prevented Fernandez from lifting more than twenty pounds, sitting or standing in the same position for more than twenty minutes, and squatting, bending, or reaching above his head. 6 Fernandez forwarded Stiler's opinion letter to his supervisors on September 25, 2000 and requested to return to work in a light duty capacity. He was advised, however, that no light duty existed for the canine unit and that he was required to provide the Department with a physician's note indicating that he was able to return to full duty. On November 14, 2000, the Department sent Fernandez a letter setting forth his various options for returning to work or going on disability. On November 28, 2000, in response to an inquiry from the Department, Stiler confirmed that Fernandez was unable to return to full-duty employment due to his disc herniation and that his work restrictions should be considered permanent. On December 4, 2000, Fernandez again requested to return to work in a light duty capacity, but he received no response. 7 Subsequently, Fernandez was examined by Dr. Andrew Feldman, who opined that he would be able to return to work on full duty and without any restrictions on February 19, 2001. On March 16, 2001, Fernandez was examined by Dr. Areta Podhorodecki, who performed a functional capacity evaluation, concluded that he met the skill level requirements for a CEO, and also recommended that he return to full duty. 8 In light of the conflicting medical opinions, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs referred Fernandez to Dr. Sanford Wert. Following an examination on April 30, 2001, Wert opined that there was no objective evidence of any disability and concluded that Fernandez could continue working in his pre-accident occupation in a normal capacity. Fernandez thereafter wrote a letter to Customs Service Area Director Kathleen Haage on May 4, 2001, advising that he had not heard from the Department about his return to work and that he was fit, able and willing to return to work full duty. In addition, Fernandez alleged that he had been 22 persecuted, discriminated and retaliated [against] because of previous [grievances] filed against [a] canine officer supervisor. 9 On July 18, 2001, Fernandez again notified the Department that he was prepared to return to work. Because his leave of absence had exceeded one year, however, the Department determined that it was not obligated to return him to his former CEO position and instead reassigned him to the position of a GS-9 Customs Entry Program Specialist in the World Trade Center, to commence August 20, 2001. 10