Reminder: COVID-19 can be claimed as a consequential disease

Because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Cold War Patriots would like to remind our members that the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) issued a Final Bulletin that provides guidance to claims examiners (CE) when deciding whether claims for COVID-19 can be presumed to be a consequential disease. Publication of the Bulletin follows DEEOIC’s acceptance of the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health’s recommendation on the issue.

The Bulletin explains that a CE can presume that contracting COVID-19 is a consequential disease if the claimant has been approved by DEEOIC for a medical condition that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined as being a high risk for becoming severely ill if the claimant contracted the virus. Some of the conditions are:

• Cancer
• Chronic lung disease such as COPD and asthma
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Heart conditions
• Weakened immune systems
• Organ or stem cell transplants

If a claimant has been approved by DEEOIC for a medical condition that is not on the CDC list, the CE will require a fully rationalized medical report from the treating physician how the covered condition was likely responsible for contracting COVID.

If you or your loved one contracted the virus the worker must complete and submit form EE-1 (Survivors must use form EE-2) to file the claim. For both forms, enter “COVID-19 – consequential” on line “a” under Block 14, “Other Work-Related Conditions.”

Forms EE-1 and EE-2 cannot be uploaded through the portal.  They must be either mailed to

U.S. Department of Labor
OWCP/DEEOIC
PO Box 8306
London, KY 40742-8306

Or dropped off or faxed to a Resource Center.

If you have further questions or need assistance, please contact our Help Center at 1-888-837-7390.