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Board approves record‑review option for disability claims and grants three service‑connected retirements
Summary
Trustees agreed to adopt a records‑review model for many disability retirement applications to speed processing and reduce travel burdens, and reported unanimous closed‑session grants of service‑connected retirement for Deputy Wriston, Thong and Mendoza.
Legal counsel and staff proposed changing certain independent medical examinations (IMEs) to independent medical adviser record reviews to speed adjudication and reduce cost and travel for applicants. Jeff Burke described the change as a shift from in‑person IMEs to a medical‑advisor review of medical records in many cases; staff retained discretion to require an in‑person exam when clinically necessary (for example, for psychological disability claims) or when the record reviewer recommends denial and a hearing is likely.
Trustees expressed support for the model as faster and cheaper for applicants and the system while noting safeguards: in‑person examinations remain available when needed and a record review would not be the final step if additional clinical assessment were warranted. The board gave consensus direction to implement the record‑review approach for appropriate cases and retain discretion for in‑person exams in specified circumstances.
At the closed session that followed, legal counsel Jeff Burke reported out that the board voted unanimously to grant the service‑connected disability retirement applications of Deputy Wriston, Thong and Mendoza. The board did not take final action on another evaluation matter referenced in closed session.
Staff said they would proceed with updating procedures and will continue to provide quarterly or as‑needed reporting on disability application volumes and outcomes.
