---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 7906"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "7906"
heading: "Services of post-combat case coordinators"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/7906"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart F — Labor-Management and Employee Relations"
  - "Chapter 79 — Services to Employees"
---

# §7906. Services of post-combat case coordinators

- (a) **Definitions.—** For purposes of this section—
  - (1) the terms “[employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)”, “[agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1)”,[^1] “injury”, “war-risk hazard”, and “hostile force or individual” have the meanings given those terms in [section 8101](/usc/5/8101.md); and
  - (2) the term “qualified [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)” means an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) as described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Requirement.—** The head of each [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) shall, in a manner consistent with the guidelines prescribed under [subsection (c)](#c), provide for the assignment of a post-combat case coordinator in the case of any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of such [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) who suffers an injury or disability incurred, or an illness contracted, while in the performance of such [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s duties, as a result of a war-risk hazard or during or as a result of capture, detention, or other restraint by a hostile force or individual.
- (c) **Guidelines.—** The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management shall, after such consultation as the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) considers appropriate, prescribe guidelines for the operation of this section. Under the guidelines, the responsibilities of a post-combat case coordinator shall include—
  - (1) acting as the main point of contact for qualified [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) seeking administrative guidance or assistance relating to benefits under chapter [81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) or [89](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch89.md);
  - (2) assisting qualified [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) in the collection of documentation or other supporting evidence for the expeditious processing of claims under chapter [81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) or [89](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch89.md);
  - (3) assisting qualified [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) in connection with the receipt of prescribed medical care and the coordination of benefits under chapter [81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) or [89](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch89.md);
  - (4) resolving problems relating to the receipt of benefits under chapter [81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) or [89](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch89.md); and
  - (5) ensuring that qualified [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) are properly screened and receive appropriate treatment—
    - (A) for post-traumatic stress disorder or other similar disorder stemming from combat trauma; or
    - (B) for suicidal or homicidal thoughts or behaviors.
- (d) **Duration.—** The [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of a post-combat case coordinator shall remain available to a qualified [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) until—
  - (1) such [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) accepts or declines a reasonable offer of employment in a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) in the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) for which the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is qualified, which is not lower than 2 [grades](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5) (or [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) levels) below the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s [grade](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-5) (or [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) level) before the occurrence or onset of the injury, disability, or illness (as referred to in [subsection (a)](#a)), and which is within the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s commuting area; or
  - (2) such [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) gives written notice, in such manner as the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) prescribes, that those [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) are no longer desired or necessary.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The definition of “agency” does not appear in section 8101 of this title.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title XI, § 1106(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1613.)