# 20 CFR § 10.501: What medical evidence is necessary to support continuing receipt of compensation benefits?

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.501

## Section

- **Citation:** 20 CFR § 10.501
- **Heading:** What medical evidence is necessary to support continuing receipt of compensation benefits?
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 20—Employees' Benefits > CHAPTER I—OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR > SUBCHAPTER B—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT > PART 10—CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION UNDER THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT, AS AMENDED > Subpart F—Continuing Benefits > Rules and Evidence

## Text

(a) The employee is responsible for providing sufficient medical evidence to justify payment of any compensation sought.
(1) To support payment of continuing compensation where an employee has been found entitled to periodic benefits, narrative medical evidence must be submitted whenever OWCP requests it but ordinarily not less than once a year and with any filing of a form CA-1032. It must contain a physician's rationalized opinion as to whether the specific period of alleged disability is causally related to the employee's accepted injury or illness.
(2) For those employees with more serious conditions not likely to improve and for employees over the age of 65, OWCP may require less frequent documentation, but ordinarily not less than once every three years.
(3) The physician's opinion must be based on the facts of the case and the complete medical background of the employee, must be one of reasonable medical certainty and must include objective findings in support of its conclusions. Subjective complaints of pain are not sufficient, in and of themselves, to support payment of continuing compensation. Likewise, medical limitations based solely on the fear of a possible future injury are also not sufficient to support payment of continuing compensation. See § 10.330 for a fuller discussion of medical evidence.
(b) OWCP may require any kind of non-invasive testing to determine the employee's functional capacity. Failure to undergo such testing will result in a suspension of benefits. In addition, OWCP may direct the employee to undergo a second opinion or referee examination in any case it deems appropriate (see §§ 10.320 and 10.321).

## Nearby sections

- [20 CFR § 10.500 § 10.500 What are the basic rules governing continuing receipt of compensation benefits and return to work?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.500.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.501 § 10.501 What medical evidence is necessary to support continuing receipt of compensation benefits?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.501.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.502 § 10.502 How does OWCP evaluate evidence in support of continuing receipt of compensation benefits?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.502.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.503 § 10.503 Under what circumstances may OWCP reduce or terminate compensation benefits?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.503.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.505 § 10.505 What actions must the employer take?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.505.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.506 § 10.506 May the employer monitor the employee's medical care?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.506.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.507 § 10.507 How should the employer make an offer of suitable work?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.507.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.508 § 10.508 May relocation expenses be paid for an employee who would need to move to accept an offer of reemployment?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.508.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.509 § 10.509 If an employee's light duty job is eliminated due to downsizing, what is the effect on compensation?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.509.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.510 § 10.510 When may a light duty job form the basis of a loss of wage-earning capacity determination?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.510.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.511 § 10.511 How may a loss of wage-earning capacity determination be modified?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.511.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.515 § 10.515 What actions must the employee take with respect to returning to work?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.515.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.516 § 10.516 How will an employee know if OWCP considers a job to be suitable?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.516.md)
- [20 CFR § 10.517 § 10.517 What are the penalties for refusing to accept a suitable job offer?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.517.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-10.501. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.