28 CFR § 79.26 - Proof of medical condition.

§ 79.26 Proof of medical condition.

(a) Medical documentation is required in all cases to prove that the claimant suffered from or suffers from any specified compensable disease. Proof that the claimant contracted a specified compensable disease must be made either by using the procedure outlined in paragraph (b) of this section or by submitting the documentation required in paragraph (c) of this section. (For claims relating to primary cancer of the liver, the claimant or eligible surviving beneficiary must also submit the additional medical documentation prescribed in § 79.27.)

(b) If a claimant was diagnosed as having one of the specified compensable diseases in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming, the claimant or eligible surviving beneficiary need not submit any medical documentation of disease at the time the claim is filed (although medical documentation subsequently may be required). Instead, the claimant or eligible surviving beneficiary may submit with the claim an Authorization to Release Medical and Other Information, valid in the state of diagnosis, that authorizes the Program to contact the appropriate state cancer or tumor registry. The Program will accept as proof of medical condition verification from the state cancer or tumor registry that it possesses medical records or abstracts of medical records of the claimant that contain a verified diagnosis of one of the specified compensable diseases. If the designated state does not possess medical records or abstracts of medical records that contain a verified diagnosis of one of the specified compensable diseases, the Program will notify the claimant or eligible surviving beneficiary and afford that individual the opportunity to submit the written medical documentation required in paragraph (c) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of § 79.72(b).

(c) Proof that the claimant contracted a specified compensable disease may be made by the submission of one or more of the contemporaneous medical records listed in this paragraph, provided that the specified document contains an explicit statement of diagnosis and such other information or data from which the appropriate authorities with the National Cancer Institute can make a diagnosis to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. If the medical record submitted does not contain sufficient information or data to make such a diagnosis, the Program will notify the claimant or eligible surviving beneficiary and afford that individual the opportunity to submit additional medical records identified in this paragraph, in accordance with the provisions of § 79.72(b). The medical documentation submitted under this section to establish that the claimant contracted leukemia or a lymphoma must also contain sufficient information from which the appropriate authorities with the National Cancer Institute can determine the type of leukemia or lymphoma contracted by the claimant. Proof of leukemia shall be made by submitting one or more of the documents listed in § 79.16(c).

(1) Multiple myeloma.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Report of serum electrophoresis;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary or consultation report; or

(E) X-ray report; or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(2) Lymphomas.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology consultation or summary report; or

(iv) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(3) Primary cancer of the thyroid.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or fine needle aspirate;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary or consultation report; or

(iv) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(4) Primary cancer of the male or female breast.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary or consultation report; or

(E) Radiotherapy summary or consultation report;

(iv) Report of mammogram;

(v) Report of bone scan; or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(5) Primary cancer of the esophagus.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Endoscopy report;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Radiotherapy report; or

(E) Medical oncology consultation or summary report;

(v) One of the following radiological studies:

(A) Esophagram;

(B) Barium swallow;

(D) Computerized tomography (CT) scan; or

(E) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(6) Primary cancer of the stomach.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Endoscopy or gastroscopy report;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Radiotherapy report; or

(E) Medical oncology summary report;

(v) One of the following radiological studies:

(A) Barium swallow;

(B) Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series;

(D) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(7) Primary cancer of the pharynx.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Endoscopy report;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Radiotherapy summary report;

(E) Medical oncology summary report; or

(F) Operative report;

(v) Report of one of the following radiological studies:

(A) Laryngograms;

(B) Tomograms of soft tissue and lateral radiographs;

(D) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(8) Primary cancer of the small intestine.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Endoscopy report, provided that the examination covered the duodenum and parts of the jejunum;

(iv) Colonoscopy report, provided that the examination covered the distal ileum;

(v) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Operative report;

(E) Radiotherapy summary report; or

(F) Medical oncology summary or consultation report;

(vi) Report of one of the following radiologic studies:

(A) Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series with small bowel follow-through;

(B) Angiography;

(D) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vii) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(9) Primary cancer of the pancreas.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or fine needle aspirate;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report;

(iv) Report of one of the following radiographic studies:

(A) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP);

(B) Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series;

(D) Ultrasonography;

(E) Computerized tomography (CT) scan; or

(F) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(10) Primary cancer of the bile ducts.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Gastroenterology consultation report; or

(E) Medical oncology summary or consultation report;

(iv) Report of one of the following radiographic studies:

(A) Ultrasonography;

(B) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography;

(D) Computerized tomography (CT) scan; or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(11) Primary cancer of the gallbladder.

(i) Pathology report of tissue from surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Report of one of the following radiological studies:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan;

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Radiotherapy report; or

(E) Medical oncology summary or report; or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(12) Primary cancer of the liver.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Operative report; or

(E) Gastroenterology report;

(iv) Report of one of the following radiological studies:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan;

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(13) Primary cancer of the lung.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or resection, including, but not limited to specimens obtained by any of the following methods:

(A) Surgical resection;

(B) Endoscopic endobronchial or transbronchial biopsy;

(D) Pleural fluid cytology;

(E) Fine needle aspirate;

(F) Pleural biopsy; or

(G) Sputum cytology;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Report of bronchoscopy, with or without biopsy;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report; or

(E) Operative report;

(v) Report of one of the following radiology examinations:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan;

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);

(D) Chest tomograms; or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(14) Primary cancer of the salivary gland.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Report of otolaryngology or oral maxillofacial examination;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report; or

(E) Operative report;

(v) Report of one of the following radiology examinations:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan; or

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(15) Primary cancer of the urinary bladder.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Report of cytoscopy, with or without biopsy;

(iv) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report; or

(E) Operative report;

(v) Report of one of the following radiology examinations:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan; or

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vi) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(16) Primary cancer of the brain.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report; or

(E) Operative report;

(iv) Report of one of the following radiology examinations:

(A) Computerized tomography (CT) scan;

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(v) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(17) Primary cancer of the colon.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) Endoscopy report, provided the examination covered the duodenum and parts of the jejunum;

(iv) Colonoscopy report, provided that the examination covered the distal ileum;

(v) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Operative report;

(E) Radiotherapy summary report; or

(F) Medical oncology summary or consultation report;

(vi) Report of one of the following radiologic studies:

(A) Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series with small bowel follow-through;

(B) Angiography;

(D) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or

(vii) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.

(18) Primary cancer of the ovary.

(i) Pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection;

(ii) Autopsy report;

(iii) One of the following summary medical reports:

(A) Physician summary report;

(B) Hospital discharge summary report;

(D) Medical oncology summary report; or

(E) Operative report; or

(iv) Death certificate, provided that it is signed by a physician at the time of death.