[Question Concerning Accrual of Annual Leave While on Temporary Disability Retired List]

The Bureau of Reclamation requested a decision regarding the correct computation of military service time for civil service annual leave accrual and retirement purposes in the case of an employee who served in the Navy but retired because of a service-connected disability. The employee was in the Navy for more than 6 years but was in a temporary disability retirement status for more than 3 years of that time. GAO held that: (1) the Bureau should only credit the employee with time served in an active duty status for purposes of leave accrual; and (2) the Office of Personnel Management should determine the applicable service credit for purposes of the employee's retirement. Accordingly, the Bureau should reestablish the employee's service computation date and adjust his leave balance, if necessary.