Most individuals who meet the requirements for EXR also meet the requirements to file
a new initial claim. The individual must decide which avenue he or she wishes to pursue
to entitlement.
The process of requesting and processing EXR and initial claim actions is expected
to be a sequential process. The individual should file under the process that will
be the most advantageous and then possibly pursue the other avenue if the first approach
is denied. However, an individual may wish to file for both approaches immediately.
The FO will advise an individual who wishes to file a request for EXR and an initial
claim that only one action can be processed to completion. If the individual files
both and requests provisional benefits (and Medicare in the provisional period), the
initial claim can be processed to allowance only if the individual withdraws the EXR
request and refunds benefits and Medicare payments in accordance with normal withdrawal
policy and procedures.
The DDS must make medical determinations on both the initial claim and the EXR request,
unless advised otherwise by the FO during the determination process. If a favorable
medical determination is made on both, the FO must contact the claimant for a decision
on which action he or she wants to continue processing before processing either award
action.