In addition to the usual actions, take the following actions:
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Ask the claimant about any prior disability claims and the last adjudicative level
at which each claim was decided.
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Obtain an Office of Hearings and Appeals query (OHAQ) to verify the last adjudicative
level at which each prior claim was decided and the status of the claim. The OHAQ
does not include decisions made before 1982. The OHAQ codes for disability cases are
as follows:
DIWC = TII Disabled Wage earner/child
DIWW = TII Disabled Widow(er)
SSIB = TXVI Blind
SSID = TXVI Disabled
SSBC = TII/XVI Concurrent Blind
SSDC = TII/XVI Concurrent Disabled
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Whenever there is a prior ALJ or AC decision, obtain the prior file from any location
and forward both the prior and subsequent files to the DDS.
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If the prior file is not received within a reasonable period (i.e. 30 days), obtain
a copy of the ALJ or AC decision from the claimant, place it in the subsequent file
and forward the file to the DDS.
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Alert the DDS of any prior ALJ or AC decision, location of the prior file, and whenever
the prior file is lost or has been destroyed.
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If the AC takes an unfavorable action on a claimant's request for review, the claim
file is retained in ODAR Headquarters for five months pending potential filing of
a civil action. In such instances, obtain a copy of the ALJ or AC decision and forward
it to the DDS.