Last Update: 9/08/05 (Transmittal I-3-36)
Upon receipt of the claim file, branch staff must check the file for the recording of the hearing (cassette tape or compact disc). The file should contain a hearing recording unless the Administrative Law Judge issued a dismissal, an on-the-record decision, or a favorable decision.
Since November 1988, hearing offices have been responsible for removing recordings from claim files of those cases in which a fully or partially favorable decision is issued and sending recordings daily to OHA Headquarters for storage in the OAO Mega-site. Branch staff will, therefore, reassociate the recording(s) in favorable decision cases by requesting the recording from the OAO Mega-site or Federal Records Center (FRC) using the Mega-site Information Management System (MIMS).
Allow 30 days for the Division of Program Support to respond if the recording is housed in the FRC. If necessary, follow up with the Program Support Officer by e-mail after the 30th workday. If the recording is housed in the OAO Mega-site, allow 10 days for the OAO Mega-site to respond. If necessary, follow up with the OAO Mega-site manager by e-mail after the 10th workday. In critical or TERI cases, follow-up requests should be hand-carried to the Program Support Officer or by telephone with the OAO Mega-site manager.