Dr. Devesh Singh:

Correct. The medical assessment and opinion are advisory. They do not have to be followed in all cases by the deciding officer. Deciding officers have the legislative right to make their own decisions. The medical assessor’s opinion is confined to the medical information. Some of the schemes have qualifying criteria that are non-medical. The deciding officer is in a position to make the call. I know from my own experience that, in general, a medical opinion is given due consideration and regard by the deciding officer, but that is not 100% the case. The deciding officer has discretion to decide otherwise.