5 U.S.C. § 8102 — Compensation for disability or death of employee

(a) The United States pays compensation, as this subchapter describes, when an employee is disabled or dies from a personal injury suffered while doing their job. There are three exceptions — the government will not pay if the injury or death was: (1) caused by the employee's own willful misconduct; (2) caused because the employee meant to hurt or kill themselves or someone else; or (3) mainly caused by the employee being intoxicated. (b) Special rule for employees working outside the continental United States, in Alaska, or in certain areas of Panama covered by the Panama Canal Treaty: if such an employee is disabled or dies from a "war-risk hazard," or from being captured, held, or restrained by a hostile force, that counts as an injury suffered while doing the job — whether or not the employee was actually working when it happened or when they were captured. This rule does not apply to an employee: (1) who lives at or near the workplace and was not living there only because the job required it — unless they were hurt or captured while actually working; or (2) who is a prisoner of war, or a protected person under the Geneva Conventions, being held or used by the United States itself. This rule does not block compensation paid for other reasons under this subchapter. But compensation for disability or death does not build up for any period during which the employee, or their dependents, already receives pay, benefits, or a gratuity from the United States because of being held by the enemy, or because of that same disability or death — unless that pay, benefit, or gratuity is paid back or given up.