5 CFR §831.642

1. (a)The surviving spouse of a retiree who retired on or after May 7, 1985, or of a retiree who retired before May 7, 1985, but married that surviving spouse on or after November 8, 1984, or of an employee or Member who dies while serving in a position covered by CSRS on or after May 7, 1985, or of an employee or Member who died while serving in a position covered by CSRS before May 7, 1985, but married that surviving spouse on or after November 8, 1984, can qualify for a current spouse annuity only if—
   1. (1)The surviving spouse and the employee, Member, or retiree had been married for at least 9 months, as explained in paragraph (b) of this section; or
   2. (2)A child was born of the marriage, as explained in paragraph (c) of this section; or
   3. (3)The death of the employee, Member, or retiree was accidental as explained in paragraph (d) of this section.
2. (b)For satisfying the 9-month marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the aggregate time of all marriages between the spouse applying for a current spouse annuity and the employee, Member, or retiree is included.
3. (c)For satisfying the child-born-of-the-marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, any child, including a posthumous child, born to the spouse and the employee, Member, or retiree is included. This includes a child born out of wedlock or of a prior marriage between the same parties.
4. (d)
   1. (1)A death is accidental if it results from homicide or from bodily injuries incurred solely through violent, external, and accidental means. The term “accidental” does not include a death—
      1. (i)Caused wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, by disease or bodily or mental infirmity, or by medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof; or
      2. (ii)Caused wholly or partially, directly, or indirectly, by ptomaine, by bacterial infection, except only septic infection of and through a visible wound sustained solely through violent, external, and accidental means; or
      3. (iii)Caused wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, by hernia, no matter how or when sustained; or
      4. (iv)Caused by or the result of intentional self-destruction or intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane; or
      5. (v)Caused by or as a result of the self-administration or illegal or illegally obtained drugs.
   2. (2)A State judicial or administrative adjudication of the cause of death for criminal or insurance purposes is conclusive evidence of whether a death is accidental.
   3. (3)A death certificate showing the cause of death as accident or homicide is prima facie evidence that the death was accidental.