This is just for your verification: have you been out for at least 6-months of "Unpaid Status" (actual STD/LTD)

The reason I bring this up is that, if you've been out for a total of 6-9 months, the first several months are considered "Paid Status" while you burned through your Sick time/Vacation.

If you haven't been out for 6 months of actual STD/LTD, you return to the BES from which you left. No choice. Then you are at the whim of the AE system for your next move.