Participants in this System shall be deemed to be employees for the purposes of section 8351 of title 5. Any reference in such section 8351 or in subchapter III of chapter 84 of such title 5 to retirement or separation under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of such title 5 shall be deemed to be references to retirement or separation under part I or II of this subchapter with similar benefits or entitlements with respect to participants under such part I or II, respectively.