The board shall determine by appropriate rules and regulations the number of years' credit for service of firefighters and rescue squad workers. Firefighters and rescue squad workers who are now serving as such shall furnish the board with information upon applying for membership as to previous service. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article, the Board may grant qualified prior service credits to eligible firemen [firefighters] and rescue squad workers under such terms and conditions that the Board may adopt when the Board determines that an eligible firefighter or rescue squad worker has been denied such service credits through no fault of his or her own.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-86-75