S.W. and Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Anadarko Agency, Anadarko, OK (Board decision, July 26, 2023)

ECAB final decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as untimely because it was filed more than 180 days after OWCP's May 24, 2019 decision and no compelling circumstances excused the delay. Under 20 C.F.R. § 501.6(d), this order becomes final 30 days after issuance. A party may petition the Board for reconsideration within 30 days unless this order specifies another period, under 20 C.F.R. § 501.7(a).

Plain-English summary

A Bureau of Indian Affairs employee appealed an OWCP decision issued on May 24, 2019. The appeal was filed on June 15, 2023, more than 180 days after the decision. The Board found the appeal untimely, found no supporting documentation showing compelling circumstances, and dismissed it for lack of jurisdiction without reviewing the underlying claim.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: FECA, 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c), 501.3(a), 501.3(e), and 501.6(d).
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed as untimely for lack of jurisdiction.
• Key point: The Board's 180-day filing deadline barred review of the 2019 OWCP decision.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
S.W., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 23-0892
)
Issued: July 26, 2023
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU )
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, ANADARKO AGENCY, )
Anadarko, OK, Employer
)
__________ )

Appearances: Case Submitted on the Record
Appellant, pro se
Office of Solicitor, for the Director

ORDER DISMISSING APPEAL

Before:
ALEC J. KOROMILAS, Chief Judge
VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge JAMES D. McGINLEY, Alternate Judge

On June 15, 2023 appellant filed an appeal from a May 24, 2019 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards assigned Docket No. 23-0892.

The Board has duly considered the matter and notes that it has jurisdiction to review final adverse decisions of OWCP issued under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).1 For final adverse decisions of OWCP issued on or after November 19, 2008, the Board’s review authority is limited to appeals which are filed within 180 days from the date of issuance of OWCP’s decision.2

The 180 th day following the May 24, 2019 decision was November 20, 2019. As appellant did not file an appeal with the Board until June 15, 2023, more than 180 days after the May 24, 2019 OWCP decision, the Board finds that the appeal docketed as No. 23-0892 is 1 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3(a).
2
20 C.F.R. § 501.3(e) provides in pertinent part: “Any notice of appeal must be filed within 180 days from the date of issuance of a decision of the OWCP.” untimely filed. The Board is without jurisdiction to review the appeal. Appellant has not explained his failure to timely file an appeal with supporting documentation sufficient to establish compelling circumstances. Because there is no final adverse decision issued by OWCP within 180 days of the filing of the instant appeal, the Board concludes that the appeal docketed as No. 23-0892, must be dismissed. 3 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 23-0892 is dismissed.

Issued: July 26, 2023
Washington, DC

Alec J. Koromilas, Chief Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

Valerie D. Evans-Harrell, Alternate Judge Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

James D. McGinley, Alternate Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

3
The Board’s decisions and orders a re “final upon the expiration of 30 days from the date of their issuance.” Id. at § 501.6(d).

2