M.P. and Department of the Navy, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (Board decision, December 3, 2024)

ECAB final decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as untimely without reaching the merits. A party may petition the Board for reconsideration within 30 days of issuance unless this order specifies another period, under 20 C.F.R. § 501.7(a). FECA compensation decisions are generally not subject to court review under 5 U.S.C. § 8128(b).

Plain-English summary

A Navy employee appealed an April 12, 2024 OWCP decision on October 31, after the October 9 end of the 180-day filing period. The Board found no documented compelling circumstance for the delay and dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: Federal Employees' Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed as untimely.
• Key point: The appeal was filed after the 180-day deadline.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
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M.P., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 25-0081
)
Issued: December 3, 2024
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, FLEET
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READINESS CENTER SOUTHWEST,
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San Diego, CA, Employer
)
__________ )

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

ORDER DISMISSING APPEAL

Before:
JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge
VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge JAMES D. McGINLEY, Alternate Judge

On October 31, 2024 appellant filed an appeal from an April 12, 2024 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards assigned the appeal Docket No. 25-0081.

The Board has duly considered the matter and notes that the Board 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 April 12, 2024, decision was October 9, 2024. As appellant did not file an appeal with the Board until October 31, 2024, more than 180 days after the April 12, 2024 OWCP decision, the Board finds that the appeal docketed as No. 25-0081 is untimely filed. The Board is without jurisdiction to review the appeal. Appellant has not explained the failure to 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.” 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. 2 5-0081 must be dismissed.3 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 25-0081 is dismissed.

Issued: December 3, 2024
Washington, DC

Janice B. Askin, 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 are “final upon the expiration of 30 days from the date of their issuance.” 20 C.F.R. § 501.6(d).

2