E.M. and U.S. Postal Service, Delaware Processing and Distribution Center (Board decision, March 18, 2025)

ECAB final decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as untimely and did not reach the underlying OWCP ruling. 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 postal worker appealed a January 2024 OWCP decision in January 2025. The Board found the appeal was filed beyond its 180-day deadline and no documented compelling circumstances excused the delay. It dismissed the appeal 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 Board received the appeal after the 180-day filing period.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
E.M., Appellant
)
)
Docket No. 25-0286
and ) Issued: March 18, 2025
)
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, DELAWARE
)
PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER, )
Wilmington, DE, 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
PATRICIA H. FITZGERALD, Deputy Chief Judge VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge

On January 31, 2025 appellant filed an appeal from a January 18, 2024 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards assigned the appeal Docket No. 25-0286.

The Board has duly considered this 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 January 18, 2024 decision was July 16, 2024. As appellant did not file an appeal with the Board until January 31, 2025, more than 180 days after the January 18, 2024 OWCP decision, the Board finds that the appeal docketed as No. 25-0286 is untimely filed. The Board is without jurisdiction to review the appeal. Appellant has not explained 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.” the 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. 2 5- 0286 must be dismissed. 3 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 25-0286 is dismissed.

Issued: March 18, 2025
Washington, DC

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

Patricia H. Fitzgerald, Deputy Chief Judge Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

Valerie D. Evans-Harrell, 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