K.T. and Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto VA Medical Center (Board decision, May 8, 2025)

ECAB final decision dismissing appeal. The Board granted the appellant's withdrawal request and dismissed the appeal without a compensation merits ruling. 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 VA worker filed a Board appeal and then asked to dismiss it. The Board granted the request and ended the appeal without reviewing OWCP's underlying decision. The PDF's introductory paragraph contains a different docket number; its caption and operative order identify this case as 25-0480.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.3, 501.6(d), 501.7(a).
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed at appellant's request.
• Key point: A voluntary dismissal ended the Board appeal without a merits ruling.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
K.T., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 25-0480
)
Issued: May 8, 2025
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
)
PALO ALTO VA MEDICAL CENTER,
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Palo Alto, CA, Employer
)
__________ )

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

ORDER DISMISSING APPEAL

Before:
PATRICIA H. FITZGERALD, Deputy Chief Judge JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge
VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge

On April 14, 2025 appellant sought an appeal from a purported final adverse April 14, 2025 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards assigned the appeal Docket No. 25-0478.

In a letter dated April 23, 2025, appellant requested that the appeal be dismissed.

The Board has duly considered the matter and concludes that appellant’s request for the dismissal of the appeal should be granted. 1 Accordingly,

1
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).
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT appellant’s request for the dismissal of the appeal is granted. The appeal docketed as No. 25-0480 is dismissed.

Issued: May 8, 2025
Washington, DC

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

Janice B. Askin, Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

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

2