W.A. and U.S. Postal Service, Portland Post Office (Board decision, July 28, 2025)

ECAB final decision. The Board dismissed docket 25-0657 because the record contained no final adverse OWCP decision within the appeal period. 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 Portland postal employee appealed what was described as a May 2025 OWCP decision. The record did not contain that decision or any other final adverse decision within 180 days. The Board therefore dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction without reviewing the underlying claim.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: Federal Employees' Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c), 501.3.
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed for lack of an appealable OWCP decision.
• Key point: A claimed decision absent from the record could not give the Board jurisdiction.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
W.A., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 25-0657
)
Issued: July 28, 2025
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, PORTLAND POST )
OFFICE, Portland, ME, 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
JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge
VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge

On June 16, 2025 appellant filed an appeal from a purported May 29, 2025 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards assigned the appeal Docket No. 25-0657.

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 case record as transmitted to the Board does not contain a final adverse decision of OWCP dated May 29, 2025 or any final adverse decision issued within 180 days from the date of docketing of the current appeal. 3

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).
3
20 C.F.R. § 501.3.
Because there is no final adverse decision issued by OWCP over which the Board may properly exercise jurisdiction, the Board concludes that the appeal docketed as No. 25-0657 must be dismissed. 4 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 25-0657 is dismissed.

Issued: July 28, 2025
Washington, DC

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

Janice B. Askin, Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

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

4
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