S.W. and U.S. Postal Service, Columbus Post Office (Board decision, September 19, 2025)

ECAB final decision. The Board dismissed the appeal because the record contained no reviewable final adverse OWCP decision. 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 sought review of a purported October 2024 OWCP decision. The Board found no such final adverse decision in the record and none issued within the applicable appeal window. Without a decision it could review, the Board dismissed the appeal without reaching compensation issues.

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 a reviewable OWCP decision.
• Key point: The Board could not hear an appeal without a final adverse OWCP decision in the record.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
S.W., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 25-0869
)
Issued: September 19, 2025
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, POST OFFICE, )
Columbus, OH, 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 September 8, 2025 appellant sought an appeal from a purported October 31, 2024 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards docketed the appeal as No. 25-0869.

The Board, having duly considered this matter, notes that the Board has jurisdiction to review final adverse decisions of OWCP issued under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. 1 This jurisdiction encompasses any final adverse decision issued by OWCP within 180 days of the date appellant filed the appeal.2 The case record as transmitted to the Board does not contain a final adverse decision of OWCP either dated October 21, 2024, or issued within 180 days from the date of docketing of the current appeal.3 Because there is no final adverse decision issued by

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.” 3
20 C.F.R. § 501.3.
OWCP over which the Board may properly exercise jurisdiction, the Board concludes that the appeal docketed as No. 25-0869 must be dismissed. 4 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 25-0869 is dismissed.

Issued: September 19, 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

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