D.C. and U.S. Postal Service, Ville Platte Post Office (Board decision, February 25, 2026)

ECAB final decision dismissing appeal. The Board dismissed the appeal as filed outside its 180-day deadline and did not reach the merits. 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 postal worker appealed an OWCP 2025 merit decision dated March 24, 2025. The Board calculated the 180-day appeal deadline as September 20, 2025, but the appeal arrived on November 15, 2025. It found no supported compelling circumstances explaining the late filing. The Board dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction without reviewing the underlying decision.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.3(e), 501.6(d), 501.7(a).
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed as untimely.
• Key point: The Board could not review the OWCP decision after its 180-day filing window had passed.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
D.C., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 26-0171
) Issued: February 25, 2026
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, POST OFFICE,
)
Ville Platte, LA, 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 JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge

On November 15, 2025, appellant filed an appeal from a March 24, 2025 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards docketed the appeal as No. 26-0171.

The Board, having duly considered the matter, notes that the Board has jurisdiction to review final adverse decisions of OWCP issued under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.1 For final adverse decisions of OWCP issued on or after November 19, 2008, the Board’s review authority is limited to appeals which were filed within 180 days from the date of issuance of OWCP’s decision.2

The 180th day following the March 24, 2025 decision was September 20, 2025. As appellant did not file an appeal with the Board until November 15, 2025, more than 180 days after the March 24, 2025 OWCP decision, the Board finds that the appeal docketed as No. 26-

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.” 0171 is untimely filed.3 The Board is without jurisdiction to review the appeal. Appellant has not explained 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. 26-0171 must be dismissed.4 Accordingly.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 26-0171 is dismissed.

Issued: February 25, 2026
Washington, DC

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

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

Janice B. Askin, Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

3
20 C.F.R. § 501.3(f) indicates that a notice of appeal is considered to have been filed only if received by the Clerk of the Appellate Boards.
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