E.L. and Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (Board decision, April 23, 2026)

ECAB final decision dismissing appeal. The Board granted the appellant's withdrawal request and dismissed the appeal without reviewing the claim. 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 Federal Aviation Administration employee appealed an OWCP decision but later asked to withdraw the appeal so he could seek reconsideration before OWCP. The Board granted the request and dismissed its case without deciding the underlying compensation issue.

Decision snapshot

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

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
E.L., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 26-0218
) Issued: April 23, 2026
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
)
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION,
)
Tampa, FL, 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 6, 2026 appellant filed a timely appeal from a December 2, 2025 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards docketed the appeal as No. 26-0218.

In correspondence dated April 15, 2026, appellant requested that the appeal be withdrawn to enable him to request reconsideration before OWCP.

The Board, having duly considered this matter, concludes that appellant’s request for the withdrawal 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 withdrawal of the appeal is granted. The appeal docketed as No. 26-0218 is dismissed.

Issued: April 23, 2026
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

2