D.H. and Peace Corps, Volunteer Services (Board decision, July 29, 2026)

ECAB final decision. The Board affirmed OWCP's February 6, 2026 suspension of wage loss compensation for failure to return a financial disclosure form. 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 Peace Corps teacher receiving wage loss compensation was asked to complete a Form EN-1032 about employment and earnings. OWCP mailed the request and warned that benefits would stop if she did not return the completed form within 30 days. The Board found that she had not done so and upheld the suspension. The order decides the reporting issue, not whether her underlying injury ended.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: Federal Employees' Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c), 501.3.
• Outcome: Suspension of wage loss compensation affirmed.
• Key point: A recipient who does not return the required earnings disclosure may have compensation suspended.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
D.H., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 26-0474
) Issued: July 29, 2026
PEACE CORPS, VOLUNTEER SERVICES,
)
Washington, DC, Employer
)
__________ )

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

DECISION AND ORDER

Before:
ALEC J. KOROMILAS, Chief Judge
PATRICIA H. FITZGERALD, Deputy Chief Judge JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge

JURISDICTION

On April 20, 2026 appellant filed a timely appeal from a February 6, 2026 merit decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). Pursuant to the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act1 (FECA) and 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3, the Board has jurisdiction over the merits of this case.2

1
5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.
2
The Board notes that following the February 6, 2026 decision, OWCP received additional evidence. However, the Board’s Rules of Procedure provides: “The Board’s review of a case is limited to the evidence in the case record that was before OWCP at the time of its final decision. Evidence not before OWCP will not be considered by the Board for the first time on appeal.” 20 C.F.R. § 501.2(c)(1). Thus, the Board is precluded from reviewing this additional evidence for the first time on appeal. Id.
ISSUE

The issue is whether OWCP properly suspended appellant’s wage-loss compensation benefits, effective February 6, 2026, for failure to complete a financial disclosure statement (Form EN-1032), as requested.

FACTUAL HISTORY

On October 24, 1978 appellant, then a 26-year-old teacher, filed an occupational disease claim (Form CA-2) alleging that she developed a mental disorder due to factors of her employment while working with the Peace Corps in Africa. OWCP accepted the claim for dysthymic disorder, simple type schizophrenia, unspecified, and dental caries. The record reflects that OWCP paid appellant compensation on the supplemental and periodic rolls commencing June 8, 1978.

OWCP periodically requested that appellant submit EN-1032 forms, which solicited information regarding her financial status.

By letter dated December 10, 2025, OWCP informed appellant that federal regulations required her to execute an affidavit regarding any earnings received or employment performed during the previous 15 months, and that it had enclosed a Form EN-1032 for that purpose. It notified her that she must fully answer all questions on the enclosed EN-1032 form and return it to OWCP within 30 days, or her benefits would be suspended, pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 10.528. OWCP mailed the letter to appellant’s last known address of record.

By decision dated February 6, 2026, OWCP suspended appellant’s wage-loss compensation benefits, effective that date, due to her failure to submit the Form EN-1032 as requested. It advised her that if she completed and returned an enclosed copy of the Form EN- 1032, her compensation benefits would be restored retroactively to the date of suspension.

LEGAL PRECEDENT

Section 8106(b) of FECA3 authorizes the Secretary of Labor to require a partially disabled employee to report his or her earnings from employment or self-employment, by affidavit or otherwise, in the manner and at the times the Secretary specifies.

Under section 10.528 of OWCP’s implementing federal regulations, an employee in receipt of compensation benefits must complete an affidavit as to any work, or activity indicating an ability to work, which the employee has performed during the prior 15 months.4 If an employee who is required to file such a report fails to do so within 30 days of the date of the request, his or her right to compensation for wage loss is suspended until OWCP receives the requested report. At that

3
5 U.S.C. § 8106(b).
4
20 C.F.R. § 10.528; P.S., Docket No. 26-0194 (issued March 26, 2026); D.G., Docket No. 25-0810 (issued September 18, 2025); C.B., Docket No. 24-0188 (issued May 1, 2024); A.S., Docket No. 23-0437 (issued February 16, 2024). See also H.B., Docket No. 19-0405 (issued June 26, 2019); M.S., Docket No. 18-1107 (issued December 28, 2018); C.C., Docket No. 17-0043 (issued June 15, 2018); A.H., Docket No. 15-0241 (issued April 3, 2015).

2 time, OWCP will reinstate compensation retroactive to the date of suspension, if the employee remains entitled to compensation.5

ANALYSIS

The Board finds that OWCP properly suspended appellant’s wage-loss compensation benefits, effective February 6, 2026, for failure to complete a Form EN-1032, as requested.

On December 10, 2025, OWCP provided appellant with an EN-1032 form and notified her that federal regulations required her to answer all questions concerning her employment or earnings. It properly notified her that, if she did not completely answer all questions and return the completed form within 30 days, her benefits would be suspended. The record reflects that OWCP sent the letter to appellant’s known address of record and there is no indication that it was returned as undeliverable.6 Under the mailbox rule, a document mailed in the ordinary course of the sender’s business practices to the addressee’s last known address is presumed to be received by the addressee.7

Appellant was receiving wage-loss compensation and was, therefore, required to complete the EN-1032 form in a timely manner. The case record indicates that appellant failed to submit a completed EN-1032 form within 30 days of OWCP’s request. Appellant’s failure to file a completed EN-1032 form within 30 days required the suspension of her wage-loss compensation.8 Thus, the Board finds that OWCP properly suspended her wage-loss compensation, effective February 6, 2026 pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 10.528.

CONCLUSION

The Board finds that OWCP properly suspended appellant’s wage-loss compensation benefits, effective February 6, 2026, for failure to complete a Form EN-1032, as requested

5
Id.; A.F., Docket No. 26-0081 (issued February 11, 2026); C.G., Docket No. 24-0210 (issued August 27, 2024);
P.M., Docket No. 16-0382 (issued May 19, 2016). See also id. at § 10.525. 6 See D.G., Docket No. 25-0810 (issued September 18, 2025); K.O., Docket No. 23-1150 (issued March 12, 2024); Kenneth E. Harris, 54 ECAB 502 (2003). 7 Id.
8
See A.S., Docket No. 25-0920 (issued January 2, 2026); H.W., Docket No. 23-0284 (issued March 30, 2023);
J.B., Docket No. 22-0162 (issued May 24, 2022); J.M., Docket No. 20-1310 (issued April 21, 2021); R.C., Docket No. 12-135 (issued May 11, 2012).

3
ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the February 6, 2026 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs is affirmed.

Issued: July 29, 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

4