C.A. and Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (Board decision, August 4, 2026)

ECAB final decision dismissing appeal. The Board dismissed the appeal because the identified OWCP letter was informational and no reviewable final adverse decision was before it. 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

An IRS employee sought Board review of a July 2025 OWCP letter. The Board found that the letter was informational rather than a final adverse decision. It also found no other adverse decision within the applicable appeal period. It dismissed the appeal without reviewing compensation entitlement.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.3, 501.6(d), 501.7(a).
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed for lack of a final adverse decision.
• Key point: An informational OWCP letter was not an appealable decision.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
C.A., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 26-0582
) Issued: August 4, 2026
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,
)
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE,
)
Chamblee, GA, 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 June 9, 2026 appellant filed an appeal from a purported July 21, 2025 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Clerk of the Appellate Boards docketed the appeal as No. 26-0582.

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 (FECA).1 Although a letter dated July 21, 2025 is contained in the record, it is purely informational in nature and, thus, does not constitute a final adverse OWCP decision from which appellant may properly appeal.2 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.3

1
5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3(a).
2
See 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3(a); Order Dismissing Appeal, J.G., Docket No. 22.0657 (issued April 19, 2023); Order Dismissing Appeal, K.S., Docket No. 20.1401 (issued March 17, 2021); Order Dismissing Appeal, S.U., Docket No. 20-0636 (issued December 3, 2020) (correspondence that is purely informational in nature does not constitute a final adverse decision of OWCP from which appellant may properly appeal). 3 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.” 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. 26-0582 must be dismissed.4 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 26-0582 is dismissed.

Issued: August 4, 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
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