Federal Agency Decisions
Federal workers' compensation appeals from the Department of Labor's Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB), federal-sector labor-relations cases from the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), mine-safety cases from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), workplace-safety cases from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), Longshore Act and Black Lung Benefits Act appeals from the Department of Labor's Benefits Review Board (BRB), precedent decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), environmental permit and penalty appeals from the EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), and whistleblower and other labor appeals from the Department of Labor's Administrative Review Board (ARB), each with a plain-English summary, the law it cites, and whether it counts as precedent. More agencies are coming.
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Rosemary M. Stephen (o/b/o and Widow of David E. Stephen) v. Consolidation Coal Company
Stephen v. Consolidation Coal (BRB 23-0091 and 23-0259): benefits denials vacated for wrong burden of proof
Rosemary Stephen pursued her late husband’s miner claim and her own survivor claim after an administrative law judge denied both. The judge found David Stephen’s work as a weighmaster and shipping clerk did not qualify as coal mine employment. The Board held that his work at the coal mine triggered…
S.C. and U.S. Postal Service, Nashville Post Office
Board dismisses late Nashville postal appeal (ECAB 25-0357)
A postal worker appealed a July 2023 OWCP decision in July 2024. The Board found the appeal was filed after its 180-day deadline and lacked documented compelling circumstances to excuse the delay. It dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
T.H. and U.S. Postal Service, Baltimore Post Office
Board upholds Baltimore postal disability denial (ECAB 25-0345)
A Baltimore postal worker sought wage-loss benefits after an accepted February 2021 injury. The Board found the medical evidence did not adequately establish disability from work beginning April 10, 2021 due to that injury. It upheld the denial.
J.J. and U.S. Postal Service, Polosi Post Office
Board returns postal worker leg disability claim (ECAB 25-0340)
A postal worker sought disability benefits beginning July 13, 2024 after an accepted leg injury. OWCP relied on a physician who did not use the statement of accepted facts identifying a right lower leg muscle strain. The Board returned the claim for a new medical opinion using the correct facts.
N.Y. and Department of Veterans Affairs, Erie VA Medical Center
Board upholds denial of VA nurse wage-loss period (ECAB 25-0310)
A VA nurse sought wage-loss benefits for a short period after an accepted employment injury involving COVID-19 exposure. The Board found the medical evidence did not establish disability from work for the claimed dates. It upheld the denial.
E.C. and Department of the Air Force, Headquarters, Robins Air Force Base
Board reverses Air Force worker benefit suspension (ECAB 25-0268)
An Air Force worker did not return an EN-1032 disclosure form, and OWCP suspended her benefits. The Board found the notice and form had been returned to OWCP as undeliverable, rebutting the presumption that she received them. It reversed the suspension and directed retroactive restoration.
Matter of F-B-G-M- & J-E-M-G-
Motion to reconsider denied
The respondents, natives and citizens of Guatemala, appealed an Immigration Judge's denial of their applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The Board had summarily dismissed the appeal because the notice of appeal did not explain the…
Secretary of Labor v. Cactus Canyon Quarries, Inc.
Disciplinary briefing stayed
An administrative law judge referred a disciplinary matter involving counsel for Cactus Canyon Quarries from the related CENT 2023-0045 cases. The Commission opened a separate disciplinary docket, CENT 2025-0180. It then stayed further briefing on the disciplinary matter until a later Commission…
Secretary of Labor v. Cactus Canyon Quarries, Inc.
Jurisdiction briefing resumed
The Commission had stayed briefing in these eleven consolidated civil-penalty dockets in October 2024. It lifted that stay and directed the parties to resume briefing under Commission Rule 75. The specified issue was whether the stone-finishing plant qualifies as a mine subject to MSHA jurisdiction…
Ronnie F. Hileman, Jr. v. Paramont Coal Company Virginia, LLC
Hileman v. Paramont Coal (BRB 24-0035 BLA): black lung award remanded
Ronnie F. Hileman, Jr., won black lung benefits after a judge found that he had complicated pneumoconiosis following twenty-one years of coal mine work. Paramont Coal challenged the judge's weighing of the chest X-rays. The Board held that she had not addressed differences in where doctors located…
Freddie Wayne Simpson v. Blackjewel, LLC
Simpson v. Blackjewel (BRB 23-0508 BLA): black lung benefits denial affirmed
Freddie Wayne Simpson sought black lung benefits after thirty-two years of qualifying coal mine work. A judge denied his subsequent claim because the evidence did not establish complicated pneumoconiosis or a totally disabling respiratory impairment. The Board upheld the judge's treatment of…
Worksource East Central Georgia v. Employment and Training Administration, USDOL
Dismissal affirmed where OALJ lacked WIOA jurisdiction
Worksource East Central Georgia failed to replace its resigning fiscal agent, and Georgia imposed a sanction after extensions did not bring the local workforce board into compliance. A Labor Department grant officer upheld the state sanction, and Worksource then asked the Office of Administrative…
F.G. and U.S. Postal Service, City of Industry Post Office
Board upholds postal nurse carpal-tunnel claim denial (ECAB 25-0306)
A postal occupational health nurse administrator attributed hand symptoms to repetitive work. The Board found the medical evidence did not establish a diagnosed condition in connection with the accepted work factors. It upheld the denial.
N.H. and U.S. Postal Service, Suitland Post Office
Board upholds denial of late postal hearing request (ECAB 25-0281)
A postal city carrier asked for an oral hearing concerning an earlier injury decision. The Board found the request was filed after the applicable deadline. It upheld OWCP's refusal to grant the hearing.
J.M. and U.S. Postal Service, Central Irving Post Office
Board returns postal arm impairment rating for impartial exam (ECAB 25-0263)
A postal worker sought more than the 11 percent right-arm impairment previously awarded. His treating physician and OWCP's second-opinion physician disagreed about the examination findings and impairment severity. The Board ordered an impartial specialist to resolve the conflict.
D.W. and U.S. Postal Service, Marshall Post Office
Board upholds denial of postal carrier arm claim (ECAB 25-0143)
A rural postal carrier reported a left biceps injury after lifting a package. The Board found the medical evidence did not adequately connect a diagnosed condition to the accepted work incident. It upheld the denial.
Matter of Jonalson DOR
Controlled-substance conviction measured at conviction
The Board reviewed a Haitian lawful permanent resident's challenge to his removal proceedings after a Massachusetts conviction for possessing marihuana with intent to distribute. He argued that the federal drug schedule in effect when his removability was finally decided should control, because…
Monico Langamin v. Saltchuk Young Brothers, Limited
Langamin v. Saltchuk Young Brothers (BRB 24-0007): additional disability pay denied
Monico Langamin filed seven claims for back and shoulder injuries from his work for Saltchuk Young Brothers in Hawaii. A judge awarded temporary total disability benefits for April 22 through June 18, 2019, but denied additional pay for days Langamin said he used sick leave or vacation because of…
M.K. and Department of Veterans Affairs, Brooklyn VA Medical Center
Board dismisses appeal from 2016 VA claim decision (ECAB 25-0315)
A VA worker appealed a January 2016 OWCP ruling in January 2025. The Board found the filing was long past the 180-day appeal deadline and no documented compelling circumstances justified it. It dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
T.M. and U.S. Postal Service, Greensboro Post Office
Board dismisses late Greensboro postal appeal (ECAB 25-0293)
A postal worker appealed a May 2023 OWCP decision in February 2025. The Board found the filing exceeded its 180-day deadline and lacked documented compelling circumstances to excuse the delay. It dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
E.M. and U.S. Postal Service, Delaware Processing and Distribution Center
Board dismisses late Delaware postal appeal (ECAB 25-0286)
A postal worker appealed a January 2024 OWCP decision in January 2025. The Board found the appeal was filed beyond its 180-day deadline and no documented compelling circumstances excused the delay. It dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
C.B. and Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Board upholds denial of Census disability recurrence (ECAB 24-0900)
A Census field representative sought renewed disability benefits after OWCP had terminated wage-loss and schedule-award benefits for refusing suitable work. The Board found her later recurrence claim could not restore those benefits under the applicable forfeiture provision. It upheld the denial.
Matter of C-A-R-R-
Asylum application completeness and declaration rule
The Board reviewed four asylum applications filed by a Salvadoran respondent. It held that an Immigration Judge may treat an asylum application as incomplete when it lacks specific answers required by Form I-589, particularly after giving the applicant an opportunity to correct it. But the Board…
Wesley Mallery v. El Segundo Coal Company, LLC
Miner discrimination complaint reinstated
Miner Wesley Mallery alleged that he raised workplace safety concerns and was immediately placed on administrative leave, followed by disability status at reduced pay. The judge dismissed his pro se discrimination case for failure to state a claim after issuing two show-cause orders. The Commission…
Michael R. Robbins v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Robbins v. Director, OWCP (BRB 24-0143 BLA): black lung benefits denial affirmed
Michael R. Robbins sought black lung benefits after working in coal mines. A judge credited 8.77 years of mine work, below the fifteen years required for the statutory presumption, and found that he had not proved clinical or legal pneumoconiosis. The Board found an error in the method for…
A.T. and Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations
Board upholds prior right-leg impairment rating (ECAB 25-0272)
A federal special agent sought a higher schedule award for right-leg impairment after an accepted work injury. He had previously received compensation for 30 percent impairment. The Board found the medical evidence did not establish a higher rating and upheld OWCP's decision.
L.B. and U.S. Postal Service, Northwest Longview Post Office
Board upholds denial of postal mail handler neck claim (ECAB 25-0269)
A postal mail handler reported neck pain after loading unexpectedly heavy packages. The Board found the medical evidence did not adequately connect a diagnosed neck condition to the accepted incident. It upheld the denial.
P.V. and Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol
Board upholds border agent water-exposure claim denial (ECAB 25-0187)
A Border Patrol agent reported drinking water with elevated arsenic at work and claimed resulting illness. The Board found the medical evidence did not establish a diagnosed condition in connection with the accepted exposure factors. It upheld the denial.
T.C. and Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto VA Medical Center
Board returns VA housekeeper COVID claim for records (ECAB 23-0968)
A VA hospital housekeeper claimed she contracted COVID-19 through work. The Board found the record indicated her employer had evaluated her but the relevant medical records had not been obtained. It directed OWCP to seek those records and reconsider the diagnosis issue.
J.F., claiming as widow of K.F., and Department of the Army, Tank-Automotive & Armament Command, Sierra Army Depot
Board returns Army widow survivor claim for medical clarification (ECAB 23-0871)
An Army worker's widow sought survivor benefits following his death. OWCP obtained an impartial medical opinion about whether employment factors contributed, but the Board found the opinion needed clarification. It directed OWCP to seek a supplemental report or a new impartial examiner.
Secretary of Labor v. Genesis Alkali, LLC
Unsupported settlements remained denied
A judge rejected proposed settlements covering 34 citations because major modifications and vacaturs lacked enough factual support. One proposal would have reduced a ventilation citation from S&S and fatal gravity to non-S&S and lost-workdays gravity, with a penalty cut from $12,007 to $729…
Secretary of Labor v. Certified Crane and Rigging Services, LLC
Suspended-load citation modified and affirmed
Certified Crane left one end of a multi-ton shaker screen suspended while installation work paused, and two riggers stood about 18 inches from the load. The Judge held that the screen was an ordinary load rather than a component of the crane, so the originally cited raised-component standard did…
Roderick R. George v. West Virginia Electric Corporation
George v. West Virginia Electric (BRB 24-0141 BLA): disability denial remanded
Roderick R. George sought black lung benefits after 18.99 years of coal mine work, including at least fifteen years in qualifying conditions. A judge denied the claim after finding that George was not totally disabled by a respiratory condition. The Board held that the judge had selected the…
Johnny M. Turner v. Honey Camp Coal Company
Turner v. Honey Camp Coal (BRB 23-0432): black lung benefits award partly vacated and remanded
Johnny Turner sought federal black lung benefits, and a labor judge awarded them after finding that he qualified for the presumption based on coal mine work and a disabling respiratory impairment. Honey Camp Coal and its carrier appealed. The Board affirmed Honey Camp's designation as the…
M.S. and U.S. Postal Service, Greenacres Post Office
Board returns postal disability claim for medical review (ECAB 25-0330)
A postal mail processing clerk sought disability benefits after an accepted February 2024 injury. The Board found the record was not ready for a final determination about disability beginning November 14, 2024. It returned the claim to OWCP for further medical review.
A.M. and Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Richmond International Airport
Board finds TSA chair delivery was work duty (ECAB 25-0299)
A TSA officer reported injury while removing a chair from a government vehicle during an assigned delivery. The Board found she was performing work duties and had not willfully disobeyed an instruction. It reversed OWCP's denial, leaving medical causation for further review.
C.C. and U.S. Postal Service, Tampa Post Office
Board upholds denial of late Tampa postal hearing request (ECAB 25-0283)
A Tampa postal worker requested an oral hearing concerning an earlier compensation decision. The Board found the request was filed outside the statutory period. It upheld OWCP's refusal to grant the hearing.
B.O. and U.S. Postal Service, Santa Fe Main Post Office
Board reverses postal worker shoulder resolution finding (ECAB 25-0236)
A Santa Fe postal worker challenged OWCP's finding that a temporary aggravation of right-shoulder osteoarthritis had ended. The Board found OWCP had not met its burden to establish resolution by June 29, 2024. It reversed that decision.
I.S. and U.S. Postal Service, New Jersey International & National Distribution Center
Board returns additional postal shoulder conditions for review (ECAB 25-0093)
A postal worker sought continued benefits and expansion of an accepted right-shoulder sprain claim. The Board upheld OWCP's finding that the sprain had resolved by August 2023 and that no continuing disability from it was established. It found the request to add other shoulder conditions required…
Francis Luwwum v. EOD Technology, Incorporated
Luwwum v. EOD Technology (BRB 23-0512): Defense Base Act benefits denial affirmed
Francis Luwwum sought Defense Base Act benefits for psychological symptoms he attributed to security work in Iraq. A judge applied the presumption that the condition was work-related, but found that the employer rebutted it with a neuropsychologist's opinion and that the full record did not prove…
Jahanbin v. The Boeing Company
AIR21 complaint filed 377 days after termination dismissed
Boeing suspended Shahrooz Jahanbin in December 2020, terminated him with an ineligible-for-rehire designation in January 2021, and later declined to rehire him after a contractor ended his assignment. Jahanbin filed an AIR21 complaint 377 days after Boeing terminated him, making it 287 days beyond…
B.J. and U.S. Postal Service, Doraville Post Office
Board allows four hours for postal treatment visit (ECAB 25-0323)
A postal worker sought a schedule award and wage-loss compensation for July 3, 2024. The Board found no ratable permanent impairment and no proof of most claimed disability. It found the record supported up to four hours of pay for a medical appointment treating accepted conditions.
S.T. and U.S. Postal Service, Milwaukee Post Office
Board reverses recovery rate on postal overpayment (ECAB 25-0168)
A postal worker received FECA and Social Security retirement benefits without the required offset. The Board upheld the overpayment and denial of waiver. It reversed the recovery rate because OWCP applied a rule for workers who provide no financial information even though she submitted a financial…
M.R. and Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
Board upholds prior bilateral arm impairment awards (ECAB 25-0020)
An OWCP claims examiner sought larger schedule awards for accepted bilateral hand and arm conditions. He had previously received ratings of 13 percent for the right arm and 14 percent for the left. The Board found the medical evidence did not establish higher ratings.
James Rapp v. Island Creek Coal Company
Rapp v. Island Creek Coal (BRB 24-0106): black lung benefits award affirmed
James Rapp sought black lung benefits after 30.58 years of coal mine employment. The administrative law judge found complicated pneumoconiosis from the x-ray evidence and awarded benefits under the irrebuttable presumption of total disability due to pneumoconiosis. Island Creek Coal challenged the…
Ray Johnson v. Racheal Mining Company, Incorporated
Johnson v. Racheal Mining (BRB 23-0445): black lung benefits award affirmed on remand
Ray Johnson sought black lung benefits in a subsequent claim after 14.63 years of coal mine employment. On remand, the administrative law judge again found Racheal Mining responsible for payment, found legal pneumoconiosis and total disability due to that disease, and awarded benefits. The employer…
Luis Carlos Aragon Caceres v. Triple Canopy, Incorporated
Aragon Caceres v. Triple Canopy (BRB 23-0193): Defense Base Act claim remanded
Luis Carlos Aragon Caceres sought Defense Base Act benefits for a psychological condition he attributed to security work in Iraq. A judge denied the claim because he concluded Aragon Caceres should have reported the injury years before he did. The Board held that symptoms in 2008 did not establish…
S.C. and U.S. Postal Service, North Houston Post Office
Board reverses Houston postal benefit suspension (ECAB 25-0319)
A Houston postal worker did not return an EN-1032 earnings disclosure form. The Board found the notice and form had been returned to OWCP as undeliverable, rebutting the presumption of receipt. It reversed the suspension.
D.H. and U.S. Postal Service, Hartford Post Office
Board reverses postal suitable-work forfeiture (ECAB 25-0290)
A postal worker declined a modified rural carrier position after a work injury. Her physician and OWCP's referral physician disagreed about her work restrictions. The Board found that conflict prevented OWCP from proving the offered position was suitable and reversed the forfeiture.
D.C. and U.S. Postal Service, Quincy Post Office
Board upholds denial of added postal knee condition (ECAB 25-0285)
A postal city carrier sought to expand a right-knee injury claim to include a left-knee condition. The Board found the medical evidence did not adequately establish that the accepted injury caused or led to the left-knee condition. It upheld the denial.
S.B. and Department of Veterans Affairs, John J. Pershing Medical Center
Board orders review of VA worker mold-exposure claim (ECAB 25-0176)
A VA social worker claimed illness from mold and asbestos exposure. She sought reconsideration after the ordinary filing period, pointing to an Epstein-Barr virus diagnosis already reflected in a physician's report. The Board found that evidence raised clear error in OWCP's finding that no…
J.E. and U.S. Postal Service, Sorting & Distribution Center
Board upholds denial of postal worker medical claim (ECAB 25-0150)
A postal worker sought benefits for a medical condition following an accepted work incident. The Board found the medical record did not adequately establish that the incident caused the claimed condition. It upheld OWCP's denial.
United States Department of the Army, Kentucky National Guard, The Adjutant General, Commonwealth of Kentucky and Association of Civilian Technicians, Kentucky Long Rifle Chapter
Kentucky National Guard and Association of Civilian Technicians (FLRA 0-AR-5896): Authority sets aside retroactive retention incentive
The Kentucky National Guard approved a retention incentive for an employee several months after promoting him to a qualifying position, and the union sought payments retroactive to the promotion date. An arbitrator found it arbitrary and capricious that the agency could not identify a law or policy…
Secretary of Labor v. Cobleskill Stone Products, Inc.
Contest mailed with payment reopened
Cobleskill Stone Products paid two citations and intended to contest a third, but mailed the contest form with its payment to MSHA's St. Louis lockbox instead of the Arlington contest office. It moved to reopen within 30 days after the assessment became final. The Secretary did not oppose. The…
Secretary of Labor v. R.J. Valente Gravel, Inc.
Payment mooted reopened case
The Commission had reopened R.J. Valente Gravel's case, and the Secretary appealed that reopening order to the D.C. Circuit. The operator then accepted the citation and paid the full penalty, leading the court to dismiss the appeal as moot and return the matter to the Commission. After jurisdiction…
Secretary of Labor v. Peabody Gateway North Mining, LLC
Repeated filing failures barred reopening
Peabody's recently hired safety manager and a consultant decided to contest an assessment but did not know the filing procedure or who was responsible. The contest arrived late. The Commission noted that Peabody had filed two other reopening motions in recent years after different missed deadlines…
Candita Goode (o/b/o The Estate of Bruce E. Goode) v. American Energy, LLC
Goode v. American Energy (BRB 20-0021): black lung benefits award affirmed after court remand
Candita Goode pursued her late husband's black lung benefits claim. The administrative law judge awarded benefits after finding that clinical and legal pneumoconiosis substantially contributed to his total respiratory disability. The Fourth Circuit later vacated the Board's earlier reliance on the…
Thomas v. Dupont Specialty Products USA, LLC
Environmental whistleblower reconsideration request denied
Tesia Thomas alleged that DuPont Specialty Products and On-Board Services retaliated against her in violation of three federal environmental statutes. An administrative judge dismissed the claims as untimely with no basis to modify the deadlines, and the Board affirmed that ruling in February 2025…
S.R. and U.S. Postal Service, Indianapolis Post Office
Board upholds denial of postal carpal-tunnel claim (ECAB 25-0326)
An Indianapolis postal worker attributed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome to her job duties. The Board found the medical evidence did not adequately establish a causal connection to the accepted work factors. It upheld the denial.
R.Y. and Department of the Navy, Fleet Readiness, Andersen Air Force Base
Board returns Navy hearing award claim for second opinion (ECAB 25-0314)
A Navy worker sought an increased award for hearing loss. The district medical adviser said the record lacked materials needed to rate the impairment, and OWCP never completed the second-opinion referral it announced. The Board returned the claim for an audiogram, second opinion, and new decision.
What these documents are
- The agencies: Federal workers' compensation appeals from the Department of Labor's Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB), federal-sector labor-relations cases from the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), mine-safety cases from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), workplace-safety cases from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), Longshore Act and Black Lung Benefits Act appeals from the Department of Labor's Benefits Review Board (BRB), precedent decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), environmental permit and penalty appeals from the EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), and whistleblower and other labor appeals from the Department of Labor's Administrative Review Board (ARB). Each decision page names its agency.
- Commission, Board and Authority decisions: Rulings by the agency's highest review level (the Commission at OSHRC and FMSHRC, the Authority at FLRA, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Review Board at Labor, and the Environmental Appeals Board at EPA). These are citable as precedent, though a decision may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance.
- ALJ decisions: Rulings by the agency's Administrative Law Judges after a hearing. When no Commissioner directs review, an ALJ decision becomes a final order that binds the parties in that case but is not binding precedent: under 29 U.S.C. § 661(j) at OSHRC, and after the 40-day window of 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1) at FMSHRC.
- Why finality matters: Every page here says which kind of decision you are reading, so you know whether it is precedent you can cite or a final order that only shows how one judge ruled on one set of facts.
- Where they come from: Every page links the official public release from the deciding agency, and the full text on the page is that release. The plain-English summaries are written by Ezel.