Links & Info

MOST COMMONLY FILED FORMS
BIAS AT OWCP?
APPEALS TO REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS
LINKS FOR OWCP FORMS
OTHER LINKS & INFORMATION

MOST COMMONLY FILED FORMS

CA-1: Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay / Compensation

CA-2: Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation

CA-2A: Notice of Recurrence

CA-7: Claim for Compensation
CA-7 in a Traumatic Injury Claim (Form CA-1
CA-7 in an Occupational Disease Claim [Form CA-2]
CA-7 when requesting payment of a Schedule Award

CA-16: Authorization for Examination And/Or Treatment

CA-17: Duty Status Report

CA-20: Attending Physician’s Report

CA-915: Claimant Medical Reimbursement Form

CA-1: Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay / Compensation.

Form CA-1 is you way of notifying your employer of a:

(1) traumatic injury, and

(2) is your claim for Continuation Of Pay [COP] & compensation.

Form CA-1 must be filed with your employing agency within 30 days from the date of your injury.

A traumatic injury is an injury that occurs during the course of one workday or work shift.

Examples of traumatic injuries include: lifting, tripping, falling; crush injuries, burns, short term chemical exposure occurring in one workday, slipping, a motor vehicle accident, physical assault, sexual assault, even repetitive activity performed in one work day, e.g., engraving metal tags with a vibrating tool, carrying a box of mail or moving a box of files to a new office space.

Example #1: Lifting one box, in one workday, which causes a “pop” in your back, requiring medical attention, is a traumatic injury claim, and you would file a Form CA-1.

Example #2: Lifting 20 boxes, in one workday, which causes a “burning sensation” in your lower back, requiring medical attention, is a traumatic injury claim, and you would file a Form CA-1.

Example #3: One day at work, you are exposed to the combination of ammonia and bleach, mixed together by the facility janitor, causing you to suffer lung damage, you would file a Form CA-1.

Example #4: You are a dental technician, one day you are specially assigned the job of using a vibrating tool to engrave metal tags, you engrave 100 tags in one workday, but you suffer numbness and lack of co-ordination in your hands, wrists and forearms, as well as carpal tunnel nerve damage, you would file a Form CA-1.

Example #5: You are an Air Traffic Controller when a plane you have control over crashes, even though there are no injuries, the incident causes you disabling emotional distress, you would file a Form CA-1.

CA-2: Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation.

Form CA-2 is your way of claiming:

  • you have suffered an “occupational disease” and wage loss compensation.


There is no Continuation of Pay (COP) in an Occupational Disease claim.

An occupational disease is defined as a condition that occurs because of activity or exposure over more than one workday.

Form CA-2 should be filed within 30 days from when you knew or should have known the injury was caused or aggravated by workplace activity or exposure.

Examples include: constant lifting of tubs of mail, or the file boxes mentioned under the CA-1 example above, over 2 or more work days, working in a “sick building” for 2 or more work days, being emotionally distressed because of weeks, months or years of a high pressure job, or abuses of discretion in handling administrative or personnel matters by your supervision [commonly known as “harassment”].

Example #1: If you have keyboarded change of address labels for the USPS for 8 hours per day, for 6 years, and this accumulated keyboarding has caused repetitive motion syndrome, you would file a Form CA-2.

Example #2: If your regularly assigned work duty is to lift tubs of mail, and this activity, performed for weeks, months or years has caused acceleration of a degenerative disc disease condition, you would file a Form CA-2.

Example #3: If you have worked for weeks, months or years in a “sick” building, and have developed sinus or lung conditions because of the “sick” building,” you would file a Form CA-2. An environmental survey of the building would be very helpful in this situation.

Example #4: If you have moved your office and engaged in lifting and carrying of desks, chairs, cubicle dividers, and boxes of files for more than one workday, and your knee is swollen, clicking and giving way because of the accumulated activity of moving your office over more than one workday, you would file Form CA-2

Example #5: If you work for more than one day under pressure to meet deadlines – such as a lawyer is required to do, or you work overtime nearly everyday, you work with deadly diseases, you are an Air Traffic Controller with life and death decisions to make every day, or a supervisor makes repetitive sexual overtures toward you on more than one day, you would file Form CA-2

Example #6: You have been a USPS letter carrier for 17 years, have used a mail bag with a shoulder strap, and the accumulated wear and tear on your shoulder caused by the shoulder strap has caused an injury to the rotator cuff in your shoulder, you would file a Form CA-2.

CA-2A Notice of Recurrence.

The first thing to notice about this form is the word “recurrence” it is not “re-occurrence.” OWCP has its own definition of a “recurrence” which may not be what you think it is. Read on.

DEFINITION OF RECURRENCE

A Recurrence of the Medical Condition is the documented need for additional medical treatment after release from treatment for the work-related injury. Continuing treatment for the original condition is not considered a recurrence.

A Recurrence of Disability is a work stoppage caused by:

  • A spontaneous return of the symptoms of a previous injury or occupational disease without intervening cause;
  • A return or increase of disability due to a consequential injury (defined as one which occurs due to weakness or impairment caused by a work-related injury); or
  • Withdrawal of a specific light duty assignment when the employee cannot perform the full duties of the regular position. This withdrawal must have occurred for reasons other than misconduct or non-performance of job duties.


IF A NEW INJURY OR EXPOSURE TO THE CAUSE OF AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS OCCURS, AND DISABILITY OR THE NEED FOR MEDICAL CARE RESULTS, A NEW FORM CA-1 or CA-2 SHOULD BE FILED.

What does this all mean?

In reality, a Recurrence of Medical Condition rarely occurs because most people return to some form of work activity, even light or limited duty, and therefore have been exposed to new or further work activities, resulting in a new injury or disease, or an aggravation to a pre-existing injury or disease, due to those intervening work activities.

One specific Recurrence of Medical Condition may occur when surgery is authorized by OWCP, but not performed for months or even years. On the date the surgery is actually performed, the injured employee may be considered to have suffered a Recurrence of Medical Condition, and/or a Recurrence of Disability – which may entitle you to wage loss compensation – even if you have been separated from your employing agency, unless your separation was for misconduct or non-performance of job duties.

The Recurrence of Disability is the most common type of Recurrence this office has seen. More to the point, if you are performing a specific light duty assignment because your OWCP-accepted condition prevents you from performing the full duties of your regular position, and your work restrictions and limitations are still valid, and the light duty assignment is withdrawn, you have suffered a Recurrence of Disability.

In this case you file a Form CA-2a to claim wage loss compensation.

OWCP takes withdrawal of a specific light duty assignment very seriously because they work very hard to get you back to work, and don’t like employing agencies undoing all their work by withdrawing your limited duty job.

In these cases, OWCP is usually very quick to reinstate payment of wage loss compensation – in fact, faster than in other type of case this office has seen.

This office has seen multiple cases where OWCP paid 6-8 years of past due compensation once it was determined the employing agency withdrew a specific light duty assignment, sent the employee home and told him or her to wait for a phone call to return to work. Despite those employees making repeated efforts to return to light duty work, their employing agencies refused to allow them to return to work.

CA-7 Claim for Compensation.
Form CA-7 is filed to claim wage loss compensation. The first CA-7 is usually submitted to request wage loss payments when the injured worker is unable to return to work.

CA-7 in a Traumatic Injury Claim (Form CA-1).
When you suffer a traumatic injury and file your Form CA-1, you should receive Continuation Of Pay (COP) for the first 45 days. If during this time frame you realize you will not be returning to work at the end of the 45 days, you should file a Form CA-7 requesting wage loss compensation from OWCP for lost work time. It is best if you file this Form CA-7 two (2) weeks before the end of your COP.

CA-7 in an Occupational Disease Claim (Form CA-2).
If you suffer an Occupational Disease, and are not able to go to work, you should file Form CA-7 at the same time you file the Form CA-2.
Remember, Continuation Of Pay (COP) is not paid in an Occupational Disease claim, so you will not be paid until your claim is accepted – which can take weeks, months, or even longer.

Form CA-7 is used when requesting payment of a Schedule Award.
When claiming a Scheduled Award, Form CA-7 is filed along with your rating physician’s report.
As mentioned under the section on Schedule Awards, the OWCP’s Medical Advisor will review your physician’s rating report, and you may be sent for a second opinion regarding the rating by your physician.

Form CA-16 Authorization for Examination And/Or Treatment.
Form CA-16 is a controlled document because it authorizes payment for medical treatment needed to care for a traumatic injury.

Form CA-16 requires the OWCP to pay for your doctor visits and diagnostic testing, e.g., X-Rays, MRI’s, CAT scans, etc., performed on you for the first 60 days after the form is issued.

You should receive a Form CA-16 from your supervisor on the day of your injury.

You cannot make a copy of a blank Form CA-16, nor can you download a copy of Form CA-16 from the Internet. If you do, and try to use it for medical treatment, or improperly sign [falsify the signature] on a Form CA-16 you can go to jail.

Form CA-17 Duty Status Report.
This is one of the first OWCP documents your doctor will be asked to complete. The left side, Side A, is completed by your supervisor, who should enter your usual work requirements as requested by Section 7 on that form. Your supervisor should accurately describe the physical activities and environmental characteristics of your job. This description should conform to your official job description, and the actual circumstances under which you perform you job.

You should review this side for accuracy, as supervisors have been known to make mistakes when completing Side A of this form.

Obviously, Side B is completed by your treating physician, after she has reviewed Side A and examined you, and reviewed any diagnostic testing completed to better diagnose your medical condition. If your doctor believes you are not able to perform the activities he should complete Side B delineating the work activities you can perform.

Every time your physician examines you, she should complete another Form CA-17 documenting any changes in your condition, diagnosis, restrictions or limitations.

These are OWCP’s descriptions of physical demand requirements:

Bending/Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles;

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees.

Operating a motor vehicle at work: Driving any vehicle during the performance of one’s duties.

Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, including overhead reaching or reaching above the shoulder.

Repetitive movements of elbows (handling): Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands using the whole arm.

Repetitive movements of wrists (fingering): Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers and wrists rather than the whole arm as in handling.

Squatting (crouching): Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.

Twisting: Turning, twisting, contorting, or flexing the torso in any direction towards the right or left.

Form CA-20 Attending Physician’s Report.

This form overlaps somewhat with Form CA-17.

Of special note, Item #8 of this form asks if the physician believes the diagnosed condition was caused or aggravated by your employment activity.

If your physician answers yes, then he should have no problem attaching this form to a report to the OWCP stating that he believes, on a more likely than not basis (a 51/49 weighing of the injury event coupled with the medical evidence) that the diagnosed condition was caused or aggravated by your employment activity.

The CA-20 requests more detailed information than Form CA-17 about any hospitalization you may have undergone, as well as a more detailed discussion of your partial or total disability.

When coupled with the Form CA-17, your doctor can explain his examination of you, discuss his clinical and diagnostic findings regarding your medical condition, explain the causal connection between the injury event and diagnosed condition while providing OWCP and your employing agency with restrictions and limitations when you are able to return to work.

Form CA-20 also provides a place for your doctor to provide OWCP with information regarding any referral she has made, or would like to make, for more specialized consultation and/or treatment.

Form OWCP-915 Claim for Medical Reimbursement.

  • This form is used to claim reimbursement for out of pocket payments you have made to doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies, or medical supply companies.
  • A separate OWCP-915 must be filed for each care provider.
  • This form must be completed with great detail and accuracy.
  • Read the instructions carefully and be sure to include copies of the documentation delineated by the form.
  • Do not use Form OWCP-915 to claim travel reimbursement.
  • Claims for travel reimbursement should be submitted on OWCP-957.


NEVER SEND YOUR ORIGINAL OR YOUR ONLY COPY OF ANY DOCUMENT TO ANYONE:

  • NOT TO OWCP
  • NOT TO YOUR EMPLOYING AGENCY
  • NOT TO YOUR DOCTOR
  • NOT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
  • NOT EVEN TO YOUR ATTORNEY
  • EVEN IF I AM YOUR ATTORNEY !


BIAS AT OWCP?

Is there bias against claimants at OWCP?

You can draw your own conclusions. I have had even those claims examiners who described themselves as “hard nuts to crack” approve well-developed claims. I have found claims examiners, senior claims examiners and supervisors with great variations in how they handle claims. Some have been as straightforward and candid as anyone you could want to work with. And if I did receive a denial from that claims examiner, her decision always stated what evidence was lacking – if you know how to read the decision denying the claim. In turn, our appeal needed to address that missing or weak evidence. In short, a good claim examiner’s denial will tell you what you need to fix for your appeal to prevail.

In fact, the man who first explained this system to me, who was above the supervisory level, once said that he sometimes looked for the intent of the claimant when deciding a case. When I pointed out to him that there was no intent standard in this system (intent only applies to criminal law, not to workers’ compensation law), he replied that no attorney had ever taken the time to have such a conversation with him, and that he would re-think his viewpoint on looking to the intent of the claimant.

On the other hand, I have found others who, before they viewed the witness statements and/or doctor statements I was handing them, told me I could bring that evidence up on appeal, and kept repeating that I could bring my arguments up on appeal, over and over again – meaning she was going to deny the claim no matter what I evidence I was providing.

In that case, I went straight back to my office and drafted a letter to that office’s director, which I hand delivered the next morning, and the case was quietly transferred to a senior claims examiner. This was an extraordinary result in an extraordinary set of circumstances. Do not try this argument unless you have a very strong set of circumstances, and a witness or two would not hurt.

To learn about a claims examiner who went completely off the chessboard, see the following.

POSTED AT: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com

Pam L.
Priceless – great article! Too bad most of the wimps who hold high level executive jobs in the government are democrats, the Entitlement Bunch. I work for the Dept of Labor, Federal Workers Compensation claims. some of these people (mostly men) haven’t worked in over 10 years because “they turned suddenly and felt a pop in their backs”. Study the entire case, and most of them were either A. one day away from being fired anyway for insubordination/attendance problems or B. Are 5th generation welfare mentality people who got lucky enough to be hired when there were plenty of federal jobs (usually during a Dem administration). Baggage Screeners at airports were converted to federal employees from state employees, falling under the Dept of Homeland Security in the fall of 2003. My district consists of 5 states – TX, NM, OK, LA, AR. Think about how many airports are in these states. Within a year, we had at least 10% of these screeners filing b.s. claims about how they “lifted a bag and their back hurt”. Liberal regulations allow them to live off compensation forever, if you are smart enough to go to a hack doctor who will keep you off work just to charge the government 150.00 for a medical report. Multiply this by hundreds – great little practice they have, and they are guaranteed patients for life. Sickened yet? Yeah me too – but I live with the system, and fight every day to do my utmost to get these slackers back to work. In all fairness, maybe 2% of the thousands of people on the rolls are there for legitimate work injuries. The rest are no better than the welfare queens you see on talk shows. Oh, the best part? These benefits are tax free. So your tax dollars are paying for these people to be professional vacation takers. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside doesn’t it?

END OF POST:

(This may also be posted on other web-sites.)

What do you do if you think you are subject to a biased claims examiner?

WIN THE CASE.

  • Get the medical tests you need.
  • Get your medical reports squared away.
  • Get the witness statements you need.
  • Hire your own doctor to go to second opinion examinations.
  • Have your doctor draft rebuttals to poorly written, dismissive and circumspect medical reports.

APPEALS TO CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS

Appeals to Congressman or Senators usually result in little being done, other than your file may be reviewed by a Senior Claims Examiner on a more expedited basis.

But you still need to win your case on its merits.

No Congressman or Senator is going to twist OWCP’s arm to accept a claim that does not meet the criteria for acceptance – it’s simply not going to happen.

Your efforts may be better spent on laying out your case so simply and directly that anyone can understand it.

What seems obvious to you may not be so obvious to everyone else.

You lived your case; you probably have every document, medical exam and telephone contact memorized.

Remember, others cannot fill in between the lines as you.

REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS

LINKS FOR OWCP FORMS ( http://www.owcp.com/owcp.html )

CA-5B-Claim for Compensation by Parents, Brothers, Sisters, GrandParents, or GrandChildren

CA-6-Official Superior’s Report of Employee’s Death

CA-7-Claim for Compensation

CA-7A-Time Analysis Form, used for claiming compensation, including repurchase of paid leave

CA-7b-Leave Buy Back (LBB) Worksheet/Certification and Election

CA-10-What A Federal Employee Should Do When Injured At Work

CA-12-Claim For Continuance of Compensation Under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act

CA-17-Duty Status Report CA-20-Attending Physician’s Report

CA-35-Evidence Required in Support of a Claim for Occupational Disease

CA-721-Notice of Law Enforcement Officer’s Injury Or Occupational Disease

CA-722-Notice of Law Enforcement Officer’s Death

CA-915-Claimant Medical Reimbursement Form

CA-1108-Statement of Recovery Letter with Long Form

CA-1122-Statement of Recovery Letter with Short Form

CA-2231-Claim for Reimbursement Assisted Reemployment

OWCP-1-Agreement and Undertaking

OWCP-5A-Work Capacity Evaluation Psychiatric/ Psychological Conditions

OWCP-5B-Work Capacity Evaluation Cardiovascular/ Pulmonary Conditions

OWCP-5C-Work Capacity Evaluation for Musculoskeletal Conditions

OWCP-16-Rehabilitation Plan And Award

OWCP-17-Rehabilitation Maintenance Certificate

OWCP-44-Rehabilitation Action Report

OWCP-957-Medical Travel Refund Request

OWCP-1500-Health Insurance Claim Form

UB-92-Uniform Health Insurance Claim Form
USEFUL LINKS & INFORMATION

Here are some links to other resources that may be helpful in working with the OWCP process – (I THINK THE CURRENT SITE HAS A FEW MORE LINKS TO ADD TO THIS.)

Federal Employees’ Compensation Homepage: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/index.htm

Comments Regarding Living With a Long-Term OWCP Claim: http://www.fedworkerscomp.net/zeelander.htm

OWCP Forms: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/forms.htm

Information for Medical Providers (print out and provide this information to your
physician): http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/infomedprov.htmhttp://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/infomedprov.htm

Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) Q&A’s: http://www.oig.dol.gov/public/feca/questionsandanswers.pdf

ACS/CQS: https://owcp.dol.acs-inc.com/portal/ This is OWCP’s site, very useful to track information about your claim(s).

AMA (American Medical Association): http://www.ama-assn.org/

Code of Federal Regulations: www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/

Title 20 Chapter VII; Benefits Review Board, Department of Labor. Includes Part 802; Rules of Practice and Procedure: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_11/20cfr802_11.html

ECAB Decisions by month and year: http://www.dol.gov/ecab/decisions/main.htm

Use this site if you know the ECAB appeal number and date of the decision.

ECAB Decisions search by topic: http://www.dol.gov/appeals/search/search.htm

Use this site to search ECAB decisions by topic. Type in your search terms on the left and check the box for Federal Employee’s Compensation Act on the right. You can also use this site to check for decisions involving specific names such as physicians and/or nurses.

FECA Manual part 2: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/DFECFolio/FECA-PT2.pdf

FECA Manual part 3: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/DFECFolio/FECA-PT3.pdf

FECA Manual part 5: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/DFECFolio/FECA-PT5.pdf
A must read for any claimant. These are the ‘rules’ OWCP must abide by. These Manuals are some of the best knowledge a claimant can have. Parts one and two are the basic FECA Manuals, part 5 covers Benefit payments including schedule awards, health benefits, etc..

FEDERAL REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/rehab.cfm FORMS:
http://owcp.dol.acs-inc.com/portal/formsAndLinks.do ICD-9 CODES:
http://www.icd9data.com/2011/Volume1/default.htm Medical Dictionary:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

Merck Manuals: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/index.html

These are medical manuals. Every district Office of OWCP is required to have the Merck Manuals in their library for reference. Go to this site and look up your medical condition(s), you may find useful information. You can print out what you need and use it with OWCP. Your physician can also refer to the Merck Manuals or quote them in a narrative report making it harder for OWCP to say no.

Occupational Information: http://www.occupationalinfo.org/onet/ This is part of the O*NET site. This site allows you to search employment projections by occupation and also contains an alphabetical index. O*NET (formally DOT): http://online.onetcenter.org/ Anyone in Vocational Rehabilitation should be aware of O*NET. Once your rehab counselor identifies a job for you, they must attach a O*NET (or DOT) number to the job. This is the site OWCP uses for job descriptions and physical requirements. Use this site to see what the requirements are and if they match your restrictions. Useful on appeal as well.

Research; Physicians: SEAK National Directory of IME’s: http://www.imenet.com/

American Board of IME’s: http://www.abime.org/node/19

Juris Pro Expert Witness Directory: http://www.jurispro.com/category/independent-medical-examinations-i-m-e–s-465/

Verdict Search: http://www.verdictsearch.com/

ALM Experts: http://www.almexperts.com/category/Medical-&-Health/MedExpert/1125838

IME Directory: http://www.independentmedicalexaminer.com/search.asp

IME Directory Resource: http://www.independentmedicalexaminers.com/imedirectory/

Second Opinion Services (MRI, X-Ray, CT scan, Ultra Sound):http://www.radiia.com/about-us.php

United States Code, (U.S.C.): http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/

USPS Track and Confirm:http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

Vocational Rehabilitation Procedure Manual: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/procedure-manual/rehab.pdf

A must read for anyone in Vocational Rehab, OWCP’s ‘rules’ on the subject.