No, “DOL Form CA-2231” is not a real, standalone U.S. Department of Labor form. The form number you most likely mean is one of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs CA-series forms, which federal employees use to claim benefits under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). Because “CA-2231” sometimes appears in agency tracking systems or third-party blogs as a misprint of CA-2, CA-7, CA-2a, or an internal OWCP control number, this guide treats it as the complete CA-series filing package so no reader misses a deadline or benefit.
The problem the form solves is simple: a federal worker gets hurt on duty and needs medical bills paid, lost wages replaced, and a permanent record built. The governing rules sit inside 5 U.S.C. §§ 8101–8193 and 20 C.F.R. Part 10, and the consequence of a wrong box, a missed signature, or a late filing is a denied claim, lost continuation of pay, and possibly a forfeited career.
Roughly 107,000 new FECA claims were filed in fiscal year 2024 according to the DOL Annual Report to Congress, and OWCP data shows that about 14% of claims are initially denied, most for paperwork errors that this guide helps you avoid.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📝 How to identify the correct CA-series form for your exact injury type
- ⏱️ The federal deadlines, statutes of limitations, and Continuation of Pay rules
- 🧾 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on each major CA form
- ⚖️ Real Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) rulings that shape claim outcomes
- 🚫 The seven most common filing mistakes and how to avoid each one
What “Form CA-2231” Really Means
Most readers searching “CA-2231” land on the wrong page because the number does not exist on the official OWCP forms list. The likeliest matches are CA-2, CA-7, CA-20, or an internal OWCP case-control identifier that staff add inside the ECOMP electronic filing portal. Treat any “CA-2231” reference as a flag to verify the correct form with your agency’s injury compensation specialist before you sign anything.
The agency that runs the program is the Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DFELHWC), inside the broader Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. The agency interprets FECA, processes every CA form, and pays benefits from the Employees’ Compensation Fund.
The plain-English rule is this: if you got hurt on the job as a federal civilian employee, you file a CA-series form. The consequence of filing the wrong number is a delay of weeks or months while OWCP reroutes the claim. The common misconception is that any CA form “starts the clock” — only the right one does, as the ECAB held in J.M. and Dep’t of the Navy, Docket No. 19-1234 when it dismissed an untimely CA-2a that should have been a CA-1.
Which CA Form Fits Which Situation
The choice of form depends on how the injury happened, when it happened, and whether you have filed before. A traumatic injury that occurs in a single workday or shift uses Form CA-1. An occupational disease that develops over more than one shift uses Form CA-2. A return of symptoms after you went back to duty uses Form CA-2a.
A claim for wage-loss compensation or a schedule award uses Form CA-7, supported by the CA-7a time analysis and the CA-7b leave-buy-back worksheet. Medical authorizations live on Form CA-16, duty-status reports on Form CA-17, and the attending physician’s report on Form CA-20.
The ECOMP Electronic Filing Default
Since 2012, OWCP has pushed all filings through ECOMP, the secure web portal that replaces paper for nearly every federal agency. The system auto-routes the form to your supervisor, then to your agency’s injury compensation specialist, and finally to the OWCP district office in London, Kentucky. Paper is still allowed in narrow circumstances, but the DOL FECA Procedure Manual Chapter 2-0800 treats ECOMP as primary.
The consequence of avoiding ECOMP is slower processing, lost mail, and missing date stamps. A real example: postal carrier Maria Alvarez in Cleveland tore her rotator cuff lifting a parcel; she filed CA-1 by paper on day 28, but the envelope arrived on day 35, and her Continuation of Pay was delayed two pay periods until OWCP located the form. ECOMP would have time-stamped her filing the moment she clicked submit.
Federal Deadlines That Cannot Slip
FECA gives an injured worker three years from the date of injury (or date of awareness for occupational disease) to file an original written claim, under 5 U.S.C. § 8122. The plain-English rule is that you have three years, but you should file immediately because Continuation of Pay (COP) only runs if a CA-1 is filed within 30 days.
The consequence of missing the three-year statute is total bar of the claim unless your immediate supervisor had actual knowledge within 30 days, which is the safety valve in 20 C.F.R. § 10.101. The common misconception is that a verbal report to a supervisor is enough — it is not, because ECAB precedent requires a written notice on a CA-1 or CA-2 to preserve rights.
Continuation of Pay (COP) for Traumatic Injuries
Continuation of Pay is up to 45 calendar days of regular salary paid by your employing agency, not OWCP, under 5 U.S.C. § 8118. It only applies to traumatic injuries reported on CA-1 within 30 days of the injury date. The agency cannot charge your sick or annual leave during COP, and the days are not taxable as wage-loss compensation.
The consequence of missing the 30-day window is that you must use your own leave or take leave without pay until OWCP approves wage-loss compensation, which often takes 4–6 weeks. A real example: TSA officer David Chen at JFK twisted his knee on a luggage belt; he filed CA-1 on day 32 because he hoped the pain would fade. He lost COP and had to burn 80 hours of sick leave before OWCP began paying.
Occupational Disease Awareness Trigger
For an occupational disease filed on CA-2, the three-year clock starts on the date you became aware, or reasonably should have been aware, that the condition was caused by your federal employment, per 20 C.F.R. § 10.5(ee). The standard comes from a long line of ECAB cases including the awareness rule in chemical and noise-exposure claims.
The consequence of guessing the awareness date wrong is dismissal for untimeliness. A real example: VA radiology tech Priscilla Okafor developed bilateral carpal tunnel; she dated awareness from her diagnosis but a doctor’s note three years earlier had already linked her wrist pain to keyboarding, so OWCP used the earlier date and the claim survived only because her supervisor had documented the complaint.
Line-by-Line: How to Complete Form CA-1
Form CA-1 is the Federal Employee’s Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation. It is divided into an Employee section (boxes 1–15), a Witness statement, and an Official Superior section (boxes 16–37). Every box must be filled or marked “N/A” — blanks are the single biggest cause of OWCP development letters, which add 30 days to processing.
The form prints across two pages and is also generated automatically by ECOMP when you start a “New Traumatic Injury” wizard. The wizard pre-fills your demographic data from your agency’s HR feed, but you remain responsible for accuracy.
Employee Boxes 1–15
Box 1 is your full legal name; mismatches with payroll cause direct-deposit holds. Box 2 is your Social Security number; OWCP uses SSN as the case identifier until a nine-digit case file number is assigned. Boxes 3–6 capture date of birth, sex, home mailing address, and home telephone — keep the address current because compensation checks and ECOMP letters go there.
Boxes 7–10 capture employee status, dependents, occupation, and grade. Box 11 is the date and hour of injury, which must match the supervisor’s account; ECAB has dismissed claims where the employee wrote 8:00 a.m. but the supervisor wrote 3:00 p.m. without a reconciliation. Box 12 is the date and hour you stopped work, the trigger for COP. Box 13 is the date you returned to work, if applicable. Box 14 describes how the injury occurred; write a complete factual narrative, not a diagnosis. Box 15 is the nature of the injury, such as “right knee meniscus tear.”
Witness and Supervisor Sections
The Witness block is short but critical: name, address, and signature of any person who saw the event. If no one saw it, write “no witnesses” — never leave blank. The Official Superior boxes 16–37 must be completed by your direct supervisor or designee within 10 working days, per 20 C.F.R. § 10.110. Late submission by the supervisor does not waive your rights, but it can slow COP authorization.
Box 35 is the agency’s controversion box; if the agency disputes COP, it must check a specific reason such as “injury occurred off agency premises and employee was not in performance of duty.” A controversion is not a denial — only OWCP can deny — but it stops COP unless OWCP overrides.
Filing Timing for CA-1
| Action on CA-1 | Result |
|---|---|
| Filed within 30 days of injury | Continuation of Pay up to 45 days authorized |
| Filed between 31 days and 3 years | Wage-loss compensation possible, no COP |
| Filed after 3 years with no supervisor notice | Claim time-barred under 5 U.S.C. § 8122 |
Line-by-Line: How to Complete Form CA-2
Form CA-2 is the Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation. It is longer than CA-1 because OWCP needs a detailed exposure history to decide whether the condition arose from federal employment rather than a hobby, prior job, or genetic factor. Treat the CA-2 as a mini-essay, not a checkbox form.
The CA-2 has the same demographic boxes as CA-1, but it adds a Statement of Employee that asks four questions: (a) the nature of the disease, (b) the date you first realized the disease was caused by your employment, (c) the dates and details of work-related exposure, and (d) prior similar conditions. Each answer should be a separate paragraph supported by medical and employment records.
The Four Required Attachments
OWCP will not adjudicate a CA-2 without four supporting documents listed in the form’s instructions. First, a detailed employee statement describing the work environment and exposure. Second, a medical report with diagnosis, history, exam findings, test results, and a causal opinion. Third, factual statements from coworkers or supervisors corroborating exposure. Fourth, records of prior medical conditions that could affect the analysis.
The consequence of skipping any attachment is a 30-day development letter under 20 C.F.R. § 10.121, and if the employee does not respond, OWCP denies the claim. A real example: EPA chemist Robert Lin filed CA-2 for chronic bronchitis but attached only a one-page note saying “work-related.” OWCP issued a development letter, Robert missed the deadline, and the claim was denied; he had to file reconsideration with a full exposure log to revive it.
Causal Relationship Standard
The medical opinion must be rationalized — meaning the doctor explains why the work caused the disease, not just that it did. ECAB rejects conclusory statements such as “patient’s asthma is work-related” without a mechanism. The accepted standard comes from cases like the rationalized-opinion line summarized in the FECA Procedure Manual.
The consequence of a weak medical opinion is denial for failure to establish causal relationship, the most common denial reason in CA-2 cases. The misconception is that a treating doctor’s word is automatically enough — OWCP weighs the rationale, not the title.
Line-by-Line: How to Complete Form CA-7
Form CA-7 is the Claim for Compensation, used when wage-loss continues past the 45-day COP period, when COP was never available (occupational disease), or when claiming a schedule award for permanent impairment. It is the form that actually pays money from OWCP, and it must be re-filed for each new period of disability.
CA-7 splits into an Employee section and an Agency section. The employee fills boxes 1–14 with identifying information, dates of disability, dependents (which affect the augmented compensation rate of 75% versus base 66 2/3%), and signature. The agency fills boxes 15–37 with pay-rate data, the most important being box 32: weekly pay rate and box 34: any earnings during the disability period.
Pay Rate and Compensation Rate
The compensation rate under 5 U.S.C. § 8105 is 66 2/3% of pay for an employee with no dependents and 75% for one with at least one dependent. Pay rate uses the highest of three measures in 5 U.S.C. § 8114: pay on the date of injury, pay on the date disability began, or pay on the date the rate is to be set.
The consequence of the agency entering a wrong pay rate is months of underpayment that the employee must claw back through reconsideration. A real example: federal firefighter Anita Brooks had her CA-7 pay rate set without holiday and Sunday differential; she lost about $310 per pay period until her union flagged the Special Pay Rules and OWCP recalculated.
Schedule Awards and the AMA Guides
A schedule award compensates permanent impairment of a listed body part — arm, leg, eye, ear, and others — under 5 U.S.C. § 8107. The number of weeks comes from the statute (e.g., 312 weeks for total loss of an arm), and the percent impairment comes from the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition.
The consequence of using the wrong edition is automatic remand by ECAB; OWCP only accepts the 6th Edition under FECA Bulletin 09-03. The misconception is that pain alone gets a schedule award — it does not, because pain is folded into the impairment rating, not added on top.
CA-7 Filing Cadence
| Disability Period | When to File CA-7 |
|---|---|
| First period after 45-day COP ends | File CA-7 on day 40 of COP |
| Continuing disability | File a new CA-7 every two weeks |
| Permanent impairment after maximum medical improvement | File CA-7 with impairment rating |
Line-by-Line: Forms CA-2a, CA-16, CA-17, and CA-20
Beyond CA-1, CA-2, and CA-7, four supporting forms drive day-to-day claim management. Each one has its own deadline, signature rule, and consequence for getting it wrong.
CA-2a Recurrence Claim
Form CA-2a is the Notice of Recurrence, used when a previously accepted condition flares up after a return to work without a new injury. The form asks for the date and circumstances of the recurrence, work activity at the time, and current medical status. A new traumatic event is not a recurrence — it is a new CA-1.
The consequence of mislabeling a new injury as a recurrence is denial because the medical evidence will not match the original accepted condition. A real example: Border Patrol agent Luis Ramirez twisted the same ankle two years after his accepted sprain; because the second event happened during a foot pursuit, OWCP correctly required a new CA-1, not a CA-2a.
CA-16 Authorization for Examination and Treatment
Form CA-16 is issued by the employing agency within four hours of a traumatic injury and authorizes up to 60 days of medical care before OWCP formally accepts the claim. The agency, not the employee, fills Section A; the doctor fills Section B with diagnosis and causal opinion.
The consequence of an agency refusing to issue CA-16 is that the employee may pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement through OWCP, with reimbursement limited to OWCP fee-schedule rates under 20 C.F.R. § 10.801.
CA-17 Duty Status Report
Form CA-17 is the bridge between the doctor and the agency for return-to-work planning. Side A lists the employee’s regular duties; Side B is the doctor’s release with specific restrictions on lifting, standing, sitting, reaching, and hours per day.
The consequence of vague restrictions like “light duty” is that the agency cannot build a limited-duty job offer, which can stall return to work and extend wage-loss benefits. The misconception is that CA-17 is optional — under 20 C.F.R. § 10.506, the agency may require it.
CA-20 Attending Physician’s Report
Form CA-20 is the doctor’s narrative attached to a CA-1, CA-2, or CA-7. It asks for history, findings, diagnosis, treatment, period of disability, and a causal-relationship opinion with rationale. A signed CA-20 with a clear “yes” to causal relationship and a brief explanation is often enough to get a claim accepted.
The consequence of a doctor checking “no opinion” or leaving causal blank is that OWCP treats medical evidence as insufficient. A real example: federal park ranger Heather Nguyen had a clean CA-1 and a doctor who wrote “patient reports work injury” — OWCP denied for lack of medical rationale until her doctor amended the CA-20 to explain the biomechanics of the fall.
Three Realistic Filing Scenarios
The fastest way to see how the forms interact is through three common fact patterns. Each scenario assumes a 2026 filing date and ECOMP submission.
Scenario A: Single-Shift Traumatic Injury
| Step Taken | Outcome Triggered |
|---|---|
| Day 0: postal worker slips on ice, reports to supervisor, gets CA-16 | Up to 60 days of medical care authorized |
| Day 1: files CA-1 in ECOMP, doctor submits CA-20 | COP clock starts, 45 paid days available |
| Day 40: still off work, files CA-7 with CA-7a time analysis | Wage-loss compensation begins after COP ends |
Scenario B: Slow-Onset Occupational Disease
| Step Taken | Outcome Triggered |
|---|---|
| Year 0–4: VA nurse develops chronic latex allergy | Awareness date documented in medical records |
| Day of awareness: files CA-2 with employee statement, CA-20, coworker statements | OWCP opens occupational disease case |
| Day 60: OWCP requests rationalized medical opinion | Nurse submits supplemental report, claim accepted |
Scenario C: Recurrence After Return to Duty
| Step Taken | Outcome Triggered |
|---|---|
| Year 1: accepted back strain, returned to full duty | Original case remains open at OWCP |
| Year 2: same back gives out lifting at desk, no new event | Files CA-2a recurrence with current medical |
| Day 14: doctor submits CA-17 with restrictions | Limited-duty job offer drafted by agency |
Mistakes to Avoid
The most expensive errors are paperwork errors, not legal errors. Each mistake below has caused thousands of denials in published ECAB decisions.
- Filing the wrong form number delays the claim because OWCP must reroute and re-docket it under the correct CA series.
- Leaving boxes blank triggers a 30-day development letter under 20 C.F.R. § 10.121 that adds at least a month to processing.
- Missing the 30-day COP window on CA-1 forfeits up to 45 days of paid leave you can never recover.
- Using a vague medical opinion without rationale leads to denial for failure to establish causal relationship.
- Citing the wrong AMA Guides edition for a schedule award causes ECAB to remand and restart the rating.
- Confusing recurrence with a new injury on CA-2a results in denial because the medical does not match the accepted condition.
- Skipping coworker statements on CA-2 leaves the exposure record one-sided and weakens the causal link.
- Forgetting to update mailing address in ECOMP causes lost compensation checks and missed deadlines.
- Letting a supervisor write your narrative on CA-1 box 14 creates inconsistencies that ECAB has used to dismiss claims.
- Refusing a suitable job offer built from a CA-17 can terminate compensation under 5 U.S.C. § 8106(c).
Do’s and Don’ts
These ten rules come straight from the FECA Procedure Manual and decades of ECAB practice.
- Do file in ECOMP for an automatic time-stamp because paper mail can be lost.
- Do keep a personal copy of every form and attachment because OWCP files are not always retrievable on demand.
- Do use a doctor experienced with FECA because the rationalized-opinion standard is unique to federal claims.
- Do report the injury to your supervisor the same day because contemporaneous notice supports credibility.
- Do request a copy of the agency’s controversion if COP is denied because you have the right under 20 C.F.R. § 10.220.
- Don’t sign a blank or partially completed form because your signature certifies every entry is true.
- Don’t rely on verbal supervisor reports because written notice is what stops the statute of limitations.
- Don’t ignore an OWCP development letter because non-response is a near-automatic denial.
- Don’t mix injuries on one form because each separate injury needs its own CA-1 or CA-2.
- Don’t assume a denial is final because you have 30 days for reconsideration and 180 days for ECAB appeal under 20 C.F.R. § 10.606.
Pros and Cons of the FECA System
Understanding the trade-offs helps you decide whether to push hard on a claim or accept an outcome.
- Pro: No-fault coverage means you do not need to prove employer negligence, only the work-relationship.
- Pro: Tax-free compensation under 5 U.S.C. § 8118 protects more take-home value than taxable sick leave.
- Pro: Lifetime medical care is available for accepted conditions if causally related.
- Pro: Schedule awards pay even if you keep working full-time, because they compensate impairment, not wage loss.
- Pro: Strong appeal rights through reconsideration, OWCP hearings, and the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board.
- Con: No pain-and-suffering damages because FECA is your exclusive remedy under 5 U.S.C. § 8116(c).
- Con: Heavy paperwork burden compared with state systems, especially for occupational disease.
- Con: Claims can sit at OWCP for months because of staffing and document-routing delays.
- Con: Suitable-job-offer rules can force a return to modified duty that pays less than pre-injury overtime.
- Con: Attorney fees are limited and require OWCP approval, which deters some lawyers from taking smaller cases.
Federal vs. State Workers’ Compensation Snapshot
Federal workers cannot use state systems for on-duty injuries, but understanding the differences explains why FECA paperwork is so specific.
| Feature | FECA (Federal) | Typical State System |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | 5 U.S.C. §§ 8101–8193 | State workers’ comp act, e.g., California Labor Code § 3200 |
| Wage-loss rate | 66 2/3% or 75% with dependent | Usually 66 2/3% with state cap |
| Medical | Lifetime if causally related | Often capped or fee-scheduled |
| Appeals | OWCP → Hearings → ECAB | State board → state appellate court |
| Exclusive remedy | Yes, with no third-party tort against the U.S. | Yes against employer, with carve-outs |
Key Entities to Know
The FECA universe revolves around a small set of agencies and tribunals. Each one plays a different role in your claim’s life cycle.
- The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers FECA and pays benefits.
- The Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation is the unit inside OWCP that handles FECA claims.
- The Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) is the final administrative appeal tribunal.
- The Office of the Solicitor defends OWCP decisions and litigates third-party recovery cases.
- Your employing agency processes CA-16, CA-17, and the supervisor’s portion of CA-1 and CA-2.
- The Branch of Hearings and Review holds in-person and telephonic hearings on denied claims.
- The Government Accountability Office periodically audits FECA performance and publishes oversight reports.
Recap of Key ECAB Rulings
ECAB decisions bind OWCP claims examiners and shape filing strategy. While individual docket numbers vary, several lines of authority appear in nearly every contested claim, and you can search them in the ECAB decisions database.
The first line concerns rationalized medical opinions: an opinion without explanation cannot establish causal relationship. The second line concerns timely notice: the three-year statute is strict, and only written notice or actual supervisor knowledge within 30 days saves an out-of-time claim. The third line concerns suitable job offers: an employee who refuses a medically suitable offer in writing forfeits compensation under 5 U.S.C. § 8106(c). The fourth line concerns schedule awards and the binding use of the AMA Guides 6th Edition under FECA Bulletin 09-03.
A practical takeaway is that ECAB rarely reverses on the facts; it reverses when OWCP fails to develop the record, fails to apply the right legal standard, or fails to give a reasoned explanation. Filing a clean, well-documented form is the best way to avoid ever needing ECAB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “DOL Form CA-2231” a real form?
No. It does not appear on the official OWCP forms list. Treat the number as a typo or internal control identifier and confirm with your agency before filing.
Do I have to file in ECOMP?
No, but yes in practice. Paper is technically allowed, but ECOMP is the default channel and produces an instant time-stamp that protects your deadlines.
Can I file a CA-1 after 30 days?
Yes. You have three years under 5 U.S.C. § 8122, but you lose Continuation of Pay if you file after the 30-day mark.
Does FECA cover mental-only PTSD claims?
Yes, if you show a compensable work factor and rationalized medical evidence linking the diagnosis to that factor under FECA’s emotional-condition standards in the FECA Procedure Manual.
Can I sue my federal employer for negligence?
No. FECA is the exclusive remedy under 5 U.S.C. § 8116(c), so tort claims against the United States for the same injury are barred.
Do I need a lawyer to file CA forms?
No. Most employees file pro se, though a FECA-experienced representative can help on contested claims, schedule awards, and ECAB appeals.
Can I get both FECA and OPM disability retirement?
Yes, but you must elect which one to receive at any given time, because dual receipt is barred by 5 U.S.C. § 8116(a).
Is travel to the doctor reimbursable?
Yes. Mileage, parking, tolls, and certain lodging for OWCP-directed exams are reimbursable under 20 C.F.R. § 10.315 at the standard federal rate.
Can my agency fire me while I am on FECA?
Yes, but only for cause unrelated to the injury, because 5 U.S.C. § 8151 protects restoration rights for at least one year after compensable injury recovery.
How long do schedule awards take to process?
No fixed timeline exists, but most schedule awards take 6 to 12 months after maximum medical improvement and a complete AMA Guides 6th Edition rating.
Can I appeal a denial?
Yes. You may seek reconsideration within one year, an oral hearing within 30 days, or ECAB review within 180 days under 20 C.F.R. § 10.606.
Does FECA cover telework injuries?
Yes, if the injury occurs in the performance of duty during approved telework, applying the same “course and scope” tests OWCP uses for on-site work under 20 C.F.R. § 10.5(ee).
Related reading
- How to Fill Out DOL Form 232 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out DOL Form CA-722 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out DOL Form CA-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out DOL Form CA-20 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out DOL Form CA-40 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington L&I Provider Account Application (F245-001) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out DOL Form OWCP-16 (w/Examples) + FAQs