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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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d. Unacceptable Reasons for Abandonment. Reasons which the CE should not accept include<br />

(but are not limited to) personal dislike <strong>of</strong> the position or the work hours, lack <strong>of</strong> potential for<br />

promotion, lack <strong>of</strong> job security, and retirement.<br />

e. Further Action. If it is not possible to determine whether a claimant's reason for<br />

abandonment is justified without further investigation <strong>of</strong> the issues, the CE should contact the<br />

claimant for clarifying information and set another 30-day deadline. The CE should also contact<br />

the employing agency to verify that the job remains available and to ask that the job remain open<br />

during this period. If the agency is unable or unwilling to honor this request, the CE must<br />

discontinue any further consideration <strong>of</strong> applying the sanction provided by Section 8106.<br />

(1) If the abandonment <strong>of</strong> the job is not deemed justified, the CE must so advise the<br />

claimant (also notifying the employing agency), and allow him or her 15 additional days to<br />

return to work. If the claimant does not do so, the CE should prepare a formal decision<br />

which provides full findings as to why the reasons for the abandonment are deemed<br />

unacceptable and terminates compensation under Section 8106(c)(2) as <strong>of</strong> the end <strong>of</strong> the<br />

roll period. Such a decision should not be modified even if the claimant's medical condition<br />

later worsens and he or she claims a recurrence <strong>of</strong> total disability.<br />

(2) If the abandonment is deemed justified, the CE should so notify both the claimant<br />

and the employing agency. The claimant will receive compensation for temporary total<br />

disability (TTD) while the CE or Field Nurse contacts the agency concerning further attempts<br />

at placement. If the agency is unable to make any further job <strong>of</strong>fers, the CE should refer<br />

the case to the Rehabilitation Specialist (RS) for consideration <strong>of</strong> further vocational<br />

rehabilitation services.<br />

2-0814-11 Modifying Formal LWEC Decisions<br />

11. Modifying Formal LWEC Decisions.<br />

a. Customary Criteria. The Board established the following criteria for modifying a formal<br />

LWEC decision in Elmer Strong, 17 ECAB 226:<br />

(1) The original rating was in error;<br />

(2) The claimant's medical condition has materially changed;<br />

(3) The claimant has been vocationally rehabilitated.<br />

See Tamra McCauley, 51 ECAB 375, 377 (2000) (ECAB has held that once the wage-earning<br />

capacity <strong>of</strong> an injured employee is determined, a modification <strong>of</strong> such determination is not<br />

warranted unless there is a material change in the nature and extent <strong>of</strong> the injury-related<br />

condition, the employee has been retrained or otherwise vocationally rehabilitated or the original<br />

determination was, in fact, erroneous).<br />

b. Burden <strong>of</strong> Pro<strong>of</strong>. The party seeking modification <strong>of</strong> the LWEC decision has the burden to<br />

prove that one <strong>of</strong> these criteria has been met. Cases with an LWEC decision should not be treated<br />

as a claim for recurrence <strong>of</strong> disability; they should be evaluated for modification <strong>of</strong> the LWEC.<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 449

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