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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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(3) Suitability Issues. If the claim for recurrence <strong>of</strong> disability for work is based on<br />

modification <strong>of</strong> the claimant's duties, or on the physical requirements <strong>of</strong> the job, the<br />

claimant should be asked to describe such changes, and the employing agency should be<br />

asked to comment.<br />

(4) Withdrawal <strong>of</strong> Light Duty With No Previous LWEC. If the employing agency has<br />

withdrawn a light duty assignment made specifically to accommodate the claimant's<br />

condition due to the work-related injury (i.e., a RIF or closure <strong>of</strong> the facility is not involved),<br />

and the withdrawal did not occur for cause, the CE need only establish continuing<br />

injury-related disability for regular duty to accept the recurrence and begin payment <strong>of</strong><br />

benefits.<br />

To do so, the CE will need to ensure that the file contains an accurate description <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nature and extent <strong>of</strong> injury-related disability. If it does not, the CE will need to obtain this<br />

information from the attending physician and/or second opinion specialist. After accepting<br />

the recurrence, the CE should refer the case for vocational rehabilitation services.<br />

(5) Withdrawal <strong>of</strong> Light Duty With Existing LWEC Determination. When the employing<br />

agency has withdrawn a light duty assignment, which accommodated the claimant’s work<br />

restrictions and a formal loss <strong>of</strong> wage-earning capacity (LWEC) decision has been issued,<br />

the LWEC decision will remain in place. Any claim for a recurrence <strong>of</strong> disability should be<br />

treated as a request for a modification <strong>of</strong> a LWEC, and not as a recurrence <strong>of</strong> disability. See,<br />

PM Chapter 2-814-11.<br />

There is no basis for disturbing the formal LWEC unless one <strong>of</strong> the three accepted reasons<br />

for modifying an LWEC applies. These are: (1) the original rating was in error; (2) the<br />

claimant’s medical condition has changed; or (3) the claimant has been vocationally<br />

rehabilitated, either through vocational training or self-rehabilitation, and the wage-earning<br />

capacity has increased as a result. The above guideline applies even when a “0%” LWEC is<br />

in place.<br />

See Debbie A. Titus, Docket No. 05-360 (issued June 3, 2005). ECAB held that the claimant<br />

had failed to establish a modification <strong>of</strong> her<br />

LWEC. ECAB stated that the fact that the claimant’s temporary limited duty appointment<br />

had expired was no basis for modifying the wage-earning capacity determination. ECAB<br />

stated: “Compensation for loss <strong>of</strong> wage-earning capacity is based upon loss <strong>of</strong> the capacity<br />

to earn and not on actual wages lost. So it makes no difference whether the temporary<br />

appointment expired or the employing establishment simply withdrew limited duty:<br />

Appellant continued to have a capacity to earn wages, as the Office determined in its<br />

November 24, 1999 decision. Absent a showing that the November 24, 1999 wage-earning<br />

capacity determination should be modified, appellant has no disability under the Act and is<br />

not entitled to compensation for ‘wage loss’ after June 27, 2003.”<br />

See also James D. Nardo, Docket No. 04-2209 (issued May 5, 2005), footnote 17: “This<br />

position was found to reflect a no loss in wage-earning capacity. [ECAB] notes that the<br />

above-described criteria for modifying formal loss <strong>of</strong> wage-earning capacity decisions<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 648

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