Case Name: Ann H. FLOWERS, Petitioner, v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-09-13
Citations: 197 F. App'x 937
Docket Number: No. 2006-3152
Parties: Ann H. FLOWERS, Petitioner, v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, Respondent.
Judges: Before NEWMAN, Circuit Judge, FRIEDMAN, Senior Circuit Judge, and RADER, Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 197
Pages: 937–939

Head Matter:
Ann H. FLOWERS, Petitioner, v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, Respondent.
No. 2006-3152.
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
Sept. 13, 2006.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 15, 2006.
Before NEWMAN, Circuit Judge, FRIEDMAN, Senior Circuit Judge, and RADER, Circuit Judge.

Opinion:
RADER, Circuit Judge.
The Merit Systems Protection Board (Board) dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the appeal of Ann H. Flowers against the United States Postal Service for denying her request for restoration following a compensable injury. Flowers v. U.S. Postal Serv., MSPB Docket No. Ch-0353-05-0114-1-1. Finding no reversible error, this court affirms.
I
On October 7, 1994, the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) accepted Ms. Flowers' claim that she suffered from major depression. The claim identified April 6, 1992 as the date of the injury. On September 28, 1995, her physician advised that she was able to return to work. On May 3, 1996 the Postal Service offered Ms. Flowers reinstatement subject to her commitment to enroll in an Employee Assistance Program and other conditions. Ms. Flowers rejected the offer and filed an equal employment opportunity (EEO) grievance protesting the conditions. The EEO grievance was rejected. Ms. Flowers, nonetheless, continued to receive compensation benefits.
On December 16, 2002, the OWCP discontinued benefits because Ms. Flowers had "failed to provide medical evidence/argument supporting continued work related residuals of her April 6, 1992 injury on or after December 16, 1996." On August 5, 2003 Ms. Flowers' doctor approved her return to work and in September 2003 Ms. Flowers requested reinstatement. After corresponding with the Postal Service regarding its failure to reinstate her, Ms. Flowers filed another grievance with the EEO on November 10, 2003. The agency denied this claim as well.
II
Whether the Board has jurisdiction to adjudicate a particular appeal is a question of law, which this court reviews de novo. Herman v. Dep't of Justice, 193 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed.Cir.1999); Middleton v. Dep't of Defense, 185 F.3d 1374, 1379 (Fed.Cir. 1999). Ms. Flowers has the burden of establishing jurisdiction before the Board by a preponderance of the evidence. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.56(a)(2) (2006); Clark v. United States Postal Serv., 989 F.2d 1164, 1167 (Fed.Cir.1993).
A separated employee's rights to reinstatement after a compensable injury depends on the recovery of the injured or disabled employee. An employee who fully recovers from a compensable injury within one year from the date of eligibility for compensation is entitled to immediate and unconditional restoration to the former position or an equivalent. 5 C.F.R. § 353.301(a)(2005). However, an employee who separated because of a compensable injury and whose full recovery takes longer than one year from the date eligibility for compensation receives priority consideration, agencywide, for restoration to the position he or she left or an equivalent provided he or she applies for reappointment within thirty days of the cessation of compensation. 5 C.F.R. § CFR 353.301(b)(2005)(emphasis added). An employee is fully recovered when compensation payments have been terminated on the basis that the employee is able to perform all the duties of the vacated position. 5 C.F.R. § 353.102(2).
Ms. Flowers argues § 353.301(a) applies because she indicated she was able to go back to work on September 28, 1995, within one year of the OWCP accepting her disability claim. As noted by the Board, however, § 353.301(a) only applies if the employee is fully recovered. That is, "when compensation payments have been terminated." § 353.102(2). Ms. Flowers continued to collect compensation benefits until December 16, 2002, some ten years after the April 6, 1992 compensable injury date. Therefore, § 301(a) cannot apply.
Regarding the possibility of reinstatement under § 353.301(b), the critical date to request reinstatement is January 15, 2003, thirty days after the discontinuation of OWCP benefits. Ms. Flowers, however, did not request reinstatement until September of 2003, some ten months after the critical date. Thus, she is not eligible reinstatement under § 353.301(b).
As a result, as the Board found, Ms. Flowers is not eligible for reinstatement under either § 353.301(a) or § 353.301(b). Therefore, this court affirms the Board's decision.