Opinion ID: 806577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Our standard of review in an appeal from the Board is limited by statute. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c); see Carr v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 185 F.3d 1318, 1321 (Fed. Cir. 1999); O’Neill v. Office of Pers. Mgmt., 76 F.3d 363, 364-65 (Fed. Cir. 1996). We may reverse a decision of the Board only if it is “(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; (2) obtained without procedures required by law, rule, or regulation having been followed; or (3) unsupported by substantial evidence.” 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c) (2006). Whether the Board has jurisdiction over an appeal is a question of law, which we review de novo. Herman v. Dep’t of Justice, 193 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 1999). This court is bound by the AJ’s factual findings on which a jurisdictional determination is based unless those findings are not supported by substantial evidence. Bolton v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 154 F.3d 1313, 1316 (Fed. Cir. 1998). The AJ’s evaluation of witness credibility is within the discretion of the AJ and such evaluations are “virtually unreviewable” on appeal. King v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 133 F.3d 1450, 1453 (Fed. Cir. 1998).