Court Opinion

ID: 9409699
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-19 07:00:24.502122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:52.786842
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     JIMMIE L. MILLER,                               DOCKET NUMBER
                    Appellant,                       AT-3330-15-0721-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS                          DATE: July 18, 2023
       AFFAIRS,
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Jimmie L. Miller, Memphis, Tennessee, pro se.

           Bradley Flippin, Esquire, Nashville, Tennessee, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                               Cathy A. Harris, Vice Chairman
                                Raymond A. Limon, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     denied his request for corrective action under the Veterans Employment
     Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA). Generally, we grant petitions such as this
     one only in the following circumstances: the initial decisio n contains erroneous

     1
        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add
     significantly to the body of MSPB case law. Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,
     but such orders have no precedential value; the Board and administrative judges are not
     required to follow or distinguish them in any future decisions. In contrast, a
     precedential decision issued as an Opinion and Order has been identified by the Board
     as significantly contributing to the Board’s case law. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.117(c).
                                                                                           2

     findings of material fact; the initial decision is based on an erroneous
     interpretation of statute or regulation or the erroneous application of the law to
     the facts of the case; the administrative judge’s rulings during either the cou rse of
     the appeal or the initial decision were not consistent with required procedures or
     involved an abuse of discretion, and the resulting error affected the outcome of
     the case; or new and material evidence or legal argument is available that, despite
     the petitioner’s due diligence, was not available when the record closed. Title 5
     of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 1201.115 ( 5 C.F.R. § 1201.115).
     After fully considering the filings in this appeal, we conclude that the petitioner
     has not established any basis under section 1201.115 for granting the petition for
     review. Therefore, we DENY the petition for review and AFFIRM the initial
     decision, which is now the Board’s final decision. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113(b).

                                       BACKGROUND
¶2         The appellant is a preference-eligible veteran who, since October 7, 2012,
     has held a GS-0640-03 Health Aid position with the agency’s Veterans Affairs
     (VA) Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 5
     at 6-7, Tab 6, Subtab 2h. 2 The appellant applied for the GS-0621-05 Certified
     Nursing Assistant (CNA) position under Job Announcement Number RZ-14-JF-
     1208427-BU, which the agency held open from September 18 through October 1,
     2014. IAF, Tab 6, Subtabs 2u, 2x. The CNA position was advertised under the
     full performance level as a GS-05, which required either (1) “[o]ne year of
     progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS -4
     level” and demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) or (2) possession
     of a bachelor’s degree and demonstrated KSAs.            Id., Subtab 2u at 4.       The
     2
       The position description for the GS-0640-03 Health Aid position alternatively refers
     to the position as “Escort” and states that an incumbent’s “duties and responsibilities
     are as an escort of patients from one point to another within the facility.” IAF, Tab 18
     at 2-6. Here, the titles “Health Aid” and “Escort” have been used interchangeably by
     the parties and in the record. For the purpose of consistency, we have used the position
     title of “Health Aid” in this decision.
                                                                                          3

     VA Handbook 5005/71 states that, for experience to be creditable for the grade
     requirements of the CNA position, “the experience must have required the use of
     [KSAs] associated with the current practice” and “CNA experience must be
     documented on the application or [résumé] and verified in an employment
     reference, or through other independent means.”          Id., Subtab 2v at 2.      The
     VA Handbook further states that “[p]art-time experience as a CNA is creditable
     according to its relationship to the full-time workweek.” Id. The demonstrated
     KSAs for the GS-05 level of the CNA position include the ability “to assist in the
     full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral
     problems,”    “to    communicate      orally     with   patients/residents,   families,
     interdisciplinary team and other personnel,” and “to recognize and react to
     emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for
     assistance.” Id., Subtab 2u at 4, Subtab 2v at 4.
¶3         Although the appellant did not indicate on his résumé that he possessed a
     bachelor’s degree,     he described having relevant CNA experience from
     September 2012 to December 2013 as a full-time Escort/Health Aid/Sitter/CNA. 3
     Id., Subtab 2w.      He also represented that he possessed relevant training
     certifications and skills, including a CNA certification by a state, and he
     addressed the required KSAs.       Id. at 3-4.    On October 11, 2014, the agency
     determined that the appellant was entitled to a 10-point veterans’ preference due
     to his compensable disability rating of 30% or more. Id., Subtab 2x.
¶4         After learning of his nonselection for the CNA position on May 14, 2015,
     the appellant filed a veterans’ preference complaint with the Department of Labor
     (DOL). Id., Subtab 2f. He claimed before DOL that he was well-qualified for the
     CNA position and that the agency had interviewed him. Id., Subtabs 2d, 2f. In

     3
       Although the appellant’s work experience is not clearly organized in his résumé, we
     have read it in the light most favorable to him. For example, he also indicated that he
     worked as a full-time Housekeeper-Aid from September 6, 2013, to a date uncertain.
     IAF, Tab 6, Subtab 2w at 2.
                                                                                         4

     the agency’s correspondence with DOL regarding the appellant’s complaint, the
     agency explained that it initially found him qualified for the CNA position,
     included him on the certificate of eligibles, and referred him to the selecting
     official for review of his application and a possible interview . Id., Subtab 2c.
     The agency further explained that it later determined that he was not qualified for
     the CNA position at the GS-05 level because he did not possess the required “one
     year of experience caring for patients, communicating with patients, residents and
     family members[,] and reacting to emergent patient care situations.”              Id.,
     Subtab 2e.    The agency described how it verified that the appellant held the
     positions of Health Aid, Laundry Worker, and Housekeeping Aid, but could not
     find any personnel records to confirm that he held a CNA position, as he claimed
     in his application. 4   Id.   Finally, the agency contended that it removed the
     appellant from the certificate of eligibles to correct its mistake in finding him
     qualified. Id., Subtab 2c. The DOL ultimately determined that the evidence did
     not support the appellant’s allegation that the agency violated his veterans’
     preference rights. Id., Subtab 2a.
¶5         The appellant thereafter filed a Board appeal and requested a hearing. IAF,
     Tab 1 at 1-8.    Specifically, he claimed that the agency violated his veterans’
     preference rights under 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) by failing to consider his material
     experience as a GS-03 Health Aid when it evaluated his application. IAF, Tab 1
     at 8, Tab 13. The appellant testified during the hearing that the duties of his
     GS-03 Health Aid position are the same as or similar to those of the CNA
     position.     IAF, Tab 17, Hearing Compact Disc (HCD) (testimony of the
     appellant).   To support his argument, the appellant submitted documentation
     concerning the redescription of the GS-0640-03 Health Aid position description

     4
       The record reflects that, from August 1994 to October 2012, the appellant held the
     part-time positions of Laundry Worker, Housekeeping Aid, and GS -01 Health Aid.
     IAF, Tab 6, Subtabs 2h-2n. It further reflects that, effective October 7, 2012, he was
     reassigned to a full-time, GS-03 Health Aid position. Id., Subtab 2h.
                                                                                          5

     in early 2014 and a copy of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s
     decision in Kirkendall v. Department of the Army, 573 F.3d 1318 (Fed. Cir.
     2009). 5 IAF, Tab 18. The agency’s Human Resources Specialist testified that the
     agency deemed the appellant unqualified for the GS-05 CNA position because he
     lacked the required 1 year of experience caring for patients, communicating with
     patients, residents, and family members, and reacting to emergent patient care
     situations.   HCD (testimony of Human Resources Specialist).              She further
     testified that the appellant’s experience in the GS-03 Health Aid position was not
     equivalent to the GS-04 level of the CNA position. Id.
¶6         The administrative judge issued an initial decision denying the appellant’s
     request for corrective action under VEOA. IAF, Tab 19, Initial Decision (ID)
     at 2, 6. She found that the Board has jurisdiction over the VEOA appeal. ID at 1.
     However, she concluded that the appellant failed to prove that the agency violated
     his veterans’ preference rights under 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) or 5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d)
     by not considering or omitting any of his prior experience when it reviewed his
     application. ID at 6.
¶7         The appellant has filed a petition for review reiterating his argument that
     the agency failed to credit his experience as a GS-03 Health Aid, and he cites
     Kirkendall, 573 F.3d 1318.      Petition for Review (PFR) File, Tab 3 at 3.         He
     further alleges that some of the selectees for the CNA position are not veterans
     and requests the Board to obtain the names of the selectees and proof of their
     veteran status from the agency. Id. at 2-3. He submits the agency’s letter to DOL
     from below as proof that the agency has made mistakes in the selection process.

     5
       During the hearing, the appellant quoted from the remarks section regarding grade
     determination in the Position Evaluation Statement, which states, “Because there are no
     specific factor levels for [the GS 640 Health Aid and Technician Series], the duties of
     this position were compared with the [Office of Personnel Management Position
     Classification Standard] for Nursing Assistant Series (TS-55) dated August 1983. The
     duties outlined in the position were determined to be similar to the level of
     responsibilities outlined in the standard with factor level determinations above .” HCD
     (testimony of the appellant); IAF, Tab 18 at 7.
                                                                                          6

     Id. at 5. The agency has filed a response opposing the appellant’s petition for
     review. PFR File, Tab 5.

                     DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
     The Board has jurisdiction over the appellant’s VEOA appeal.
¶8         A nonselection generally is not an action directly appealab le to the Board,
     but it may be appealable under VEOA.          Phillips v. Department of the Navy,
     110 M.S.P.R. 184, ¶ 5 (2008), overruled on other grounds by Oram v.
     Department of the Navy, 2022 MSPB 30, ¶ 18.               To establish the Board’s
     jurisdiction over a VEOA appeal based on an alleged violation of veterans’
     preference rights, the appellant must show that he exhausted his remedy with
     DOL and make nonfrivolous allegations that he is a preference eligible within the
     meaning of VEOA, the action at issue took place on or after the October 30, 1998
     enactment of VEOA, and the agency violated his rights under a statute or
     regulation relating to veterans’ preference.          Lis v. U.S. Postal Service,
     113 M.S.P.R. 415, ¶ 8 (2010); see 5 U.S.C. § 3330a. Here, the parties do not
     dispute the administrative judge’s finding that the Board has jurisdiction over this
     VEOA appeal, and we find no reason to disturb it. 6 ID at 1.

     The appellant has failed to prove that the agency violated his ve terans’ preference
     rights under VEOA.
¶9         To prevail on the merits of a VEOA appeal involving a veterans’ preference
     claim, the appellant must prove the jurisdictional elements by preponderant
     evidence.   See Isabella v. Department of State, 106 M.S.P.R. 333, ¶¶ 21-22
     (2007) (analyzing the appellant’s burden of proving the merits of his VEOA
     6
       The CNA position for which the appellant applied is an excepted-service position in
     the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and is covered by Title 38 of the U.S. Code.
     IAF, Tab 6, Subtab 2u at 1-2, 5. The Board has held that the veterans’ preference
     requirements in Title 5 apply to appointments made for certain medical positions in the
     VHA that are described in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3). Graves v. Department of Veterans
     Affairs, 114 M.S.P.R. 209, ¶¶ 6-9 (2010). Because “nurse assistants” are listed in
     38 U.S.C. § 7401(3), we find that an appointment to the CNA position is subject to
     veterans’ preference requirements.
                                                                                          7

      appeal involving a veterans’ preference claim), aff’d on recons, 109 M.S.P.R. 453
      (2008). Here, it is undisputed that the appellant exhausted his remedy with DOL,
      he is a preference-eligible veteran, and the nonselection took place after
      October 30, 1998. IAF, Tab 5 at 6-7, Tab 6, Subtabs 2a, 2u. Therefore, the
      relevant inquiry is whether the appellant has shown that the agency’s action
      violated one or more of his statutory or regulatory veterans’ preference rights .
      See Isabella, 106 M.S.P.R. 333, ¶ 22. Although the appellant retains the ultimate
      burden of proof, the agency has the burden of producing evidence regarding the
      extent to which it considered the appellant’s application be cause it is the only
      party with access to such evidence. Phillips, 110 M.S.P.R. 184, ¶ 12 n.4.
¶10         As described above, the appellant argued that the agency violated his
      veterans’ preference rights by failing to credit all of his experience relevant to the
      CNA position, particularly his experience as a GS-03 Health Aid. IAF, Tab 1
      at 8, Tab 13; HCD (testimony of the appellant). Under 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2), when
      “experience is an element of qualification, a preference eligible is entitled to
      credit . . . for all experience material to the position.”          Under 5 C.F.R.
      § 302.302(d), “[w]hen experience is a factor in determining eligibility, an agency
      shall credit a preference eligible . . . with all valuable experience.”         Thus,
      5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) and 5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d) are a statute and a regulation,
      respectively, concerning veterans’ preference rights. Miller v. Federal Deposit
      Insurance Corporation, 121 M.S.P.R. 88, ¶ 7 (2014), aff’d, 818 F.3d 1361 (Fed.
      Cir. 2016).
¶11         Here, because the appellant did not satisfy the educational requirement for
      the GS-05 level of the CNA position, he had to show 1 year of “progressively
      responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level” and
      demonstrate the professional KSAs to be qualified for the position. IAF, Tab 6,
      Subtab 2u at 4. It appears that the agency did not make a determination that the
      appellant was not qualified until after he filed a complaint with DOL. The record
      is undeveloped on why exactly he was not selected from the certificate forwarded
                                                                                            8

      to the selecting official or how the agency accounted for his veterans’ preference,
      if at all, in referring his application to the selecting official. However, VEOA
      does not enable veterans to be considered for positions for which they are not
      qualified.   Ramsey v. Office of Personnel Management, 87 M.S.P.R. 98, ¶ 9
      (2000); see Lazaro v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 666 F.3d 1316, 1319 (Fed.
      Cir. 2012) (citing Ramsey for the same proposition). 7
¶12         For the following reasons, we agree with the administrative judge’s finding
      that the appellant did not meet his burden of proving that the agency failed to
      credit any of his relevant experience in violation of 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) or
      5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d). ID at 6. The agency explained in its letter to DOL that it
      verified that the appellant held the positions of Health Aid, Laundry Worker, and
      Housekeeping Aid but that it determined that he did not meet the experience
      requirement. IAF, Tab 6, Subtab 2e. In addition, the agency’s Human Resources
      Specialist testified that the appellant’s experience in the GS-03 Health Aid
      position was not equivalent to the GS-04 level of the CNA position.              HCD
      (testimony of Human Resources Specialist). Although the agency acknowledged
      that it initially found the appellant qualified for the CNA position, we find that
      the agency’s correspondence with DOL and the testimony of the Human
      Resources Specialist adequately explain why it ultimately determined that he was
      not qualified. IAF, Tab 6, Subtabs 2c, 2e; HCD (testimony of Human Resources
      Specialist); cf. Russell v. Department of Health              and Human Services,
      120 M.S.P.R. 42, ¶¶ 5, 11, 13-14 (2013) (remanding a compliance proceeding for
      the   agency   to   explain   its   apparent   change    in   its   assessment   of   a
      preference-eligible applicant’s qualifications when it initially found him qualified

      7
        In Lazaro, the court remanded the appellant’s VEOA appeal for the Board to
      determine whether his “other valuable experience was considered in accorda nce with
      5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d)” when the agency determined that he was unqualified for a
      position. 666 F.3d at 1319, 1321. The instant appeal is distinguishable from Lazaro
      because, as discussed below, we agree with the administrative judge’s finding that the
      appellant failed to prove that the agency violated 5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d). ID at 6.
                                                                                         9

      for the applied-for position, but it later found him not qualified after the Board
      ordered the agency to reconstruct the selection process ).
¶13         We further find that the appellant’s assertion that he was qualified because
      his duties as a GS-03 Health Aid were similar to the duties of a CNA and his
      reference to the agency’s multiple mistakes in the selection process fail to rebut
      the agency’s evidence that it evaluated all of his valuable experience when it
      determined that he was not qualified. IAF, Tab 1 at 8, Tab 13; HCD (testimony
      of the appellant); see Miller, 818 F.3d at 1367 (“Although the MSPB does not
      reevaluate the weight the agency accorded to a veteran’s experience, the MSPB’s
      jurisdiction extends to determining whether the agency actually evalua ted
      ‘experience material to the position,’ as required by 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) and
      5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d).”).      Moreover, we find that the instant appeal is
      distinguishable from Kirkendall, 573 F.3d at 1324-25, in which the court found
      that the agency violated a preference-eligible applicant’s right to credit for all
      material experience under 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) when it “simply ignored” his
      experience listed in military documents because it was not repeated on a two-page
      application form.   In contrast, the appellant here did not meet his burden of
      showing that the agency ignored or failed to credit any of his material experience .
¶14         In his petition for review, the appellant reiterates his arguments regarding
      the agency’s mistakes in the selection process and his Health-Aid experience, and
      he cites Kirkendall, 573 F.3d 1318. PFR File, Tab 3. As discussed above, these
      arguments, without more, fail to prove that the agency violated his veterans’
      preference rights under 5 U.S.C. § 3311(2) or 5 C.F.R. § 302.302(d). In addition,
      the appellant claims that some of the selectees under the vacancy announcement
      are not veterans, and he requests the Board to order the agenc y to provide
      documentation on the selectees. PFR File, Tab 3 at 2-3. We find that his claim
      does not provide a reason to disturb the initial decision because it is not material
      to the relevant issue of whether the agency properly credited all of his valuable
      experience, and we decline his request. See Ramsey, 87 M.S.P.R. 98, ¶ 9.
                                                                                           10

¶15         Finally, we note that the administrative judge cited to Miller, 121 M.S.P.R.
      88, ¶ 12, for the proposition that “[t]he Board’s role is limited to determining
      whether the hiring agency improperly omitted, overlooked, or excluded a portion
      of the appellant’s experiences or work history in assessing his qualifications for
      the vacancy.”    ID at 6.   Although the court affirmed the Board’s decision in
      Miller, the court found that the Board erred in so limiting its review.         Miller,
      818 F.3d at 1366 (“[N]ot only must the MSPB determine whether the experience
      record was complete, but it must also assess whether that record was adequately
      considered by the agency.”). However, we find that the appellant’s substantive
      rights have not been harmed by citing to that erroneous proposition because the
      administrative judge correctly determined in the instant appeal whether the
      experience record was complete and whether the agency considered his
      experience material to the CNA position. ID at 5-6; see Panter v. Department of
      the Air Force, 22 M.S.P.R. 281, 282 (1984) (stating that an adjudicatory error that
      is not prejudicial to a party’s substantive rights provides no basis for reversal of
      an initial decision).
¶16         Accordingly, we affirm the administrative judge’s denial of the appellant’s
      request for corrective action under VEOA.

                               NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 8
             You may obtain review of this final decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(a)(1). By
      statute, the nature of your claims determines the time limit for seeking such
      review and the appropriate forum with which to file.              5 U.S.C. § 7703(b).
      Although we offer the following summary of available appeal rights, the Merit
      Systems Protection Board does not provide legal advice on which option is most
      appropriate for your situation and the rights described below do not represent a

      8
        Since the issuance of the initial decision in this matter, the Board may have updated
      the notice of review rights included in final decisions. As indicated in the notice, the
      Board cannot advise which option is most appropriate in any matter.
                                                                                      11

statement of how courts will rule regarding which cases fall within their
jurisdiction.   If you wish to seek review of this final decision, you should
immediately review the law applicable to your claims and carefully follow all
filing time limits and requirements. Failure to file within the applicable time
limit may result in the dismissal of your case by your chosen forum.
      Please read carefully each of the three main possible choices of revi ew
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions
about whether a particular forum is the appropriate one to review your case, you
should contact that forum for more information.

      (1) Judicial review in general. As a general rule, an appellant seeking
judicial review of a final Board order must file a petition for review with the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which must be received by the court
within 60 calendar days of the date of issuance of this decision.               5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(A).
      If you submit a petition for review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Federal   Circuit,   you   must   submit   your   petition   to   the   court    at   the
following address:
                              U.S. Court of Appeals
                              for the Federal Circuit
                             717 Madison Place, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20439

      Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of particular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
      If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants before the Federal Circuit. The
                                                                                   12

Board neither endorses the services provided b y any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.

      (2) Judicial   or   EEOC     review   of   cases     involving   a   claim   of
discrimination. This option applies to you only if you have claimed that you
were affected by an action that is appealable to the Board and that such action
was based, in whole or in part, on unlawful discrimination. If so, you may obtain
judicial review of this decision—including a disposition of your discrimination
claims—by filing a civil action with an appropriate U.S. district court (not the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit), within 30 calendar days after you
receive this decision.     5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2); see Perry v. Merit Systems
Protection Board, 582 U.S. 420 (2017). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
with the district court no later than 30 calendar days after your representative
receives this decision. If the action involves a claim of discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or a disabling condition, you may be
entitled to representation by a court-appointed lawyer and to waiver of any
requirement of prepayment of fees, costs, or other security.           See 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e-5(f) and 29 U.S.C. § 794a.
      Contact information for U.S. district courts can be found at their respective
websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
      http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx.
      Alternatively, you may request review by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of your discrimination claims only, excluding
all other issues. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). You must file any such request with the
EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations within 30 calendar days after you receive
this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
                                                                                     13

with the EEOC no later than 30 calendar days after your representative receives
this decision.
      If you submit a request for review to the EEOC by regular U.S. mail, the
address of the EEOC is:
                            Office of Federal Operations
                     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
                                  P.O. Box 77960
                             Washington, D.C. 20013

      If you submit a request for review to the EEOC via commercial delivery or
by a method requiring a signature, it must be addressed to:
                            Office of Federal Operations
                     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
                                 131 M Street, N.E.
                                   Suite 5SW12G
                             Washington, D.C. 20507

      (3) Judicial     review   pursuant     to   the    Whistleblower      Protection
Enhancement Act of 2012. This option applies to you only if you have raised
claims of reprisal for whistleblowing disclosures under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) or
other protected activities listed in 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D).
If so, and your judicial petition for review “raises no challenge to the Board’s
disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in section
2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9)(A)(i),
(B), (C), or (D),” then you may file a petition for judicial review either with the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or a ny court of appeals of
competent jurisdiction. 9   The court of appeals must receive your petition for

9
   The original statutory provision that provided for judicial review of certain
whistleblower claims by any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction expired on
December 27, 2017. The All Circuit Review Act, signed into law by the President on
July 7, 2018, permanently allows appellants to file petitions for judicial review of
MSPB decisions in certain whistleblower reprisal cases with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit or any other circuit court of appeals of competent jurisdiction.
The All Circuit Review Act is retroactive to November 26, 2017. Pub. L. No. 115-195,
132 Stat. 1510.
                                                                                14

review within 60 days of the date of issuance of this decision.           5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(B).
      If you submit a petition for judicial review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the
following address:
                             U.S. Court of Appeals
                             for the Federal Circuit
                            717 Madison Place, N.W.
                            Washington, D.C. 20439

      Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of particular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
      If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants before the Federal Circuit. The
Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.
      Contact information for the courts of appeals can be found at their
respective websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
      http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx.

FOR THE BOARD:                            /s/ for
                                          Jennifer Everling
                                          Acting Clerk of the Board
Washington, D.C.