I am in Sacramento,California main plant. I am trying to see if there is ony one else who has Thoracic Outlet Syndrome,Fibromyalgia and feet problems with very restricted limitations. I am given job offers of sitting and doing basically nothing. I keep bidding and requesting accommodations. Just want to talk to anyone else who is going thru this and who may have any other suggestions. Much appreciated.

John King, I know I can get the CA-17 off the net, but the supervisor is required to fill it out, he ignored my verbal request yesterday and today I gave him the request for a CA-17 in writing, which was round-dated and I had him initial the paper and made a copy of it afterwards, so it's not like he doesn't know, hes just being a horses rear end, from the instructions for the CA-17: SUPERVISOR: Complete Side A and refer the form to the physician to complete Side B.
Fill in the address of the Employing Agency and the appropriate OWCP
District Office in the spaces below. Enter the OWCP file number in the
top right corner.
I think a grievance for him refusing to provide necessary documents to comply with his instructions might be the way to go, and it is documented. We don't currently have a shop steward, so I have decided to communicate with this Stup in writing, making sure I have my "i's" dotted and my "t's" crossed, so that way it's not just "he said" "she said" it makes it where he can't say I didn't tell him something violates my restrictions or that I need a document from him, since he is a habitual liar, this way I can prove I told him something

thetwinsmom, all I can do is follow my restrictions, I just document when he tells me to violate them but I do not follow his orders, he thinks he can bully me into a violation, but I have read alot on what is and isn't allowed so I stand my ground, because I know he is wrong

Edited by author 07-11-2008 08:49 PM
Me, there was an area steward there for the pre-d, the stup gave me the letter later, I am keeping notes on all of this, and today I gave him a point by point explaination in writing and had him initial it (it was also round-dated) I told him in my response that his instructions would violate my restrictions, that I can't be required to work off of the clock, that he cannot give my family orders or instructions as they do not work for the post office, that the time frame is unreasonable, the date that I was able to get a Dr's appt for (soonest was 2 weeks after his unfair deadline) I also requested a day of admin leave for the dr appt and gave him a leave form requesting admin leave for the appt since it was mandated by stup, I also included a statement that I would require a properly filled out CA-17 and the changes he wants to make in a new job offer to present to my Dr.
After he read my responses to his letter, he told me "my instructions still stand" so he's not going to be reasonable about this, I think I will probably be having some trouble with my hearing from now on, and when he says anything to me, I will say "Sorry I didn't understand what you said, please put it in writing"

that's was funny...hehehehe.. i don't laugh to much these days with postal crap on a non-stop basis.. i hope you are filing greivances and leaving a paper trail... my stup gave me a note saying i was going to go for training on my OPV... i asked what OPV mean't.. he said your own personal vehicle.. i said, your going to send me for training for my own car? he said "yes." i went to my PM and asked the same question.. he again said "yes." i then laughed in his face... and said "sure, i'll go." they had written down 8 hrs.. i told them i had a work limitation of 4 and would go 4 one day and 4 another day... stup/pm said i couldn't do that so they didn't send me... i still laugh about that one... good your putting things in writing... thru my eeo's PM claimed he didn't know about everything that was going on sooooo i started putting everything in writing, dating and signing.... start laughing in this guy's face, even some of the guys in the po are starting to do this.. especially one guy who almost suffered a breakdown last year... PM says his work is unacceptable and the guy now says that's right it always is and then laughs and keeps working... once your fear leaves from these pm/stups life is easier...

Me, it gets better, today he gave me back a copy of the leave slip I put in for an appt with my OWCP Dr, that he had disapproved and wrote that I was not mandated to have an appt on that day. I guess he thinks he can have it both ways, tell me to get medical documentation, then turn around and disapprove the leave slip for the appt

Darkrose.. you got a laugh... they are all a bunch of morons... doesn't look like he knows what he wants... now, i would not go to the dr... i would file a grievance on him wanting you to go and then refusing you the time... i would try, well you don't have to try but make him look like a big jerk.... did he get his diploma in a cracker jack box...

Darkrose: Here is a web site you should look at regarding the Maggie Moore Rights. It should help informed you better on some of your rights as a injured worker. http://www.postalemployeenetwork.com/owcp-knowledge-base.htm or just type in Maggie Moore Rights. Good luck.

HELP anyone!!! I received a letter from OWCP today stating that they have assigned some nurse approx. 1 and 1/2 hours away from my home to manage my case and look into speeding up my recovery process. The letter went on to say that this nurse would be involved in every aspect of my recovery process with the exception of clinical visits to the ortho doctor. The letter also informed me that this nurse would be contacting me soon to set up an appt. to basically check me out and she would have unlimited access to my medical records involving my case. Here is my situation, I fell delivering a dismount box on my route on April 4, 2008. After going to my doctor he referred me to an ortho specialist 2 weeks later. In the meantime my doctor put me on a "no work status" until I saw the ortho Doc. After being in this status for about 10 days My post master called me on my cell and advised me to report for limited duty at another P.O. and said she had nothing to offer me at my P.O. Of course I informed her that my doc. had put me on "no work status" until I saw the ortho doc. She then told me that if I did not report to the P.O. as directed I would be AWOL. So basically I was forced into a limited duty assignment at another P.O. while on doctors orders for "no work"! Finally I was given an appt to the ortho doc. after everybody dragged their feet approving my claim. At the ortho appt. I was ordered for an MRI and bone scan with the injected dye. Well that took another two and a half weeks to get approved and the results were that I had a torn Labrum and my wound had developed bone spurs which would have to be removed. After several more weeks of waiting for the surgery to be approved I was finally given a date for the surgery june 20, 2008. Meanwhile all this time I had been working at another P.O. on a limited duty status with 4 seperate duty assignment changes while I was there along with day off and work schedule changes. My surgery went well however I am in extreme pain and have extremely limited movement with my shoulder and now after 2 and half weeks I have received only 1 check and 2 letters requesting my return to work asap. Does anyone have any advice or input that might be helpful to me? Is it legal for them to force me to go to some nurse that surely is not as knowledgable as my ortho surgeon? Thanks for any help.
P.S. I have been in contact with my union about this but they have not been alot of help.

Hi Griff, your union should have a lawyer on retainer that specializes in OWCP/Workers Comp, even if your union has not been much help up until now, they should be able to provide you with a name and number to call for legal advice

Thank You Gent, I will explore that website, looks like it will be useful

Does anyone have an opinion as whether it is better to call and leave a message for your CE through the main number at OWCP or calling and leaving a message on their direct line? It seems when I have called (when I got my records) that there was no record of calls placed directly to the CE's number but there was a note about calls made to the main number. As a rant - How can they justify, in the records, a return call that is four months old? Then all it says is tried to call.

Edited by author 07-15-2008 11:49 PM
  OK I just got a letter from DOL sending me for a Second Opinion Evaluation, to address the following issues: Impairment Rating. I recieved one from my Dr. the end of may and have not applied for it yet. Should I assume the Dr. sent a copy to the DOL? If thats the case and its their Dr. What am I to expect? He is an Orthopedic surgeon. I had bi lateral cubical tunnel (ulner nerve submuscular transposition) and bi lateral Carpel tunnel. my permanent restrictions from my surgeon and Dr.who did my impairment rating were 10 lbs. and 5 min on and off repetitive motion .... My Dr. gave 45% upper body broken down to the left and right arms. Woner what theirs will come up with .
   It really sucks that I have to hire people to do the smallest medial jobs around the house, go shopping with the wife and I get to carry the bread. Give up most of your activities.... shooting, canoeing, diving to me thats MORE than the 45%... the system just isnt fair. Oh yea ... the letter came from QTC Medical Services in California ????

Southern Girl, I have had to play phone tag with my CE everytime I call her. She does get back in touch with me though by leaving messages on my answering machine. She did tell me she has a time frame of three days to get back with me. She has never let me down on the time frame.

Sounds to me that you have a CE who isn't working very hard on trying to keep in touch with you. CE is out of the SF office.

thanks darkrose i have found a fed workers comp attorney.dont know if i will need it but i went ahead and talked to her. have any of you had shoulder injury and surgery and NOT gotten a lot better right now i cant even do the smallest things

bobs77

My husband received his impairment rating from the Ellis clinic. They said he was given a 61% lower extremity rating at first until we got the rating in the mail. When Dr. Ellis looked at it he changed it to 30% we were dumb founded How did it drop to half. Dr. Ellis explained that at 60% or more you would have to be missing that member of your body completely. You would think that would be 100% but he said that no one ever sees 100% rating. My husband had a complete tear of the main tendon that runs from your calf down through the ankle to the foot. Tendons never grow back so he is in a permanent brace up to his knee for the rest of his life. I myself have had the ulnar nerve decompression and yes it is painful. I am a stay at home mom so no scheduled award for me (tried to get hubby to pay it but he won't oh well). Sounds like 45% is a high rating for your injury so be pleased if you get that. Be patient it all works out. Hope you the best.