Confused by OWCP Paperwork? Understanding CA-1, CA-2, CA-7, CA-17, and CA-20

Recovering from a work injury can be difficult enough. Understanding which forms you need—and who completes each section—can add to that stress.

You may be asked for an injury notice, a compensation claim, a duty-status report, and medical evidence while you are also attending appointments and managing symptoms. The forms can look related, but they serve different purposes. Knowing what each one is for can make your next conversation with your agency or treating physician more productive.

This guide is a starting point, not an individualized filing instruction. Use current official Department of Labor forms and follow the instructions for your claim. Greenbelt PT supports recovery and provides therapy documentation; patients remain responsible for their required claim submissions, and OWCP decides the claim.

A quick reference to five common OWCP forms

A form’s presence in your file does not mean that all requirements are satisfied. The information, signatures, supporting evidence, and submission route must fit the purpose of the form and your circumstances.

CA-1 and CA-2: describe the injury or work exposure accurately

A CA-1 is used for a traumatic injury associated with an incident or activity within one work shift. A CA-2 addresses an occupational disease or condition associated with incidents or activities over more than one work shift. The distinction concerns how the condition arose, not simply how painful it feels when you report it.

A sudden fall while delivering mail and a condition attributed to repeated work exposures can therefore raise different reporting questions. Give a clear factual account and discuss uncertainty with your agency’s injury-compensation contact. Do not choose or change a form solely to fit a desired outcome.

The employee provides required claimant information, and the employing agency has its own portions and processing responsibilities. ECOMP provides filing tools and instructions for participating agencies. Keep copies and follow the current instructions rather than assuming that telling a supervisor or attending therapy completes the filing process.

CA-7: a claim for compensation is a separate step

The CA-7 is used to claim compensation, including qualifying wage loss. Filing an injury notice, receiving a case number, and submitting a compensation claim are different actions. A submitted CA-7 does not by itself establish that a particular period of wage loss is payable.

Review the dates and type of compensation being requested with the appropriate agency contact. Agency employment or pay information and supporting medical evidence may be relevant. A therapy attendance record can document a visit, but it does not automatically establish inability to work, the amount owed, or compensation eligibility.

CA-17: connect actual job demands with the physician’s assessment

The CA-17 Duty Status Report brings job demands and medical work-capacity information together. Side A is completed by the supervisor; Side B is the physician’s assessment. Accurate information about the work is important because a lifting limit or standing tolerance means little without knowing what the assignment requires.

If your duties have changed, tell your agency and physician so the report can be considered in the correct context. Greenbelt PT can provide observed rehabilitation findings to the treating physician, but a therapy note does not replace the physician-completed portion of the CA-17.

CA-20: the attending physician’s medical report

The CA-20 is used for the attending physician’s medical report. Follow the form instructions concerning employee information, clinical sections, and signatures. Your physician addresses the medical information and opinions required for your case; do not ask a therapist to substitute for a required physician report.

Incomplete reports or a missing explanation of the relationship between the diagnosed condition and work can lead to additional questions. Depending on the case, OWCP may require further medical explanation or supporting evidence. A diagnosis label, treatment schedule, or therapy measurements alone do not resolve every medical-evidence requirement.

Why missing or inconsistent information can complicate the process

Problems may include different injury dates across documents, an incorrect case number, missing signatures, unclear compensation dates, an outdated duty description, or a report that does not address the question OWCP asked. These issues can create extra follow-up even when the employee is trying to cooperate.

Read correspondence carefully and identify what is being requested, who must provide it, and the stated response date. Keep a simple list showing the document, responsible person, date requested, and date submitted. If a submission is missing, confirm receipt rather than assuming that a document given to one office reached every other party.

How Greenbelt PT can help with the rehabilitation documentation

Our office can provide therapy evaluations, visit records, progress reports, and relevant functional findings. We can coordinate appropriate therapy-related communication with your physician and agency, with consent and disclosure requirements considered. We can also review a referral and clarify what information is needed for therapy authorization or continued-care requests.

We do not decide which benefits are payable or guarantee claim acceptance. We do not take over the employee’s required filings or complete physician-only opinions as a therapist. If your physician needs a progress report before a review, tell the office early so the request can be handled through the appropriate process.

Separate treatment, medical evidence, and claim decisions

Treatment documentation explains what rehabilitation was provided and how you responded. Physician medical evidence addresses the medical matters required under FECA. Claim submissions, agency responsibilities, and OWCP review are separate parts of the process that must work together.

Therapy records alone do not establish claim approval. Ongoing treatment must relate to the accepted work injury and meet applicable OWCP requirements. If a new body area or condition is being considered, ask the treating physician and responsible claim contact what additional review is needed.

For official forms, start with the Department of Labor’s FECA forms directory and ECOMP instructions linked below. For questions about your specific claim or disputed requirements, seek guidance from your agency, OWCP, or an appropriately qualified representative.