(a) A claimant, injured on or after July 4, 1966, who has received a
final adverse decision by the district office may obtain a hearing by
writing to the address specified in the decision. The hearing request
must be sent within 30 days (as determined by postmark or other
carrier's date marking) of the date of the decision for which a hearing
is sought. The claimant must not have previously submitted a
reconsideration request (whether or not it was granted) on the same
decision.
(b) The claimant may specify the type of hearing desired when making
the original hearing request. If the request does not specify a format,
OWCP will schedule an oral hearing. The claimant can request a change in
the format of the hearing by making a written request to the Branch of
Hearings and Review. OWCP will grant a request received by the Branch of
Hearings and Review within 30 days of: The date OWCP acknowledges the
initial hearing request, or the date OWCP issues a notice setting a date
for an oral hearing, in cases where the initial request was for, or was
treated as a request for, an oral hearing. A request received after
those dates will be subject to OWCP's discretion. The decision to grant
or deny a change of format is not reviewable.
