Corrina M.v.Dep’t of Veterans Affairs

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Nov 6, 2019

EEOC Appeal No. 2019005336 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 6, 2019)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Corrina M.,1
Complainant,

v.

Robert Wilkie,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.

Appeal No. 2019005336

Agency No. 200H-0646-2019102346

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC
or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated June 12, 2019, dismissing her complaint of
unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.

BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Registered Nurse at
the Agency’s VAMC facility in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

On April 22, 2019, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her
to discrimination on the basis of disability when, on or about March 7, 2019, she became aware
that the Agency obstructed the processing of her workers’ compensation claim with the Office of
Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) when: (a) the Agency confiscated Complainant’s
medical documentation although OWCP claims were closed; (b) the Agency failed to follow
OWCP procedures in the collection of medical documents; (c) the Agency had direct contact
with Complainant’s physician with regard to medical documentation although the OWCP claim
was closed; and (d) the Human Resources staff failed to process Complainant’s OWCP
paperwork which resulted in the denial of Complainant’s OWCP claim.

1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
2019005336

2
The Agency dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state
a claim. The instant appeal followed.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in relevant part, that an agency
shall dismiss a complaint that fails to state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any
aggrieved employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been
discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or
disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.103, .106(a). The Commission's federal sector case
precedent has long defined an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm or loss
with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. Diaz
v. Dep’t of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (Apr. 21, 1994).

The Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint process to lodge a
collateral attack on another adjudicatory proceeding. See Wills v. Department of Defense,
EEOC Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998); Kleinman v. United States Postal Service, EEOC
Request No. 05940585 (September 22, 1994); Lingad v. United States Postal Service, EEOC
Request No. 05930106 (June 25, 1993). In her complaint, Complainant alleged discrimination
with respect to the processing of her OWCP claim. The EEO process is not the proper forum for
Complainant to have raised this challenge. As Complainant is challenging actions directly
related to the adjudication of her workers’ compensation claim, she must raise such matters with
the Department of Labor, not within the EEO complaint process. See, e.g., Fisher v. Dep't of
Defense, EEOC Request No. 05931059 (July 15, 1994) (challenge to agency's appeal within the
workers' compensation process fails to state a claim as an EEO complaint). To the extent
Complainant is alleging a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) she must also raise any claims under that process.

Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0617)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this case if the Complainant or
the Agency submits a written request containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish
that:
1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact
or law; or
2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or
operations of the Agency.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed with the Office of
Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision.
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A party shall have twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for
reconsideration in which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405;
Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110),
at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the
Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Complainant’s request may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC
20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a
legible postmark, the request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail
within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. The
agency’s request must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal
(FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). The request or opposition must also include proof of
service on the other party.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your request for reconsideration
as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any
supporting documentation must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The
Commission will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very
limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604(c).
COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610)
You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court within
ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this decision. If you file a civil action,
you must name as the defendant in the complaint the person who is the official Agency head or
department head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title. Failure to do
so may result in the dismissal of your case in court. “Agency” or “department” means the
national organization, and not the local office, facility or department in which you work. If you
file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil action will terminate the
administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may
request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of
court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The
court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests.
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Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled
Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

November 6, 2019
Date