If you're a federal employee who was injured at work in Nevada, you have up to 30 days to report the injury and 3 years to file your CA-1 claim with OWCP. But the sooner you file — and the cleaner your documentation — the better your claim outcome. Here's exactly how to do it.
What is a CA-1 form?
Form CA-1 is the "Federal Employee's Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation." It's the form you use when you're injured as a result of a single event or a series of events within one workday (for example, a slip-and-fall, a back injury while lifting, or a laceration from equipment).
If your injury developed over time from repetitive motion or exposure (for example, carpal tunnel, occupational asthma, hearing loss), you file a CA-2 instead — that's the occupational disease form.
Did the injury happen from one identifiable event or shift? → CA-1. Did it develop gradually over weeks, months, or years? → CA-2.
Step 1: Report the injury to your supervisor immediately
Federal law requires that you notify your supervisor of an on-the-job injury as soon as reasonably possible — ideally the same day. Delayed reporting is one of the most common reasons OWCP claims are questioned or denied. Even if you aren't sure whether to file a claim yet, get the injury on the record.
Your supervisor is required to provide you a CA-1 form (or direct you to ECOMP, the Department of Labor's online filing portal). They cannot refuse to give you the form.
Step 2: Get medical care — and keep every piece of documentation
You are legally entitled to choose your own treating physician under FECA. You do not have to use an agency-recommended provider, a company clinic, or whoever your supervisor suggests. An OWCP-enrolled physician who understands federal workers' compensation documentation will make a measurable difference in your claim's outcome.
At your first medical visit, ask your provider for three things:
- A complete written diagnosis of your injury.
- A causation statement connecting the injury to your specific work duty.
- A Form CA-17 (Duty Status Report) describing any work restrictions.
Many OWCP claims get denied not because the injury isn't real, but because the medical record doesn't explicitly tie the injury to a specific work event. A sentence like "Patient sustained acute lumbar strain while lifting a 50-lb package on 04/15/2026" is exactly what OWCP claims examiners look for.
Step 3: Complete the CA-1 form
The CA-1 has two main sections. You fill out section 1 (your information, the injury description, and witnesses). Your supervisor fills out section 2 (agency information, confirmation of employment, and their observations).
When you describe the injury in section 1, be specific. Include:
- The exact date and time of the injury
- Your exact work location at the time
- What you were doing (task, body mechanics, objects involved)
- What body part was injured and how
- Any witnesses (name, title, contact)
- Whether you continued working, left work, or sought medical care
Step 4: File through ECOMP
ECOMP is the Department of Labor's online filing portal (ecomp.dol.gov). Most federal agencies now require claims be submitted through ECOMP. You'll need your CA-1 information, your supervisor's cooperation, and any medical records you have so far.
ECOMP will generate an OWCP claim number (sometimes called a file number). Write it down — every future form, medical record, and letter you submit needs this number.
Step 5: Keep filing follow-up documentation
Filing the CA-1 is just the beginning. As treatment continues, your claim file needs to be updated regularly. The most common follow-up forms are:
- CA-17 (Duty Status Report) — updates on your work restrictions, ideally completed at every medical visit
- CA-20 (Attending Physician's Report) — detailed clinical progress report, typically requested by the claims examiner
- CA-16 (Authorization for Examination) — used when your supervisor authorizes the first 60 days of treatment
Common mistakes that get claims denied
- Delayed reporting — waiting days or weeks before notifying a supervisor.
- Weak causation statements in the medical record — no clear link between the injury and a work event.
- Incomplete CA-17 forms — missing work restrictions or vague language like "light duty."
- Seeing a provider who isn't familiar with OWCP documentation requirements.
- Not following up when ECOMP requests additional evidence — requests often have a 15-day response window.
How NuThera helps with OWCP CA-1 claims
NuThera is an OWCP-enrolled medical practice in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. We see federal employees for initial injury evaluation, write causation statements to OWCP evidentiary standards, complete CA-17 and CA-20 forms at every visit, and coordinate care with nurse case managers and claims examiners.
If you've just been injured and need a CA-1 evaluation, call us at (725) 726-7914 — we schedule most new federal patients within 24–72 hours.
We can see you for your initial CA-1 evaluation, produce all required documentation during the visit, and give you everything you need to submit your claim through ECOMP. Call (725) 726-7914 or request an appointment online.
Keep exploring.
- CA-1 vs CA-2: which form should you file?
If you're not certain your injury was a single traumatic event, start here before filling out anything.
- OWCP Forms & Downloads
NuThera-branded CA-1, CA-2, CA-16, CA-17, CA-20 companion guides plus our printable Work Restrictions form.
- Your right to choose your doctor
Federal workers can pick their own OWCP provider. Here's exactly how.
- Conditions OWCP accepts
44 work-related conditions organized by type — see what may qualify for your claim.
- OWCP Overview
The full picture of OWCP care at NuThera, from evaluation to documentation to coordination.
Common questions.
What is the deadline to file Form CA-1?
Two different clocks apply. File within 30 days of the injury to protect your Continuation of Pay — up to 45 days of regular salary. Separately, the FECA statute of limitations gives you up to 3 years from the date of injury to file the claim itself. Missing 30 days costs you COP but does not end the claim.
What is the difference between Form CA-1 and Form CA-2?
CA-1 is for a traumatic injury — a single event or incident within one workday or shift. CA-2 is for an occupational disease that developed over more than one workday from repeated activity or exposure. The practical difference: CA-1 claims can include Continuation of Pay, and CA-2 claims cannot.
What is COP and how do I request it on the CA-1?
Continuation of Pay is up to 45 calendar days of your regular salary, paid by your agency rather than OWCP, while your claim is reviewed. You elect it directly on the CA-1 — there is a specific box for it on the form. If you leave that box blank, you may be treated as having chosen to use your own sick or annual leave instead.
Can I file a CA-1 electronically?
Yes. ECOMP (ecomp.dol.gov) is the Department of Labor's free online filing system. You create an account, complete the employee portion, and submit it to your agency electronically. Your agency then completes its section and forwards the claim to OWCP. Paper filing through your agency is still permitted.
What happens after my supervisor submits the CA-1?
Your agency completes the employer certification and is expected to forward the form to OWCP within 10 working days. OWCP then assigns a case file number and sends an acknowledgment. Keep that case number — every form, bill, and piece of medical evidence you submit afterward has to reference it.
What does it mean if my agency controverts my COP?
Controversion means your employing agency disputes your entitlement to Continuation of Pay and states its reasons on the form. In limited circumstances the agency can stop COP outright; in others, COP continues while OWCP reviews the dispute. Controversion challenges the pay, not the underlying claim — your CA-1 continues to be adjudicated on its own merits.
Can I still file a CA-1 after 30 days?
Yes. The 30-day window governs Continuation of Pay eligibility, not the claim itself. You have up to 3 years under the FECA statute of limitations. File as soon as you can — late filing weakens the record and makes the causal connection harder to establish, but it does not automatically bar the claim.
Do I need a doctor's report to file the CA-1?
You can submit the CA-1 without one, but the claim will not be accepted without supporting medical evidence. OWCP needs a treating physician's report that documents the diagnosis and explains, in medical reasoning, how the workplace event caused the condition. Get evaluated as early as possible — a same-week report is far stronger than one written months later.