OWCP Form CA-35 is a set of evidence checklists used with Form CA-2 for federal occupational-disease claims. The checklists help identify the factual and medical information relevant to a particular type of condition. CA-35 does not replace CA-2, and using a checklist does not guarantee claim acceptance; OWCP evaluates the complete record under FECA.
What is OWCP Form CA-35?
The U.S. Department of Labor identifies CA-35 as “Evidence Required in Support of a Claim for Occupational Disease.” Current 20 CFR 10.116 refers to Form CA-35, A-H, as checklists developed for particular occupational diseases. An employee should submit any applicable checklist provided by the employer, and the medical report should include the information specified for the condition being claimed.
The official FECA FAQ also tells employees filing Form CA-2 to review the appropriate CA-35 checklist because different occupational diseases can require different supporting documentation. Use the checklist that matches the claimed condition and follow any case-specific request from OWCP.
How CA-35 works with Form CA-2
Form CA-2 is the notice used when a federal employee believes a disease or illness is related to work activity or exposure occurring over more than one workday or shift. CA-35 is supporting guidance: it organizes the condition-specific evidence that may accompany the CA-2.
Submitting a CA-35 checklist does not replace Form CA-2, the employing agency’s portion of the claim, or the attending physician’s medical report. It helps the parties address the evidence relevant to the occupational disease.
What must an occupational-disease claim establish?
Under 20 CFR 10.115, a FECA claim must establish timeliness, federal civilian employee status, the fact of injury or disease, performance of duty, and a causal relationship between the diagnosed condition and the claimed employment factors. A condition appearing during federal employment, by itself, does not establish that work caused or aggravated it.
Occupational-disease claims usually require a detailed account of work factors because the condition develops through repeated activity or exposure rather than one identifiable incident. The evidence should allow OWCP to understand what occurred, how often it occurred, for how long, and what medical condition is diagnosed.
Factual evidence the employee can organize
The exact questions depend on the applicable CA-35 checklist and OWCP’s instructions. Common factual subjects include:
- A clear description of the work duties, movements, substances, or environmental conditions believed to have contributed to the condition.
- The frequency, duration, intensity, or amount of the claimed work activity or exposure.
- When the employee first noticed symptoms and when the employee first connected the condition with federal employment.
- A chronological employment and exposure history when prior jobs or non-work exposures may be relevant.
- Documents that support the account, such as a position description, work schedules, exposure records, safety information, or witness statements, when available.
- Relevant prior injuries, medical conditions, hobbies, or outside activities needed for an accurate history.
What the employing agency provides
Current 20 CFR 10.116 says the employer should submit the detailed information described on Form CA-2 and any checklist that applies to the claimed disease. The FECA Procedure Manual explains that position descriptions, physical requirements, employment history, and exposure information may be important in occupational-disease development.
If the agency disputes the employee’s account, 20 CFR 10.117 requires a specific statement explaining the disagreement and supporting evidence or argument. The agency may not delay forwarding the claim or compel the employee to change or withdraw it because of a disagreement.
Medical evidence for a CA-35-supported claim
The employee is responsible for submitting, or arranging for submission of, an attending physician’s medical report. The report should identify a diagnosis and explain, with medical reasoning, whether the described work factors caused or aggravated the condition. The physician should rely on an accurate history and relevant findings rather than only repeating the employee’s belief that the condition is work-related.
Under 20 CFR 10.330, medical evidence may need examination and treatment dates, history, physical findings, diagnostic-test results, diagnosis, treatment, a reasoned causal opinion, any injury-related work disability, and prognosis. The applicable CA-35 checklist may request additional condition-specific information.
A practical CA-35 preparation checklist
- Confirm that Form CA-2—not CA-1—matches a condition produced by work activity or exposure over more than one workday or shift.
- Obtain the current CA-35 material from the official Department of Labor source or the employing agency.
- Use the checklist that corresponds to the condition being claimed; do not assume every CA-35 checklist applies.
- Write a specific work-factor or exposure history using dates, frequency, duration, and measurable job demands where possible.
- Gather relevant agency records and provide the physician with an accurate job and exposure history.
- Ask the treating physician to address the diagnosis, findings, work factors, and medical reasoning requested for the claim.
- Follow any OWCP development letter and its stated deadline; retain copies of everything submitted.
- Use approved secure channels for records containing personal or medical information.
Filing timing and development letters
Current 20 CFR 10.101 states that notice of occupational disease is filed on Form CA-2. For covered occupational diseases, the regulation generally uses a three-year filing period and includes a separate rule for latent disability tied to awareness of the relationship between the condition and employment. Timeliness depends on the facts, so employees should file promptly rather than waiting for the outer limit.
If OWCP finds the submitted factual or medical evidence insufficient, 20 CFR 10.121 says it will identify the additional evidence needed and allow at least 60 days to respond. A development letter is case-specific; answer the exact questions and use its deadline rather than relying on a generic checklist alone.
How NuThera supports medical documentation
NuThera provides clinical evaluation and documentation for the care it delivers. The clinical team can review the reported work history, document examination findings and diagnoses, and provide an independent medical opinion when supported by the evaluation. NuThera does not decide FECA eligibility or provide individualized legal advice.
Sources
- 20 CFR 10.101 and 10.115–10.121, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; Title 20 up to date September 10, 2026 and last amended September 9, 2026; accessed September 14, 2026: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-B
- 20 CFR 10.330–10.333, Medical Reports, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; accessed September 14, 2026: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-D
- OWCP CA-35: Evidence Required in Support of a Claim for Occupational Disease, U.S. Department of Labor; publication date not listed; accessed September 14, 2026: https://beta.dol.gov/forms-posters/forms/owcp-ca-35-evidence-required-support-claim-occupational-disease
- Federal Employees’ Compensation Act FAQ, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; publication date not listed; accessed September 14, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/fec-faq
- FECA Procedure Manual, Version 1.3, U.S. Department of Labor; accessed September 14, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/procedure-manual
Keep exploring.
- NuThera OWCP resource center
Federal workers’ compensation care and education.
- OWCP forms directory
Official DOL form links and plain-language guides.
- CA-1 vs. CA-2 guide
Understand which notice form matches how the condition developed.
- NuThera — Las Vegas
OWCP-focused care at the Rainbow Boulevard clinic.
- NuThera — North Las Vegas
OWCP-focused care at the North Las Vegas clinic.
Common questions.
What is OWCP Form CA-35 used for?
CA-35 is a set of evidence checklists for occupational-disease claims filed on Form CA-2. The applicable checklist helps identify condition-specific factual and medical information.
Does Form CA-35 replace Form CA-2?
No. CA-2 is the notice of occupational disease. CA-35 supports the CA-2 by organizing additional evidence and does not replace the claim form, agency response, or medical report.
Who completes Form CA-35?
The employee supplies the requested information within the applicable checklist, the employing agency provides relevant work and exposure information, and the physician addresses the medical questions. Follow the instructions on the current checklist and any OWCP development letter.
Do I use every CA-35 checklist?
No. Current regulations describe CA-35 A-H as checklists for particular occupational diseases. Use the checklist that applies to the claimed condition and the instructions supplied by the agency or OWCP.
What medical evidence does an occupational-disease claim need?
The evidence generally needs a diagnosis, examination findings, an accurate work-factor or exposure history, and a physician’s medically reasoned opinion explaining whether the employment factors caused or aggravated the diagnosed condition.
Is CA-35 required for every CA-2 claim?
Current 20 CFR 10.116 says an employee should submit any applicable CA-35 checklist provided by the employer. OWCP may also request additional or different evidence based on the individual claim.
What happens if OWCP asks for more evidence?
Respond to the specific development letter and its deadline. Under 20 CFR 10.121, OWCP identifies the additional evidence it needs and allows at least 60 days to submit it.