File a CA-1 if your injury came from a specific event or series of events during a single workday or shift, such as lifting a heavy tray of mail or slipping on a loading ramp. File a CA-2 if your condition developed from work exposure over more than one workday or shift, such as carpal tunnel from months of repetitive keying. Both forms start a federal workers’ compensation claim with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), part of the U.S. Department of Labor. The difference is how the injury happened, and that choice affects your pay protection and your paperwork.
If you work for a federal agency in Jacksonville, whether at NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, a USPS facility, a VA clinic, TSA at the airport or another federal office, your work injury falls under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), not Florida’s state workers’ compensation system. Here is how to tell the two forms apart, and what the medical side of each claim needs.
Key facts
- Form CA-1 is the Federal Employee’s Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation.
- Form CA-2 is the Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation.
- Continuation of Pay (COP) of up to 45 days requires a traumatic injury, a CA-1 filed within 30 days, and lost time beginning within 45 days of the injury (20 CFR 10.205).
- Under FECA, a claim generally must be filed within 3 years of the injury; for a latent occupational disease, the clock runs from when you became aware of the link to work.
- Under FECA, the injured employee chooses the treating physician (20 CFR 10.300).
CA-1: traumatic injury
A traumatic injury is a condition caused by a specific event or series of events within one workday or shift. The key word is “specific”: you can usually point to what happened and when. Common examples among federal workers include:
- a back or neck strain from lifting, pulling or twisting
- a fall on a wet floor, stairs or an uneven dock
- a vehicle crash while driving a postal route or a government vehicle
- a shoulder or knee injury from a single awkward movement
- a cut, fracture or crush injury
The CA-1 has a section you complete, a section for witness information, and a section your supervisor completes. Most agencies now file through ECOMP, the Department of Labor’s online claim filing system for employees and agencies.
CA-2: occupational disease
An occupational disease is a condition produced by the work environment over more than one workday or shift. There is no single event. Instead, repeated tasks or exposures add up. Examples include:
- carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive sorting, scanning or keyboard work
- tendinitis in the shoulder or elbow from repeated overhead work
- low back or neck conditions that build over months of lifting, bending or long hours in a vehicle
- hearing loss from ongoing noise exposure, such as on a flight line
A CA-2 usually asks for more detail about your work history, the duties you believe caused the condition, and when you first realized it was related to work. OWCP may send a follow-up questionnaire asking for the same kind of detail.
CA-1 vs CA-2 at a glance
| CA-1 (traumatic injury) | CA-2 (occupational disease) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it happened | A specific event or events within one workday or shift | Exposure or repeated activity over more than one workday or shift |
| Examples | Lifting strain, fall, vehicle crash | Carpal tunnel, tendinitis, hearing loss |
| Continuation of Pay | Available if filed within 30 days and other conditions are met | Not available |
| Form CA-16 treatment authorization | May be issued by your agency for a traumatic injury | Generally not used |
| Medical evidence focus | What happened, when, and the resulting diagnosis | How specific work duties over time caused or worsened the condition |
Why the right form matters
The form you file sets the framework for your claim. Only a traumatic injury filed on a CA-1 within 30 days can qualify for Continuation of Pay, which lets your regular pay continue for up to 45 days while the claim is reviewed. A CA-16, the form an agency can issue to authorize your first examination and treatment, is also tied to traumatic injuries.
A CA-2 claim, on the other hand, depends heavily on medical evidence that connects your condition to specific work factors. Filing the form that matches how your injury actually happened keeps the claim clear from the start. If you are not sure which one fits, ask your agency’s injury compensation specialist, your union representative or an attorney. We can explain the medical side, but we cannot give legal advice about your claim.
Other OWCP forms you may see
Our OWCP forms guide explains each of these in more detail.
- CA-2a: notice of recurrence, used when a previously accepted condition returns.
- CA-7: claim for wage loss compensation after COP ends or when COP does not apply.
- CA-16: authorization for examination and treatment, issued by your agency after a traumatic injury.
- CA-17: duty status report, completed with your doctor to describe your work restrictions.
- CA-20: attending physician’s report.
What the medical evidence needs to show
Whichever form you file, OWCP decides the claim largely on the medical record. Federal rules (20 CFR 10.330) describe what a physician’s report should contain, including:
- the history of the injury and the dates of examination and treatment
- physical findings and test results
- the diagnosis and course of treatment
- any conditions that are not related to work
- the physician’s opinion, with medical reasons, on whether the work injury or exposure caused the condition
- the extent of disability and the prognosis
That causation opinion is where many claims need the most care, especially CA-2 claims. A clear, consistent history from your first visit onward helps. Tell every provider the same story: what you do at work, what happened or what tasks you repeat, and when symptoms started.
One limit to know: under FECA, a chiropractor is paid only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown on X-ray. Other care, such as physical therapy, must be prescribed by a qualified physician, and the Department of Labor notes that physical therapy is usually authorized for the first 120 days from the date of injury.
Deadlines to keep in mind
- 30 days: file the CA-1 within 30 days of a traumatic injury if you want to be eligible for Continuation of Pay.
- 45 days: for COP, lost time must begin within 45 days of the injury.
- 3 years: the general time limit for filing a FECA claim, measured from the injury or, for an occupational disease, from when you became aware it was related to work.
Report the injury to your supervisor right away, even if it seems minor. Waiting rarely makes a claim easier.
Federal work injury care in Jacksonville
East Coast Injury Clinic treats federal employees injured on the job, and our federal workers’ compensation team handles the clinic-side OWCP paperwork, so you do not have to figure out the forms alone. Learn more about our federal OWCP injury care. You can be seen at our Southside clinic at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609 (32256), near JTB and I-295, or at our North Jacksonville clinic at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302 (32218), north of I-295. Both clinics offer the same services and the same hours, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call (904) 513-3954 or request an appointment online.
Every claim is different, and recovery from a work injury can take time. We will tell you honestly what we find, what we can treat, and when another specialist would serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a CA-1 and a CA-2?
A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury caused by a specific event or series of events within one workday or shift. A CA-2 is for an occupational disease caused by work exposure or repeated activity over more than one workday or shift.
Is carpal tunnel a CA-1 or a CA-2?
Carpal tunnel that develops from repetitive work over weeks or months is usually filed on a CA-2, because there is no single event. If a specific incident on one shift caused a wrist injury, that would fit a CA-1.
Can I get Continuation of Pay with a CA-2?
No. Continuation of Pay applies to traumatic injuries. It requires a CA-1 filed within 30 days and lost time beginning within 45 days of the injury (20 CFR 10.205).
How long do I have to file a CA-1 or CA-2?
The general FECA time limit is 3 years from the injury, or from when you became aware an occupational disease was related to work. To be eligible for Continuation of Pay, a CA-1 must be filed within 30 days.
Can I choose my own doctor for an OWCP claim?
Yes. Under 20 CFR 10.300, the injured federal employee chooses the treating physician. Your agency should tell you about that right when it authorizes care.
Where do I file a CA-1 or CA-2?
Most federal employees file through ECOMP, the Department of Labor’s online filing system, and the agency completes its portion there. Your supervisor or injury compensation specialist can tell you how your agency handles it.
How is federal work injury care paid for?
Most injury care at East Coast Injury Clinic is covered through one of four paths: auto insurance PIP after a car accident, a personal injury attorney’s Letter of Protection, state workers’ compensation for a work injury, or federal workers’ compensation (OWCP or Longshore) if you are a federal or maritime employee. We also see patients under Medicare, Tricare, VA Community Care, and a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains exactly what is and is not covered for your specific case, so there are no surprises. Call 904-513-3954 or visit eastcoastinjury.com to start.
