OWCP Blog
How to Fill Out OWCP Form CA-17 (Duty Status Report)
OWCP Form CA-17 is the Duty Status Report. Your agency needs it to know what you can and cannot do at work while recovering from an injury. It is one of the most requested OWCP forms, and one of the most poorly filled out. A vague CA-17 can cost you your modified duty assignment, your pay, or your claim. Here is how to get it right.
What Is OWCP Form CA-17?
OWCP Form CA-17, officially titled 'Duty Status Report,' is the form that tells your agency exactly what work you can and cannot perform while recovering from an on-the-job injury. Your supervisor uses it to assign you modified duty, full duty, or no duty at all.
The CA-17 is not a one-time form. Every time your condition changes, every time you see your doctor for a follow-up, and every time your agency asks for an update, a new CA-17 gets filled out. It is the ongoing communication between your treating physician and your employing agency about your work capacity.
Who Fills Out the CA-17?
This is the number one misunderstanding about the CA-17. The employee does not fill it out. Your treating physician fills it out. You bring it to your doctor's appointment, and the doctor completes it based on their medical evaluation of your condition.
Your agency fills out the top section describing your regular job duties. The doctor fills out the medical section describing your current limitations. You carry it between the two.
If your doctor has never seen a CA-17 before, that is a problem. An OWCP credentialed doctor fills out CA-17 forms every day and knows exactly what level of detail OWCP and your agency expect. A generic doctor's note saying 'light duty' is not a CA-17 and will not be accepted.
When You Need a CA-17
- ✓After your initial injury, when your agency needs to know if you can work
- ✓After every follow-up appointment where your restrictions change
- ✓When your agency requests an updated duty status before assigning modified duty
- ✓When transitioning from total disability to limited duty or full duty
- ✓When your COP period ends and you are filing a CA-7 for wage compensation
- ✓Any time OWCP or your agency sends a written request for updated work restrictions
What a Good CA-17 Includes (and What a Bad One Looks Like)
The difference between a CA-17 that protects your job and one that creates problems is specificity. Vague restrictions get ignored or misinterpreted by supervisors. Specific, measurable restrictions are enforceable.
- ✓Bad: 'Avoid heavy lifting.' Good: 'No lifting over 10 pounds. No carrying over 5 pounds for more than 50 feet.'
- ✓Bad: 'Limited duty.' Good: 'May work 6 hours per day. Must alternate sitting and standing every 30 minutes. No climbing stairs.'
- ✓Bad: 'No strenuous activity.' Good: 'No pushing or pulling over 15 pounds. No bending at the waist. No reaching above shoulder height.'
- ✓Bad: 'Patient can do desk work.' Good: 'May perform sedentary tasks only. No walking more than 100 feet at a time. Must have a chair with lumbar support.'
- ✓Bad: 'Return in 2 weeks.' Good: 'Patient restricted from full duty until re-evaluation on [specific date]. Next appointment scheduled for [date].'
Supervisors use the CA-17 to assign your duties. If the restrictions are vague, your supervisor can assign you work that aggravates your injury and claim they were following the doctor's orders. Specific numbers protect you.
Common CA-17 Mistakes That Hurt Your Claim
- ✓Leaving the restrictions section vague. 'Light duty' means different things to different supervisors. Quantify everything: pounds, minutes, distances.
- ✓Not updating the CA-17 after each appointment. Your agency needs current information. An outdated CA-17 can lead to you being assigned duties that worsen your injury.
- ✓Having a non-OWCP doctor fill it out. Doctors unfamiliar with federal workers' comp often write restrictions that are too vague or do not match the format OWCP expects.
- ✓Not listing all affected body parts. If your back and your knee are both injured, both need to be reflected in the restrictions.
- ✓Forgetting to include the next appointment date. OWCP and your agency use this to track your treatment progress.
- ✓Not keeping a copy. Always keep a copy of every CA-17 your doctor fills out. If your agency claims they never received it, you need proof.
How Dr. Moalemi's Team Handles CA-17 Forms
Our office fills out CA-17 forms daily for federal employees across every agency. We know exactly what level of detail your supervisor and OWCP expect.
- ✓Every restriction includes specific numbers: pounds, hours, distances, time intervals
- ✓We match restrictions to your actual job duties so your supervisor can assign appropriate modified duty
- ✓Updated CA-17 at every follow-up visit so your file stays current
- ✓We fax or send the completed CA-17 directly to your supervisor when requested
- ✓Board-certified PM&R physician (Dr. Moalemi) signs every form
- ✓99% claim acceptance rate across thousands of cases
Three offices: Manhattan (7 W 45th St), Brooklyn (640 Parkside Ave), and Woodbury, Long Island (99 Sunnyside Blvd Ext). Call (516) 400-4861.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fill out the CA-17 myself?
+
No. The medical section of the CA-17 must be completed by your treating physician. Your agency fills out the job description section at the top. You carry the form between them, but you do not fill out either section.
How often does the CA-17 need to be updated?
+
Every time your condition or restrictions change, and every time your agency requests an update. In practice, this means after every doctor visit. We fill out a new CA-17 at every follow-up appointment.
What if my supervisor ignores the restrictions on my CA-17?
+
Document it. If your supervisor assigns you work that violates the restrictions on your CA-17, put your objection in writing, contact your union representative, and report the violation to OWCP. Working outside your restrictions can worsen your injury and complicate your claim.
Is the CA-17 the same as a doctor's note?
+
No. A regular doctor's note is not a CA-17. The CA-17 is a specific federal form with sections for your job duties and measurable medical restrictions. OWCP and your agency will not accept a generic doctor's note in place of a completed CA-17.
Can I get a CA-17 from my primary care doctor?
+
Technically yes, but most primary care doctors are not familiar with the CA-17 format or the level of detail required. An OWCP credentialed doctor fills out CA-17 forms routinely and knows how to write restrictions that protect your claim and your modified duty assignment.
Related Resources
Ready to See an OWCP Doctor?
Free consultation. No out-of-pocket. We file your claim with you.