ELLIS CLINICOCCUPATIONAL & LEGAL MEDICINEOklahoma City, Oklahoma
CA-2 · OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE · EVIDENCE SELECTOR

CA-35 Occupational Disease Evidence Center

Occupational disease claims often need more than Form CA-2. OWCP developed the CA-35 series to help the employee and employing agency gather the factual and medical evidence needed for particular types of occupational disease claims.

CHOOSE YOUR CONDITIONCA-2 GUIDE
Choose ChecklistHow CA-35 WorksCA-2 GuideMedical Evidence CenterClaim Roadmap
OWCP RESOURCE SYSTEMResource CenterClaim RoadmapMedical EvidenceCA-35 EvidenceDisability & Wage LossReturn to WorkRecurrence vs. New InjurySecond Opinion / RefereeLWECDecisions & AppealsOverpayments
CHOOSE THE EVIDENCE PATH

What Type of Occupational Disease Are You Claiming?

DOL currently identifies seven condition-specific occupational-disease checklists plus a general checklist for occupational diseases not otherwise listed. Select the category that most closely matches the claim.

CA-35A

General Occupational Disease

Use when the claimed occupational disease is not covered by one of the more specific CA-35 checklists.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35B

Work-Related Hearing Loss

For hearing loss claimed from prolonged or repeated occupational noise exposure.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35C

Asbestos-Related Illness

For illness claimed from occupational asbestos exposure.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35D

Coronary / Vascular

For work-related coronary or vascular conditions.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35E

Skin Disease

For dermatitis and other skin conditions claimed from workplace irritants, chemicals, or exposures.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35F

Pulmonary Illness

For pulmonary or respiratory illness other than asbestos-related disease.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35G

Psychiatric Illness

For psychiatric or emotional conditions claimed from factors of federal employment.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-35H

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

For carpal tunnel or wrist problems claimed from repetitive or other federal job duties.

OPEN EVIDENCE GUIDE →
CA-2 + CA-35

The Checklist Helps Build the Evidence Packet

DOL's FECA FAQ tells employees filing CA-2 to review the appropriate CA-35 checklist. The checklist is not a substitute for CA-2; it identifies the supporting factual and medical documentation needed for the particular occupational-disease category.

EMPLOYEE SIDE

Describe the Exposure and Build the History

  • Identify the work factors alleged to have caused or aggravated the disease.
  • Give specific frequency, duration, dates, locations, duties, materials, or events as applicable.
  • Provide relevant employment, exposure, medical, and non-work history requested by the checklist.
  • Obtain medical records and a reasoned physician opinion addressing the diagnosed condition and work relationship.
EMPLOYING AGENCY SIDE

Confirm, Clarify, or Dispute the Work Facts

  • Review the employee's factual statements.
  • Provide available job descriptions, exposure information, measurements, records, or other workplace evidence requested.
  • Address discrepancies or supply information that confirms the alleged work factors.
  • The factual record then provides the foundation on which the medical causation opinion should be based.
01CA-2File the occupational disease claim.
02CA-35Select the evidence checklist.
03WORK FACTSDocument exposure, duties, events, and chronology.
04MEDICAL EVIDENCEDiagnosis, findings, testing, and reasoned causation.
05OWCP REVIEWOWCP determines whether the record is sufficient to adjudicate.
CA-35A
EVIDENCE PATH

General Occupational Disease

The general checklist is the catch-all when the claimed occupational disease does not fit one of the seven condition-specific checklists.

Work FactorsDescribe the federal duties, exposures, physical demands, frequency, duration, and how long they occurred.
Employment / Exposure HistoryBuild a chronology that separates federal exposure from non-federal employment, hobbies, and other relevant exposures.
Medical ConditionProvide medical records identifying the diagnosed condition, findings, testing, treatment, and prognosis.
Medical CausationThe treating physician should explain how the identified federal work factors caused, contributed to, or aggravated the diagnosed condition.
Agency EvidenceThe employing agency reviews the employee's description and provides factual information needed to confirm or clarify the claimed work factors.
Use the Specific Checklist When PossibleIf the claim is hearing loss, asbestos, coronary/vascular, skin, pulmonary, psychiatric, or carpal tunnel, use that more specific CA-35 checklist.
CA-35B
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Hearing Loss

Hearing-loss development focuses heavily on a complete noise-exposure history and medical/audiological evidence.

Noise Exposure HistoryIdentify jobs, work locations, machinery or noise sources, frequency and duration of exposure, and hearing protection.
Complete Work HistoryInclude relevant federal, non-federal, and military employment so occupational and non-occupational exposure can be evaluated.
Agency Noise InformationAgency records such as noise surveys, decibel information, job descriptions, and hearing-conservation records can help establish exposure.
Audiological EvidenceAudiograms and appropriate otologic evaluation help document the type and degree of hearing loss.
CausationThe physician should address whether the pattern and history are consistent with the established occupational noise exposure.
Outside NoiseRelevant hobbies or other non-work noise exposure should be identified rather than ignored.
CA-35C
EVIDENCE PATH

Asbestos-Related Illness

Asbestos claims require a careful exposure chronology plus medical evidence identifying the pulmonary or other asbestos-related disease.

Exposure SitesIdentify where asbestos exposure allegedly occurred, job duties, materials handled, and approximate dates.
Frequency / DurationDescribe how often and how long exposure occurred and the circumstances that generated airborne asbestos.
ProtectionDocument respiratory protection or other protective equipment used, if any.
Other ExposureInclude non-federal, military, environmental, or secondary asbestos exposure when relevant.
Medical DiagnosisSupply medical evidence, imaging, pulmonary findings, testing, treatment, and prognosis supporting the diagnosed illness.
Medical NexusThe physician should explain whether the established asbestos exposure is medically sufficient to cause or aggravate the diagnosed disease.
CA-35D
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Coronary / Vascular Condition

These claims need a precise account of the work factors alleged to have caused or aggravated the cardiovascular condition and a medically reasoned explanation.

Specific Work FactorsIdentify the physical exertion, environmental exposure, or other employment factors claimed.
ChronologyExplain when symptoms developed in relation to the identified work factors and how the condition progressed.
Medical HistoryProvide relevant cardiovascular history, risk factors, prior treatment, diagnostic testing, and other pertinent conditions.
Objective EvidenceInclude cardiac or vascular testing and clinical findings supporting the diagnosis.
Alternative FactorsThe physician should consider relevant non-work risk factors rather than simply asserting work causation.
Reasoned OpinionExplain medically how the established employment factors caused, precipitated, accelerated, or aggravated the diagnosed condition.
CA-35E
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Skin Disease

The skin-disease checklist specifically seeks details about the suspected workplace exposure and the materials involved.

Specific ExposureIdentify the substance, irritant, chemical, material, or other workplace factor believed responsible.
Frequency / DurationDescribe how often exposure occurred and the length of each exposure.
Protective EquipmentIdentify gloves, clothing, barrier protection, or other equipment used.
Chemical InformationTrade names, ingredients, Safety Data Sheets, or other information can help identify the suspected irritant or allergen.
Medical EvidenceDocument the diagnosis, distribution of skin findings, testing when performed, treatment, and course.
CausationThe physician should connect the clinical pattern to the established workplace exposure and address other possible causes when relevant.
CA-35F
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Pulmonary Illness (Not Asbestosis)

Pulmonary claims other than asbestos-related disease require detailed inhalational or environmental exposure evidence plus respiratory medical findings.

Airborne ExposureIdentify dusts, fumes, gases, vapors, smoke, biological agents, or other respiratory exposures.
Intensity / DurationDescribe frequency, duration, work locations, ventilation, and protective equipment.
Agency RecordsIndustrial hygiene, environmental monitoring, SDS information, or exposure records may help document the work environment.
Respiratory DiagnosisProvide pulmonary examination, imaging, pulmonary-function testing, laboratory results, or other pertinent studies.
Non-Work FactorsSmoking history, environmental exposures, prior lung disease, and other relevant factors should be addressed.
Medical ReasoningExplain how the documented occupational exposure caused or aggravated the specific pulmonary diagnosis.
CA-35G
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Psychiatric Illness

Psychiatric occupational-disease claims require both factual proof of the alleged employment factors and medical evidence connecting those established factors to the diagnosed psychiatric condition.

Identify Employment FactorsDescribe specific incidents, duties, conditions, or events alleged to have caused the psychiatric illness—dates, people, places, and circumstances matter.
Corroborating EvidenceStatements, records, correspondence, personnel documents, or other evidence may be needed to establish disputed employment events.
Medical DiagnosisThe physician should provide a psychiatric diagnosis, history, findings, treatment, and prognosis.
Accepted Facts MatterMedical opinions should be based on employment factors that are factually established, not solely on allegations that OWCP does not accept as factual.
Causal ExplanationThe physician should explain how the established employment factors caused or aggravated the diagnosed psychiatric condition.
Work CapacityWhen disability is claimed, the medical evidence should explain how the psychiatric condition affects the employee's ability to perform the job.
CA-35H
EVIDENCE PATH

Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel claims focus on detailed hand/wrist work demands, medical findings, electrodiagnostic evidence when available, and a reasoned relationship to those duties.

Work HistoryDescribe federal, non-federal, and military work, including jobs involving repetitive hand or wrist activity.
Specific Hand DutiesIdentify repetition, force, gripping, tools, vibration, wrist posture, frequency, duration, and the hands involved.
Clinical FindingsDocument examination findings relevant to median-nerve dysfunction and the diagnosed condition.
TestingNerve-conduction and electromyographic testing, when performed, can provide important objective evidence.
Other Risk FactorsRelevant medical conditions and non-work activities should be considered.
Medical CausationThe physician should explain the likely physical effects of the specific federal duties and the medical reasoning supporting causation or aggravation.
THE COMMON THREAD

Different Diseases. Same Basic Evidentiary Logic.

The exact questions change by condition, but occupational-disease claims repeatedly come back to two records that must fit together: the factual record of federal employment exposure and the medical record explaining the diagnosed disease and causal relationship.

01ESTABLISH THE WORK FACTORSSpecific, factual, chronological, and supported when possible.
02ESTABLISH THE DIAGNOSISMedical findings and testing support a specific condition.
03CONNECT THEM MEDICALLYThe physician explains the mechanism and medical reasoning.
04ADDRESS COMPETING FACTORSRelevant non-work exposures or pre-existing conditions are considered when appropriate.
Important: This Evidence Center is an educational navigator, not a replacement for the official CA-35 checklist. Use the current Department of Labor checklist and OWCP instructions for the actual claim. The evidence required can vary with the facts and issues in an individual case.
Next useful path:   Medical Evidence Center →OWCP Resource Center →