OWCP Form CA-17: Duty Status Reports and Work Restrictions
Form CA-17 is the duty status report that tells your agency and OWCP what you can and cannot do at work while you recover, including lifting limits, hours and activity restrictions.
Who completes it
Your agency completes the job requirements section, and your treating physician completes the medical restrictions section after examining you.
When to use Form CA-17
- Your agency needs to know whether you can return to full or light duty.
- Your restrictions change during treatment.
- Your claims examiner requests current work capacity information.
Deadlines and tips
- Bring a CA-17 with the agency section completed to your appointments.
- Make sure the job requirements your agency lists match your actual duties.
- Updated restrictions after each significant change in your condition keep your pay and duty status accurate.
How Injury Federal Clinic helps
Our physicians complete CA-17s at your visits with clear, specific restrictions, so your agency can offer suitable duty and your claim stays supported.
Common questions
What if my agency offers light duty that exceeds my restrictions?
Tell your physician. The CA-17 should reflect your actual limits, and your claims examiner relies on that medical evidence.
Is a CA-17 the same as a medical report?
No. The CA-17 summarizes work restrictions. OWCP also expects narrative medical reports, such as the CA-20 or physician notes, for diagnosis and treatment.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. OWCP and your claims examiner make all coverage decisions; check current instructions on the U.S. Department of Labor website.
