Should a claimant an incorrect form, such as a Notice of Traumatic Injury (CA-1) rather than a Notice of Occupational Disease (CA-2) (See 20 CFR 10.5(ee) & 20 CFR 10.5(q)), such a submission is a technical error.  OWCP should inform the claimant and employing establishment whether the claim has been converted to a different type of injury than what was originally claimed and explain the reasons for the method of adjudication.  If the actual benefits claimed by the claimant cannot be determined from review of the form, OWCP should develop the claim based upon the claim form filed and direct questions to the claimant to determine the type of benefits claimed.  Based up the response to the development letter, OWCP should make a determination as to whether the correct form was established and, if not OWCP should convert the claim to the proper type of claim and notify the claimant and employing establishment of the conversion.(See FECA Procedure Manual Chapter 2.800.3(c)(2))

Proceeding under FECA are not adversarial in nature nor is OWCP a disinterested arbiter.  While the claimant has the burden to establish entitlement to compensation, OWCP shares responsibility in the development of the evidence.  It has the obligation to see that justice is done. (see John W. Butler, 39 ECAB 852 (1988)