August 5, 2026 · Denver OWCP · 9 min read
USPS Injury Claims in Denver: The OWCP Guide for Postal Workers
Letter carriers, mail handlers, and clerks across the Denver metro file more OWCP claims than almost any other federal workforce. Repetitive lifting, satchel and scanner strain, curbside dismounts, ice on Front Range routes — the injuries are predictable, and so are the paperwork mistakes that delay benefits.
Most common USPS injuries we treat in Denver
- Rotator cuff and shoulder impingement from satchel carry and parcel lifting
- Lumbar strain and disc injury from repeated bending into hampers and LLVs
- Knee and ankle injuries from curb dismounts, stairs, and winter ice
- Plantar fasciitis and foot overuse from long walking routes
- Carpal tunnel, wrist tendinitis, and elbow overuse from casing and scanning
CA-1 or CA-2? It changes everything
A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury — one event during one shift (a fall on a porch, a lift that tore something). File it within 30 days and you may qualify for Continuation of Pay (COP) for up to 45 days. A CA-2 is for an occupational disease that developed over time — the shoulder that finally gave out after twelve years of casing mail. There's no COP with a CA-2, and OWCP requires a much stronger causation narrative tying your specific duties to the diagnosis.
Choosing the wrong form is one of the top reasons Denver USPS claims get denied. Full walkthrough on our OWCP forms page.
Limited duty, the CA-17, and the NRP problem
USPS runs on limited-duty job offers. Those offers are written from whatever restrictions appear on your CA-17 Duty Status Report — which means a vague CA-17 becomes a limited-duty assignment that reinjures you. Restrictions should be specific: pounds lifted, frequency, standing and walking limits, no repetitive overhead reach, no ladder or dismount work. If a supervisor assigns work outside those limits, document it in writing the same day and bring it to your next visit.
Detailed guide: How to complete OWCP Form CA-17.
Getting paid: the CA-7 timeline
Once COP runs out (or if you filed a CA-2), wage-loss compensation comes through Form CA-7 with medical support attached. Submit each pay period rather than saving them up, and make sure the supporting medical covers the exact dates claimed. See our CA-7 filing guide.
More help
Nationwide OWCP education, case breakdowns, and our podcast live at owcp.doctor. Transferred in from a Kansas or Missouri facility? Our sister clinic handles the same program there: OWCP federal workers' compensation in Kansas City.
Postal workers: we handle the OWCP paperwork with you
Same-day CA-17s, detailed restrictions your station can't misread, and in-house physical therapy.
Call (303) 854-6919