Entitlement to Reimbursement for Lost or Destroyed Personal Property

A civilian employee of the Navy requested further consideration of his claim for lost or destroyed personal property incident to his evacuation from Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975. In 1977, the employee filed a claim with the Navy for reimbursement for his personal property. However, the claim was not filed within the required 2-year timeframe and was thus denied by the Navy as being untimely. The employee argued that this timeframe was not applicable because his claim was filed immediately upon the settlement of his status as a Navy employee. This was important because his entitlement to return transportation was dependent upon his status as a Navy employee. However, the regulations involved do not permit waiver of the timeframe for any purposes. Since the Secretary of the department involved is vested with exclusive jurisdiction to settle such claims, GAO would not consider the request. The employee further requested that GAO report the claim to Congress under the Meritorious Claims Act. However, since the claim did not fall under GAO jurisdiction, it was inappropriate for reporting to Congress under the Act.