[VA Employee's Liability for Shipment Costs of Canoe and Tractor]

The Veterans Administration (VA) requested an opinion concerning a transferred employee's claim for expenses he incurred in shipping and storing his canoe. The claimant contended that VA should have based reimbursement on the canoe's actual weight. GAO held that: (1) there was no legal authority to base the claimant's liability on the canoe's actual weight; (2) VA could not reimburse the claimant for the costs related to the boat; (3) VA should recalculate the claimant's liability based on charges directly attributable to the canoe; (4) VA should not charge the claimant a bulky-article additive for the canoe; and (5) VA should determine whether it properly reimbursed the claimant for expenses he incurred in shipping his tractor. Accordingly, the claim was denied and returned to VA for recalculation of the claimant's liability.