[Review of Claims Group Action Denying Travel Expense Claims]

GAO reviewed a Claims Group decision which denied an Army Reserve member's claim for travel expenses incurred during three periods of active duty. The Claims Group had allowed only one of the three almost identical claims. GAO noted that the member had received written travel orders for one of the periods, but that he had only received oral approval for the other occasions. GAO held that, although the written orders were invalid at the time of travel, they were later validated which allowed payment of the claim. However, payment for the other two periods was precluded because written approval is required for compensation to be paid in such cases. Accordingly, the Claim Group's disallowance of the two claims was sustained.