B-147809, JAN. 10, 1962
Highlights
YOU REQUESTED AND WERE GRANTED ANNUAL LEAVE FROM SEPTEMBER 2 TO SEPTEMBER 12. YOU SAY YOU WERE CARRIED IN A SICK LEAVE STATUS FROM SEPTEMBER 12. THE CLAIM WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISAPPROVED AND YOU THEN FILED CLAIM WITH OUR OFFICE ON JULY 11. WHICH WAS DISALLOWED IN OUR SETTLEMENT OF AUGUST 25. THE TRAVEL OF EMPLOYEES AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IS GOVERNED BY THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF THE VOUCHER WILL CONSTITUTE THE APPROVALS REQUIRED * * *" THE AGENCY HAS REPORTED THAT YOU DID NOT REQUEST A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION BUT LEFT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OR PERMISSION AND PERFORMED THE TRAVEL FOR PERSONAL REASONS WHILE IN AN ANNUAL LEAVE STATUS.
B-147809, JAN. 10, 1962
TO MR. GEORGE W. O-BRIEN:
ON DECEMBER 11, 1961, YOU REQUESTED REVIEW OF OUR SETTLEMENT OF AUGUST 25, 1961, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES INCIDENT TO YOUR SERVICE WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION SERVICE.
IT APPEARS THAT WHILE ON DUTY AT JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, YOU REQUESTED AND WERE GRANTED ANNUAL LEAVE FROM SEPTEMBER 2 TO SEPTEMBER 12, 1960. SOMETIME DURING THIS PERIOD YOU TRAVELED AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE FROM JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, TO SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, YOUR HOME OF RECORD, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSULTING YOUR PRIVATE PHYSICIAN. YOU DID NOT RETURN TO DUTY BUT RETIRED ON APRIL 13, 1961, BECAUSE OF DISABILITY. YOU SAY YOU WERE CARRIED IN A SICK LEAVE STATUS FROM SEPTEMBER 12, 1960, UNTIL THE DATE OF YOUR RETIREMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON MAY 8, 1961, YOU FILED CLAIM WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES FROM JACKSON TO SALISBURY AS ,TERMINAL TRAVEL.' THE CLAIM WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISAPPROVED AND YOU THEN FILED CLAIM WITH OUR OFFICE ON JULY 11, 1961, WHICH WAS DISALLOWED IN OUR SETTLEMENT OF AUGUST 25, 1961, FOR THE REASON STATED THEREIN.
THE TRAVEL OF EMPLOYEES AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IS GOVERNED BY THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, SECTION 2.1 OF WHICH READS IN PERTINENT PART AS FOLLOWS:
"EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ALL TRAVEL SHALL BE EITHER AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED BY THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY OR BY AN OFFICIAL TO WHOM SUCH AUTHORITY HAS BEEN PROPERLY DELEGATED. THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF THE VOUCHER WILL CONSTITUTE THE APPROVALS REQUIRED * * *"
THE AGENCY HAS REPORTED THAT YOU DID NOT REQUEST A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION BUT LEFT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OR PERMISSION AND PERFORMED THE TRAVEL FOR PERSONAL REASONS WHILE IN AN ANNUAL LEAVE STATUS. SINCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HAS NEITHER "AUTHORIZED" NOR ,APPROVED" THE TRAVEL IN QUESTION WE ARE WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO ALLOW YOUR CLAIM. HENCE, OUR SETTLEMENT OF AUGUST 25, 1961, IS CORRECT AND HEREBY IS SUSTAINED.