[Decision Concerning Widow's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Shipment of Household Goods After VA Employee's Death]

The Veterans Administration (VA) requested a decision regarding a transferred employee's widow's claim for reimbursement for the costs of shipping her household goods. VA advised that the claimant: (1) stayed at the former duty station to sell their residence, while her husband reported to the new duty station; (2) arranged for the shipment of her household goods from the former duty station to her new residence after her husband's death; and (3) claimed reimbursement for the expenses she incurred in packing the household goods. GAO held that: (1) the applicable regulations did not preclude reimbursing employees' survivors for expenses that VA would have authorized if the employee had survived; (2) reimbursement was limited to the costs of shipping the goods between the employee's old and new duty stations; and (3) the claimant incurred the packing expenses without VA authority. Accordingly, VA should reimburse the claimant for her household goods shipment costs.