Emilio C. Caluza, Petitioner, v. Office of Personnel Management, Respondent, 983 F.2d 1088 (Fed. Cir. 1992)

DECISION

Emilio C. Caluza (Mr. Caluza) appeals from the February 15, 1991 initial decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or Board), Docket No. SE08319110068, which became final on June 10, 1991, affirming a decision of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which held that petitioner was not entitled to a civil service retirement annuity. We affirm.

DISCUSSION

Mr. Caluza applied for retirement benefits pursuant to the Civil Service Retirement Act (CSRA), based upon approximately two years of civilian service with the United States War Department's Philippine-Ryukyus Command from June 5, 1947 until July 22, 1949. It is undisputed that Mr. Caluza has two years or less of federal civilian service. As a result, the Administrative Judge (AJ) found that Mr. Caluza failed to meet his burden to establish he met the minimum statutory requirements to entitle him to a civilian service retirement annuity. See 5 U.S.C. §§ 8333(a) and (b). Having failed to meet the burden of proof that, among other things, he had accumulated the requisite five years of creditable federal service, there is no basis upon which he can claim civil service annuity benefits.

This court's scope of review of an MSPB decision is limited by statute. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c). The MSPB decision must be affirmed unless it is arbitrary, capricious, not in accordance with law, obtained without procedures required by rule, law, or regulation, or unsupported by substantial evidence. See Hayes v. Department of the Navy, 727 F.2d 1535, 1537 (Fed. Cir. 1984). Accordingly, we affirm.