U.S. Code » Title 5 » Part PART III— EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart B— Employment and Retention › Chapter CHAPTER 33— EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT

5 U.S.C. § 3330a

Preference eligibles; administrative redress

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(a)(1)(A) A preference eligible who alleges that an agency has violated such individual’s rights under any statute or regulation relating to veterans’ preference may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor.(B) A veteran described in section 3304(l)(1) who alleges that an agency has violated such section with respect to such veteran may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor.(2)(A) A complaint under this subsection must be filed within 60 days after the date of the alleged violation.(B) Such complaint shall be in writing, be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, specify the agency against which the complaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations that form the basis for the complaint.(3) The Secretary shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a potential complainant with respect to a complaint under this subsection.(b)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall investigate each complaint under subsection (a).(2) In carrying out any investigation under this subsection, the Secretary’s duly authorized representatives shall, at all reasonable times, have reasonable access to, for purposes of examination, and the right to copy and receive, any documents of any person or agency that the Secretary considers relevant to the investigation.(3) In carrying out any investigation under this subsection, the Secretary may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents relating to any matter under investigation. In case of disobedience of the subpoena or contumacy and on request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may apply to any district court of the United States in whose jurisdiction such disobedience or contumacy occurs for an order enforcing the subpoena.(4) Upon application, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to issue writs commanding any person or agency to comply with the subpoena of the Secretary or to comply with any order of the Secretary made pursuant to a lawful investigation under this subsection and the district courts shall have jurisdiction to punish failure to obey a subpoena or other lawful order of the Secretary as a contempt of court.(c)(1)(A) If the Secretary of Labor determines as a result of an investigation under subsection (b) that the action alleged in a complaint under subsection (a) occurred, the Secretary shall attempt to resolve the complaint by making reasonable efforts to ensure that the agency specified in the complaint complies with applicable provisions of statute or regulation relating to veterans’ preference.(B) The Secretary of Labor shall make determinations referred to in subparagraph (A) based on a preponderance of the evidence.(2) If the efforts of the Secretary under subsection (b) with respect to a complaint under subsection (a) do not result in the resolution of the complaint, the Secretary shall notify the person who submitted the complaint, in writing, of the results of the Secretary’s investigation under subsection (b).(d)(1) If the Secretary of Labor is unable to resolve a complaint under subsection (a) within 60 days after the date on which it is filed, the complainant may elect to appeal the alleged violation to the Merit Systems Protection Board in accordance with such procedures as the Merit Systems Protection Board shall prescribe, except that in no event may any such appeal be brought—(A) before the 61st day after the date on which the complaint is filed; or(B) later than 15 days after the date on which the complainant receives written notification from the Secretary under subsection (c)(2).(2) An appeal under this subsection may not be brought unless—(A) the complainant first provides written notification to the Secretary of such complainant’s intention to bring such appeal; and(B) appropriate evidence of compliance with subparagraph (A) is included (in such form and manner as the Merit Systems Protection Board may prescribe) with the notice of appeal under this subsection.(3) Upon receiving notification under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary shall not continue to investigate or further attempt to resolve the complaint to which the notification relates.(e)(1) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a preference eligible from appealing directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board from any action which is appealable to the Board under any other law, rule, or regulation, in lieu of administrative redress under this section.(2) A preference eligible may not pursue redress for an alleged violation described in subsection (a) under this section at the same time the preference eligible pursues redress for such violation under any other law, rule, or regulation.(Added Pub. L. 105–339, § 3(a), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3182; amended Pub. L. 108–454, title VIII, § 804(a), Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3626; Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(2)(A)(i)(II), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2645.)Editorial NotesAmendments

2024—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 118–188 substituted “3304(l)(1)” for “3304(f)(1)”.

2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–454 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 274 cases (101 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case: Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007).
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Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). · cites it 20× “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Vores v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 324 F. App'x 883 (Fed. Cir. 2009). · cites it 6× “We explained that the redress procedures provided in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a are fundamentally inconsistent with the title 38 appointment process and that 5 U.”
Richard A. Scarnati v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 344 F.3d 1246 (Fed. Cir. 2003). · cites it 8× “From this it follows that any requirements under Title 5 relating to the civil service appointment process that are different from the Title 38 appointment requirements, including the redress procedures in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a, would be by definition “inconsistent” with the Title 38…”
John E. Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 412 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2005). · cites it 12× “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Cyril Oram v. Dep't of the Navy, 110 M.S.P.R. 184 (MSPB 2022). · cites it 3× “1 (2016); see 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1)(B). 4 The Board has held that VEOA right to compete appeals have an additional jurisdictional element, i.”
Conyers v. Rossides, 558 F.3d 137 (2d Cir. 2009). · cites it 2× “Conyers also seeks an order, pursuant to the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (“VEOA”) of 1998, 5 U.S.C. § 3330a et seq., directing the Administrator to comply with the veterans’ preference provisions incorporated in the FAA’s personnel management system and granting him…”
James Campion v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 326 F.3d 1210 (Fed. Cir. 2003). · cites it 2× “§ 3304 (f)(1) provides an opportunity for both preference-eligible veterans and those honorably separated after three or more years of active service to compete for vacant federal positions, the AJ explained that 5 U.S.C. § 3330a provides a right of appeal to the Board only to…”
Guy C. Patterson v. Dep't of the Interior, 424 F.3d 1151 (Fed. Cir. 2005). · cites it 3× “3182 (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 3330a et seq.), and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”), Pub.”
Dean v. Dep't of Labor, 808 F.3d 497 (Fed. Cir. 2015). · cites it 3× “Dean’s complaint implicated §§ 3302(1) and 3308 of Title 5, we must consider whether these statutes relate to veterans’ preference.”
Riller v. Fed. Deposit Ins., 818 F.3d 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2016). “5 U.S.C. § 3330a. “Federal agencies generally use two types of selection to fill vacancies: (1) the open ‘competitive examination’ process and (2) - the .”
Barry J. Abell v. Dep't of the Navy, 343 F.3d 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “' 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(l). If the Secretary is unable to resolve the complaint within 60 days, the veteran may file an appeal of the alleged violation with the Board.”
Kirkendall v. Dept. Of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2005). · cites it 10× “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Show all 274 citing cases →
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(2)(A): 2 cases
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Bagunas v. United States Postal Serv., 73 F. App'x 407 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(A)(1)(B): 1 case
Corey Stoglin v. Dep't of Homeland Sec., No. CH-3330-17-0105-I-1 (MSPB Feb. 1, 2023).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a): 9 cases
Lynch v. Dep't of the Army, 245 F. App'x 13 (Fed. Cir. 2007).
Harold Gause v. Mark Esper, Sec'y, No. 19-50135 (5th Cir. Feb. 5, 2020).
Kathy Strand v. Dep't of the Army, No. DE-3330-17-0063-I-1 (MSPB July 5, 2023).
Samuel Trujillo v. Dep't of the Army, No. DC-3443-22-0374-I-1 (MSPB Apr. 3, 2024).
Aguilar v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., No. 2006-3327 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 9, 2007).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1): 12 cases
O'Brien v. Off. of Pers. Mgmt., 118 F. App'x 484 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
Asatov v. Agency for Int'l Dev., 542 F. App'x 937 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
Sheila Lundlee v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. SF-3330-18-0282-I-1 (MSPB Apr. 29, 2024).
Carlton Hooker v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. AT-3330-21-0539-I-1 (MSPB Aug. 11, 2023).
David Brimer v. Dep't of the Navy, No. AT-0752-18-0449-I-1 (MSPB Nov. 30, 2023).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1)(A): 67 cases
Mccoy v. Mspb, 121 F.4th 204 (Fed. Cir. 2024).
Kasten v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., 585 F.3d 310 (7th Cir. 2009).
Marnie Golden v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 2023 MSPB 19 (MSPB 2023).
Hill v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 484 F. App'x 484 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
Beyers v. Dep't of State, 505 F. App'x 951 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1)(B): 40 cases
Cyril Oram v. Dep't of the Navy, 110 M.S.P.R. 184 (MSPB 2022). “1 (2016); see 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1)(B). 4 The Board has held that VEOA right to compete appeals have an additional jurisdictional element, i.”
Cyril Oram v. Dep't of Def., No. DC-3330-17-0098-I-1 (MSPB Sept. 8, 2022).
Dwayne L. Lester v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs (MSPB 2016).
Dwayne L. Lester v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs (MSPB 2016).
Cecil Avery v. Dep't of the Army, No. DC-3330-17-0206-I-1 (MSPB Feb. 27, 2023).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(2): 4 cases
Hill v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 484 F. App'x 484 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
Christopher Freeman v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. AT-3330-16-0607-I-1 (MSPB Feb. 8, 2023).
Ashley Cody v. Dep't of Labor, No. AT-315H-23-0036-I-1 (MSPB July 19, 2024).
Christopher Harvey Hare v. Nat'l Credit Union Admin. (MSPB 2014).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(2)(A): 41 cases
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
John E. Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 412 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Jones v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 497 F. App'x 1 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
Kirkendall v. Dept. Of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 159 F. App'x 193 (Fed. Cir. 2006).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(2)(A)(B): 1 case
Robert Boone v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs (MSPB 2016).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(2)(B): 5 cases
Gingery v. Dep't of the Treasury, 403 F. App'x 498 (Fed. Cir. 2010).
Hunt v. United States Army, 30 F. App'x 567 (6th Cir. 2002).
Hill v. Potter, 48 F. App'x 198 (6th Cir. 2002).
Stephen Dambra v. Dep't of Health & Human Servs., No. DA-3330-21-0393-I-1 (MSPB Aug. 1, 2022).
Michael G. Bieluch v. United States Postal Serv. (MSPB 2015).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(d)(1): 2 cases
DeGerald R. Wilson v. Dep't of Educ. (MSPB 2014).
DeGerald R. Wilson v. Dep't of Educ. (MSPB 2014).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(l): 7 cases
Barry J. Abell v. Dep't of the Navy, 343 F.3d 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “' 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(l). If the Secretary is unable to resolve the complaint within 60 days, the veteran may file an appeal of the alleged violation with the Board.”
Richard A. Scarnati v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 344 F.3d 1246 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “From this it follows that any requirements under Title 5 relating to the civil service appointment process that are different from the Title 38 appointment requirements, including the redress procedures in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a, would be by definition “inconsistent” with the Title 38…”
Hunt v. United States Gov't, 154 F. Supp. 2d 1047 (E.D. Mich. 2001).
Light v. Small Bus. Admin., 208 F. App'x 819 (Fed. Cir. 2006).
Midyett v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 594 F. App'x 969 (Fed. Cir. 2014).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(l)(A): 16 cases
Guy C. Patterson v. Dep't of the Interior, 424 F.3d 1151 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “3182 (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 3330a et seq.), and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”), Pub.”
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Dean v. Dep't of Labor, 808 F.3d 497 (Fed. Cir. 2015). “Dean’s complaint implicated §§ 3302(1) and 3308 of Title 5, we must consider whether these statutes relate to veterans’ preference.”
Vores v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 324 F. App'x 883 (Fed. Cir. 2009). “We explained that the redress procedures provided in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a are fundamentally inconsistent with the title 38 appointment process and that 5 U.”
Johnson v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 276 F. App'x 1014 (Fed. Cir. 2008).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(l)(B): 1 case
James Burke v. Dep't of Just., No. PH-3443-18-0033-I-1 (MSPB Mar. 3, 2023).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(b): 1 case
Anthony Salazar v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 2024 MSPB 11 (MSPB 2024).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(c)(2): 5 cases
Williams v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 89 F. App'x 714 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
Stephen Dambra v. Dep't of Health & Human Servs., No. DA-3330-21-0393-I-1 (MSPB Aug. 1, 2022).
Charles Waskevich v. Dep't of the Treasury, No. PH-3330-17-0236-I-1 (MSPB June 29, 2023).
David Hendy v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. CH-3330-18-0110-I-1 (MSPB May 3, 2024).
Charles W. Heckman v. Dep't of the Interior (MSPB 2015).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d): 23 cases
Cyril Oram v. Dep't of the Navy, 110 M.S.P.R. 184 (MSPB 2022). “1 (2016); see 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(1)(B). 4 The Board has held that VEOA right to compete appeals have an additional jurisdictional element, i.”
Burroughs v. Dep't of the Army, 445 F. App'x 347 (Fed. Cir. 2011).
Vassallo v. Dep't of Def., 797 F.3d 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
John E. Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 412 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Gingery v. Dep't of the Treasury, 403 F. App'x 498 (Fed. Cir. 2010).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(1): 24 cases
Slattery v. Dep't of Just., 590 F.3d 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2010).
Anthony Salazar v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 2024 MSPB 11 (MSPB 2024).
Metzenbaum v. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 122 F. App'x 476 (Fed. Cir. 2005).
William Jolley v. Dep't of Hous. & Urban Dev., No. AT-3330-18-0138-I-1 (MSPB May 23, 2022).
Sandra Denise Ebron v. Dep't of Def. (MSPB 2015).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(1)(A): 1 case
Corey D. Stoglin v. Dep't of the Air Force (MSPB 2014).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(1)(B): 8 cases
Kirkendall v. Dept. Of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
John E. Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 412 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Corey D. Stoglin v. Dep't of the Air Force (MSPB 2014).
Dean M. Finch v. United States Postal Serv. (MSPB 2014).
Charles W. Heckman v. Dep't of the Interior (MSPB 2015).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(2): 2 cases
Christopher Freeman v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. AT-3330-16-0607-I-1 (MSPB Feb. 8, 2023).
Kenneth Harper v. Dep't of the Army, No. DE-3330-17-0365-I-1 (MSPB Nov. 10, 2022).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(a): 1 case
Gingery v. Dep't of the Treasury, 493 F. App'x 64 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(l): 11 cases
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Richard A. Scarnati v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 344 F.3d 1246 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “From this it follows that any requirements under Title 5 relating to the civil service appointment process that are different from the Title 38 appointment requirements, including the redress procedures in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a, would be by definition “inconsistent” with the Title 38…”
Dalelyn Lapuh v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 284 F.3d 1277 (Fed. Cir. 2002).
Slattery v. Dep't of Just., 590 F.3d 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2010).
Lane v. Potter, 699 F. Supp. 2d 358 (D. Mass. 2010).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(d)(l)(B): 4 cases
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 479 F.3d 830 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (‘VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
John E. Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 412 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Kirkendall appeals the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which dismissed his claims that he had been discriminated against in violation of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), 5 U.S.C. § 3330a (2000), and the Uniformed Services Employment and…”
Kirkendall v. Dep't of the Army, 159 F. App'x 193 (Fed. Cir. 2006).
Gossage v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 513 F. App'x 981 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(e)(2): 4 cases
Figueroa v. Napolitano, 772 F. Supp. 2d 741 (D.S.C. 2010).
Gossage v. Merit Sys. Prot. Bd., 513 F. App'x 981 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
Demery v. MSPB, No. 24-2215 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 4, 2025).
Deselle Volson v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, No. DA-0752-17-0446-I-1 (MSPB Apr. 5, 2023).
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(e)(l): 1 case
Richard A. Scarnati v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs, 344 F.3d 1246 (Fed. Cir. 2003). “From this it follows that any requirements under Title 5 relating to the civil service appointment process that are different from the Title 38 appointment requirements, including the redress procedures in 5 U.S.C. § 3330a, would be by definition “inconsistent” with the Title 38…”
5 U.S.C. § 3330a(l)(a)(A): 1 case
Land Grantors v. United States, 81 Fed. Cl. 580 (Fed. Cl. 2008).
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