February 27, 1997
                                                



                             GSBCA 13963-RELO


                     In the Matter of LINDA L. JEFFREY


     Linda L. Jeffrey, Birmingham, AL, Claimant.

     Al LaBombard, Chief, Employee Accounts Division, Department of
Veterans Affairs, Austin, TX, appearing for the Department of
Veterans Affairs.

GOODMAN, Board Judge.

     Ms. Linda L. Jeffrey is an employee of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.  She seeks reimbursement of real estate costs
arising from a permanent change of station.  The agency has denied
her claim.  By letter dated September 30, 1996, she has requested
review of the agency s decision by this Board.

     On June 13, 1993, Ms. Jeffrey made an intra-agency transfer
from VA Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas to VA Medical Center, 
Birmingham, Alabama.  At that time, she was issued an authorization
for a permanent change of duty station which inclued reimbursement
of real estate costs in the amount of up to $9,500.  Her travel
voucher shows that she arrived at the new duty station on June 13,
1993.  On June 1, 1995, she requested a one-year extension for the
sale and purchase of real estate, which was approved.  

     Ms. Jeffrey states in her submission to this Board:

     I actively began searching for a residence in May 1996. 
     I was not able to find anything until August.  I signed
     a contract in August 1996 for a house presently under
     construction and should be ready for closure October 17,
     1996.  I closed on October 23, 1996.  On September 4,
     1996, I requested procedures for reimbursement . . . . 
     I was told my 3 years were up and they could not give me
     reimbursement.

     Ms. Jeffrey sought reimbursement in the amount of $6,495.  The
agency denied Ms. Jeffrey s claim for reimbursement, stating that
the Federal Travel Regulation requires as follows:

     (e)  Time limitation--(1) Initial period.  The settlement
     dates for the sale and purchase or lease termination
     transactions for which reimbursement is requested are not
     later than 2 years after the date that the employee
     reported for duty at the new official station.

     (2)  Extension of time limitation.

     (i)  Upon an employee's written request, the 2-year time
     limitation for completion of the sale and purchase or
     lease termination transactions may be extended by the
     head of the agency or his/her designee for an additional
     period of time not to exceed 1 year.

41 CFR 302-6.1 (1996).

     Thus, the agency took the position that since settlement took
place after the three-year time period authorized, the claim for
reimbursement of expenses must be denied.  The agency s position is
correct.  The Comptroller General has consistently held that, based
upon the regulation quoted above, there is no authority for the
reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the sale or
purchase of an employee s home, regardless of extenuating
circumstances,  if the employee has failed to meet the applicable
time limit.  This Board has found this reasoning persuasive, and
has denied reimbursement in similar circumstances.  John J. Cody,
GSBCA 13701-RELO (Nov. 25, 1996).  Ms. Jeffrey failed to close on
the purchase of her new home within the required time period. 
Accordingly, the agency s denial of Ms. Jeffrey s claim is
affirmed.





                                   _________________________
                                   ALLAN H. GOODMAN
                                   Board Judge