Board of Contract Appeals
                    General Services Administration
                         Washington, D.C. 20405
 
 
                           __________________
 
                             June 24, 1998
                          ___________________
 
 
                            GSBCA 14453-TRAV
 
 
                   In the Matter of TIMOTHY P. TWIGG
 
 
        Timothy P. Twigg, California, MD, Claimant.
 
        Allen  Johnson,  Acting  Director,  Program Development  and
   Direction, Office of  the Assistant Secretary, Department  of the
   Navy, Washington, DC, appearing for Department of the Navy.
 
   PARKER, Board Judge.
 
        In December 1995, Timothy Twigg, a civilian employee of  the
   Department of the Navy, paid  $565 for a blood chemistry analysis
   while he was  in Eagan, Minnesota, on a  long-term temporary duty
   assignment.  According to Mr.  Twigg, this amount is $139.63 more
   than he would have paid if he  had been able to have the analysis
   performed  at his  permanent  duty  station  in  Patuxent  River,
   Maryland.   When the Navy  denied his claim for  this difference,
   Mr.    Twigg   asked   the    Board   to   review    the   Navy's
   decision.[foot #] 1
 
        We agree with the Navy that there is no basis for paying Mr.
   Twigg's claim.  We are not aware of, nor has Mr. Twigg pointed us
   to, any statute or  regulation which would authorize  the payment
   of   medical  expenses  incurred   while  on  a   temporary  duty
   assignment.  
 
                                                                    
                   ----------- FOOTNOTE BEGINS ---------
 
        [foot #] 1 Mr. Twigg also requested that the Board order the
   Navy to pay  the $960.29 that he  incurred to travel home  for an
   annual doctor visit.   We do not  address this issue  because Mr.
   Twigg never filed  a claim for this  expense with the Navy.   See
                                                                 ___
   Rule 401(c) (claims for travel and relocation expenses must first
   be filed with the claimant's agency for adjudication).
 
                   ----------- FOOTNOTE ENDS -----------
 
 
   Although section C6454  of the Joint Travel  Regulations provides
   for payment of transportation expenses and per diem under certain
   circumstances  when  an  employee interrupts  or  discontinues  a
   travel assignment because of an incapacitating illness or injury,
   there is no  provision for the  payment of medical expenses.   In
   the absence of such authority, the claim may not be paid.
 
                                      __________________________
                                      ROBERT W. PARKER
                                      Board Judge