Question juridique clé
Whether the 1996 benefit termination had become final despite the pending opposition and whether later claims had to be treated as a relapse.
Solution extraite
The 1996 decision stopping treatment and daily allowance became de facto final because the insured did not pursue the opposition proceedings and only reasserted claims years later; the later complaints had to be assessed as a relapse.
Motifs extraits
In light of the ATSG/UVV rules on formal decisions and the case law on de facto finality, a claimant cannot wait an unreasonable time before insisting on a formal opposition decision. The long delay showed waiver of the opposition procedure.