No. 25-482

Julien P. Champagne v. Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2025-10-20
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-law compensation-benefits disability-claims pension-benefits va-regulations veterans-benefits
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw ERISA SocialSecurity Securities JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-01-23
Question Presented (from Petition)

Whether the VA must process a disability claim as a claim for both pension and compensation if the veteran has a possible entitlement to both benefits and award "the greater" benefit available as provided by 38 C.F.R. § 3.151(a), or whether the VA instead has discretion to disregard a potentially meritorious compensation claim and therefore afford the lesser benefit available to the veteran?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the VA must process a disability claim as a claim for both pension and compensation if the veteran has a possible entitlement to both benefits and award 'the greater' benefit available as provided by 38 C.F.R. § 3.151(a), or whether the VA instead has discretion to disregard a potentially meritorious compensation claim and therefore afford the lesser benefit available to the veteran?

Docket Entries

2026-01-26
Petition DENIED.
2026-01-07
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/23/2026.
2026-01-06
Reply of petitioner Julien P. Champagne filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-06
Reply of Julien P. Champagne submitted.
2025-12-19
Brief of respondent Collins, Sec. of VA in opposition filed.
2025-12-19
Brief of Collins, Sec. of VA in opposition submitted.
2025-11-19
Amicus brief of The National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium submitted.
2025-11-19
Brief amicus curiae of Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc. filed.
2025-11-19
Brief amicus curiae of National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium filed.
2025-11-19
Amicus brief of Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc. submitted.
2025-11-18
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 19, 2025.
2025-11-17
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 19, 2025 to December 19, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-17
Motion of Collins, Sec. of VA for an extension of time submitted.
2025-10-16
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 19, 2025)
2025-09-29
Application (25A149) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until October 16, 2025.
2025-09-22
Application (25A149) to extend further the time from October 2, 2025 to October 16, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.
2025-08-06
Application (25A149) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until October 2, 2025.
2025-08-01
Application (25A149) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 1, 2025 to October 2, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Collins, Sec. of VA
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Julien P. Champagne
Jaime Ann SantosGoodwin Procter LLP, Petitioner
Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc.
Melanie Lynn BostwickOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Amicus
The National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium
Judy Ann ClausenUniv. of FL Veterans Service Members Legal Clinic, Amicus