⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Walker v. Collins — Fed. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

No. 25-1503 Argued September 8, 2026 Published September 9, 2026

The Federal Circuit considers whether the VA's 2010 grant of Johnny Walker's PTSD claim also fulfilled the agency's duty to reconsider his 1996 claim under 38 C.F.R. Section 3.156(c). That rule requires the VA to reconsider a denied claim when relevant service-department records later enter the file. Walker says the grant addressed only his 2008 reopening request, leaving the 1996 claim pending because the decision gave no notice that it had been reconsidered. The government says the VA considered the new records in 2010, which was enough. The Veterans Court agreed and affirmed the Board.

Walker v. Collins (No. 25-1503) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 8, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1503_09082026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/
Argument calendar and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf
Veterans Court decision — Walker v. McDonough, No. 23-3703:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011004431
Veterans Court docket — Walker v. Collins, No. 23-3703:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=23-3703&incOrigDkt=Y&incDktEntries=Y
38 C.F.R. § 3.156 — U.S. Government Publishing Office:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title38-vol1/pdf/CFR-2025-title38-vol1-part3.pdf
Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Carpenter Chartered:https://carpenterchartered.com/our-team/
Counsel record for Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Veterans Court docket:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011979049
Counsel record for Matthew J. Carhart — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-11/vandermark.opp_-_final.pdf

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