Angela C. Hines v. Douglas A. Collins — CAVC (argued August 26, 2026)
The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims considers an unsigned intent-to-file form. Angela Hines receives benefits for a right-arm fracture and surgical scar, effective August 22, 2018. An effective date is when benefits begin. Hines seeks August 24, 2017, when VA received her form without its signature section. The Board denied the earlier dates. The question is whether her 2018 claim completed an incomplete application within one year and preserved the 2017 date, or whether a written intent to file must be signed and dated.
Angela C. Hines v. Douglas A. Collins (No. 24-8967) — United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, argued August 26, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/documents/Hines.MP3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims:https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/oral_arguments_audio.php?fullsite=yes
Public docket — Hines v. Collins, No. 24-8967:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=24-8967&fullDocketReport=Y&incPrior=Y&incAssoc=Y&incPtyAty=Y&incCaption=long&incDktEntries=Y
Board of Veterans' Appeals decision:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011068697
Appellant's brief — Veterans Court docket:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011979049
Secretary's brief — Veterans Court docket:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012295948
38 U.S.C. § 5102 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:38%20section:5102%20edition:prelim)
38 C.F.R. § 3.155 — Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.155
Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Carpenter Chartered:https://carpenterchartered.com/our-team/
- 0:00Introduction
- 2:16Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Angela Hines
- 36:01Anita U. Koepcke — Secretary Collins