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Presley / Bolton-Pellerin v. Collins — CAVC (Sep 1, 2026)

No. 25-1636 / 25-5259 Argued September 1, 2026 Published September 1, 2026; updated September 6, 2026

The Veterans Court considers whether two consolidated caregiver appeals should proceed as a class action, letting named appellants seek a shared remedy for similarly situated people. Sharon Presley and Shyrl Bolton-Pellerin applied under VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, or PCAFC. The veterans died while benefit proceedings were pending, and the Board denied both appeals as a matter of law. The caregivers seek a class-wide remand for applicants whose appeals were denied or dismissed because the veteran died. The Secretary says jurisdiction, prejudice, and eligibility require individual review; a precedential ruling, it says, is enough.

Presley / Bolton-Pellerin v. Collins (No. 25-1636 / 25-5259) — United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, argued September 1, 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/Presley_Bolton-Pellerin.MP3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims:https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/oral_arguments_audio.php?fullsite=yes
Public docket — Presley v. Collins, No. 25-1636:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=25-1636&fullDocketReport=Y&incPrior=Y&incAssoc=Y&incPtyAty=Y&incCaption=long&incDktEntries=Y
Public docket — Bolton-Pellerin v. Collins, No. 25-5259:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=25-5259&fullDocketReport=Y&incPrior=Y&incAssoc=Y&incPtyAty=Y&incCaption=long&incDktEntries=Y
Order consolidating the two appeals — Veterans Court:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011913818
Board decision — Sharon D. Presley:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011321747
Board decision — Shyrl Bolton-Pellerin:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011913850
Sharon Presley's request for class certification:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011715618
Secretary's response opposing class certification:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012555470
Appellants' reply supporting class certification:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012760180
Order limiting oral argument to class certification:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012720058
Order setting the September 1, 2026 argument:https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012740077
Rule 23 — Veterans Court Rules of Practice and Procedure:https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/documents/RulesofPracticeandProcedure20250224.pdf
Renée Burbank — National Veterans Legal Services Program:https://nvlsp.org/who-we-are/our-team/

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