Case Explained: JAMES v. COLLINS

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Filed: 2026-07-30 The federal-circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction because the Veterans Court’s judgment was not final. The court stated that James filed a motion for a three-judge panel decision with the Veterans Court, which rendered the underlying order non-final for purposes of judicial review under established precedent. Consequently, the Federal Circuit lacked authority to review the case or remand it for the Veterans Court to consider the pending motion. The practical consequence is that the appeal is dismissed without prejudice, allowing the Veterans Court to rule on the panel motion first, which may establish entitlement to equitable tolling before any further appellate review can occur. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.