04/01/2026
In a recent lawsuit, Freund v. McDonough (No. 23-1387, Fed. Cir. 2024), veterans J. Roni Freund and Marvin Mathewson had disability appeals that were closed erroneously by the VA's computer system (VACOLS).
Class Certification & Ruling: The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in August 2024 that the case could proceed as a class action, rejecting the VA's argument that the class was too difficult to identify (rejecting a "heightened ascertainability requirement").
Impact: The ruling allows for a class of veterans, potentially numbering in the thousands, whose appeals were deleted due to technical errors to have their claims reinstated and reviewed. This class was certified in March 2026. Attorney Parker represents disability claimants nationwide before the SSA and is an accredited VA representative.
