Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential opinions and three nonprecedential orders. One nonprecedential opinion comes in a pro se case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims, one comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Federal Claims, and one comes in response to a petition for review of a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. One nonprecedential order denies a petition for a writ of mandamus to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and two orders dismiss appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and the orders as well as links to the dismissals.
Horton v. United States (Nonprecedential)
Brent Horton was separated from the Army and subsequently brought an action in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (“Claims Court”) challenging his separation and seeking back pay and other related relief. The Claims Court granted judgment on the administrative record for the government. For the reasons explained below, we affirm.
Windsor v. Collins (Nonprecedential)
Washington Windsor appeals from a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“Veterans Court”) dismissing his petition for a writ of mandamus as moot and denying his motion to strike portions of the Secretary’s response to his petition. Windsor v. Collins, 2025 WL 2437432, at *2 (Vet. App. Aug. 25, 2025) (“Decision”). For the following reasons, we dismiss.
Corcoran v. Office of Personnel Management (Nonprecedential)
Appellant Sara Corcoran seeks survivor annuity benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System. To receive benefits, Ms. Corcoran must establish that she and her late husband, Anthony Schinella, were married for at least nine months prior to his passing. Because we find no error in the Merit Systems Protection Board’s determination that Mr. Schinella and Ms. Corcoran were married less than nine months before Mr. Schinella’s passing, we affirm the denial of Ms. Corcoran’s claim for survivor annuity benefits.
In re Brackins El (Nonprecedential Order)
Randy Brackins El moves the court to grant leave to file a petition for a writ of mandamus concerning a pending matter before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
In November 2025, Mr. Brackins El filed a whistleblower appeal with the Board. El v. NASA, No. AT-1221- 26-0143-W-1, 2026 WL 103064 (M.S.P.B. Jan. 7, 2026). The assigned administrative judge issued an initial decision dismissing the appeal. Mr. Brackins El’s petition indicates that, in January 2026, he filed a petition seeking the full Board’s review of that decision that he indicates remains pending.