Military Pay Claims

Chair, Honorable Charles F. Lettow, Judge, U.S. Court of Federal Claims

This panel will explore the historical evolution of military pay and disability claims that are brought before the court. Over a span of decades, the court has shifted from an older focus on de novo claims to the current emphasis on cases adjudicated by the court on review of an administrative record of action by military boards. The panel will explore the circumstances in which plaintiffs may prefer to bypass boards and bring de novo claims directly to the court. The panel will also consider multi-party cases such as Sabo v. United States, a class action that recently settled involving over 2,000 veterans challenging their PTSD ratings, and compare this decision to the resolution of reverse discrimination class actions claims six to eight years earlier. Panelists will also assess the differences in the Federal Circuit’s procedural approach to appeals of military pay and disability claims from the Court of Federal Claims versus appeals of veterans’ claims from the Veterans Courts.

Panel Members:

• Honorable Charles F. Lettow, Chair
• Honorable William C. Bryson
• Honorable James F. Merow
• Brad Fagg
• Eugene R. Fidell
• Douglas K. Mickle