Purifoy v. Department of Veterans Affairs

STOLL, Circuit Judge.

Lamonte L. Purifoy appeals a final order by the Merit Systems Protection Board affirming the Agency’s decision to remove him from his position over two charges of extended unauthorized absence. The Board’s order reversed an administrative judge’s reinstatement of Mr. Purifoy following a 40-day suspension. Because the Board’s analysis improperly omitted relevant Douglas factors and discarded the AJ’s credibility determinations without an adequate rationale, we vacate the Board’s judgment and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Background

In 2013, Mr.…