diff --git a/components/breadcrumbs.js b/components/breadcrumbs.js
index 90f078c5..f7e0d251 100644
--- a/components/breadcrumbs.js
+++ b/components/breadcrumbs.js
@@ -298,8 +298,6 @@ const Breadcrumbs = (props) => {
 
                         {renderMappedRoute(pathname)}
 
-                        {isPath("/newappeal") && <></>}
-
                         {staticTextCrumbLabel &&
                             renderTextCrumb(staticTextCrumbLabel)}
                     </ol>
diff --git a/memory-bank/change-log.md b/memory-bank/change-log.md
index 3c929c46..a2de7b0a 100644
--- a/memory-bank/change-log.md
+++ b/memory-bank/change-log.md
@@ -887,6 +887,31 @@ Follow-ups:
 
 - Closure slice 3: resolve and guard remaining `/newappeal` inline edge branch treatment.
 
+### CL-22541-Z3: breadcrumbs closure slice 3 — remove lingering `/newappeal` no-op inline branch
+
+date: 2026-04-09  
+author: Cline  
+scope: `components/breadcrumbs.js`, `tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs`  
+type: change  
+rationale: Execute closure slice 3 by resolving the remaining inline `/newappeal` edge branch (a no-op render guard) and locking its removal with explicit structure coverage.  
+impact: Refactor/test hardening only; no runtime route/auth/session/API/EN-CY/a11y behavior change.
+status: completed
+
+Summary:
+
+- Removed lingering no-op branch from breadcrumbs JSX:
+    - deleted `{isPath("/newappeal") && <></>}`
+- Added structure guard assertion that `/newappeal` inline branch is absent.
+
+Validation:
+
+- `node tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs` -> pass (4/4).
+- `node tests/phase22/index.test.cjs` -> pass (combined suite).
+
+Follow-ups:
+
+- Breadcrumb route-state extraction closure slices (1/2/3) complete.
+
 ### CL-00X: 22500 `components/elements/index.js` Phase 1 helper extraction
 
 date: 2026-04-07  
diff --git a/tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs b/tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs
index 6066c10c..b6632cf1 100644
--- a/tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/phase22/breadcrumbs-route-map-structure.test.cjs
@@ -320,6 +320,12 @@ test("breadcrumbs/component composes mapped routes via imported factories and sh
         "Expected /newappeal/selectappeal explicit branch to be removed after mapping"
     );
 
+    assert.strictEqual(
+        source.includes('isPath("/newappeal")'),
+        false,
+        "Expected /newappeal no-op explicit branch to be removed"
+    );
+
     assert.strictEqual(
         source.includes('isPath("/newappeal/[appealtypes]")'),
         false,