ÿWPCÏ'  
      (2     Z)ðÕP»˜ì}HPß'Ifø¦õÙâí‰´Bw@ž9š;£>óh�ÎÐ8ƒ»QMOZ™‡²Ez%’FdŒ¾N>yJ\[S¿/‹¹�9áØÝ2oRþ0k§Â�…™€œÀÖ%¾ª–14A×4?àY��HNÅÞ÷€ÉÞ|?f<jÀ}:ú¥ÿ4#]Þ× êðš!ø®²b[ŒÝqËXÝÝÆET®ûŒÕ¶€à4Ÿ¾o´#CcæDR�ëÁ¼„U²çX±•_¨ðëj<<“èr³~Õ(ž¶äí’'<$KYyÝ<‰ÚÃ�_ì™ƒšmÔÀ±¶ôW§<íBeê!Nlª%—3×J—Fð`ž3‹ÙuÀÇÞë:â@n©6è4pääŸ.¡ð¿£°&Ìa{ågPþ)0é.$
†~‘
¼5ç…Y0ÛáI{yÞ~ßœÉÓUÓ,a9¶@9eð×p¯³FfèùBt¬c"üd¹B"]ŠúL»6›)ò �é×©gŸû ÿ‹Sm?<öOg……7-†o~cL%¶¤î°à¯Ä˜ÑGÑ–®8®$**vÝTŸš¿2ñò²•Œù½Ö¨:\xªågstXgI\_ÞÔv´,Ž'³¢å ;           #     :   U   N   E  	%      “  0   (   ™  0   ~   Á  0   x   ?  0   k   ·  0   k   "  0   š   �  0   ~   '	  0   Ñ   ¥	  0   ä   v
  0   ¦   Z  0   ÷      0   
  ÷  0       0   1    0   C  P  0   V  “  0   Ï   é  0   ¤   ¸  0   ¤   \  0   Ã      0   ¼   Ã  0   »     0   Ù   :  0   £     0   £   ¶  0   z   Y  0   ä   Ó  	      ·  0   =   È  0   F     0   P   K  	1   •   ›  0   Ù   0  	1     	  0   ¾     0   C   Î   U   .      E      ?   U   >   A  n   X    	B      ×   	1   m   ô   w   @   a!  4      ¡!     i  µ!        %        -%   	      5%     ‚  ;%            ;%   	      ½'            ½'            ½'   	      Ã'   	      É'   ˜H P   L a s e r J e t   5 P / 5 M P   ( H P )                             HPPCL5G      ,ä ,,,,,ä 0                                                                                                                                                             nLhÎ( uHš  	   Z  ‹6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r           X    (                    $ ¡   ¡       V       &          ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 8 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à0    . .  àà8    `	. . `	 àÌ     V                ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 4 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à    . .  àòòòò.óó€€óó    V                 ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 6 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à8    . .  àÌ     V                 ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 5 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à0    . .  àÌ     V       /         ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 2 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ÌòòÔ2     ÔA.Ô3
   
 Ô€òòÔ
     ÔÔ     ÔÌ óóóó    V       &          ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 7 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à0    . .  àà0    `	. . `	 àÌ     z       U          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 1 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   àÐ    . .   àÔ2       ÔI.Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     °. . ° àà0    . .  àÌ     z       h          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 2 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  ààÐ    `	. . ø àÔ2      ÔA.Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     . .  àà0    `	. . `	 àÌ     V       ?         ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 3 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   Ìà    . .  àòòÔ2     Ô1.Ô3
   
 Ô€Ô
     ÔÔ     Ô óó    z       {          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 3 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 ààÐ    ¸. . P
 àÔ2      Ô1.Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     `	. . `	 àà0    ¸. . ¸ àÌ     z       Ž          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 4 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 àà    ¸. . ¸ ààÐ    . . ¨ àÔ2      Ôa.Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     ¸. . ¸ àà0    . .  àÌ     z       ¢          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 5 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 àà    ¸. . ¸ àà    . .  ààÐ    h. . ˆ àÔ2      Ô(1)Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     . .  àà0    h. . h àÌ     z       µ          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 6 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 àà    ¸. . ¸ àà    . .  àà    h. . h ààÐ    À. . à àÔ2      Ô(a)Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     h. . h àà0    À. . À àÌ     z       Ç          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 7 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 àà    ¸. . ¸ àà    . .  àà    h. . h àà    À. . À ààÐ    . . ° àÔ2      Ôi)Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     À. . À àà0    . .  àÌ     z       Ú          ÿÿ: R i g h t   P a r [ 8 ]   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   à    . .  àà    `	. . `	 àà    ¸. . ¸ àà    . .  àà    h. . h àà    À. . À àà    . .  ààÐ    p. .  àÔ2      Ôa)Ô3
   
 Ô€ˆà     . .  àà0    p. . p àÌ     V       X         ÿÿ8 D o c u m e n t [ 1 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ÌÔ     Ôà@    ì. . ^ àòòòòÔ
      ÔÔ2      ÔI.Ô3
   
 Ô€Ô    ÔÔ     ÔÔ      ÔˆÌ óóóó    l       2         ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 5 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à    . .  àòòÔ2     Ô(1)Ô3
   
 Ô€.€€óó    l       2         ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 6 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à    . .  àòòÔ2     Ô(a)Ô3
   
 Ô€.€€óó    l       /   %      ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 2 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ÌòòÔ2     ÔA.Ô3
   
 Ô€òòÔ
     ÔÔ     ÔóóÌ à    . .  àóó    l       ,   !      ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 3 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ÌòòÔ2     Ô1.Ô3
   
 Ô€Ô
     ÔÔ     Ô à    . .  àóó    l      (   !      ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 4 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   òòÔ2     Ôa.Ô3
   
 Ô€Ô
     ÔÔ     Ô à    . .  àóó    l       :   0      ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 1 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ÌòòòòÔ
      ÔÔ2      ÔI.Ô3
   
 Ô€Ô    ÔÔ     ÔÔ      ÔÌ óóà    . .  àóó    l       1         ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 7 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à    . .  àòòÔ2     Ôi)Ô3
   
 Ô€.€€óó    l       1         ÿÿ: T e c h n i c a l [ 8 ]   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   à    . .  àòòÔ2     Ôa)Ô3
   
 Ô€.€€óó    R       &          ÿÿ8 B i b l i o g r p h y   B i b l i o g r a p h y   à0    . .  àà     °. . ° àÌÌ    f          p        ÿÿ2 D o c   I n i t   I n i t i a l i z e   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   Ó €    ÓÇÓS €	#  	     
         I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)                 S ÓØ                     Ø   ! "           (                  ÿÿ$ ˜   ˜   Ìà0
    
 àà 
    
 à    (                  ÿÿ$ ™   ™   à0
    
 àà0
    
 àà 
    
 à    (       (           ÿÿ$ š   š   à0
    
 àà0
    
 àà0
    
 àà 
    
 à  	     
   ÿÿ  A _ e k q w  ‡ � D o c u m e n t   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   I .   1 .   A .   a .   ( 1 )   ( a )   i )   a )         j       o            ÿÿ4 T e c h   I n i t   I n i t i a l i z e   T e c h n i c a l   S t y l e   ÓS €	%                      1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1                 þ S ÓØ                     Ø          ÿÿ        C u y � � � ± É å T e c h n i c a l   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   1   1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1         x   F               £J2 P l e a d i n g   H e a d e r   f o r   n u m b e r e d   p l e a d i n g   p a p e r   Ó    È    ÓÑ     ° ÑÑ   è° ÑÖ €0       ÿÿ ÍHa:; Ö    (                  2 C$ ¨   ¨   Ý
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    Ý< þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r           ) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o   « < þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xôx þ6X   @É “8Å; X@) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                                                                                   XXt ô\	    PŽ ¨PU XP                   d                   # e   3 7 = C I Q Y a g ­   ­   1 .   a .   i .   ( 1 )   ( a )   ( i )   1 )   a )   
   u   v  Ê w  Ê x   y  {z   {  E |   }  D ~  Ê Z/#Z/#             
   _  Ý
 ƒ'  ÿÿ( ÝÝ    ÝÔ €(  Xì  X  X Xì ÔÓ    È    ÓÒ    X° ÒÒ   °° ÒÓ    ÿÿÀ°   ›X Óß> €, ) '                 ü ° ø*–       d       > ßß> €, ) '                  ° ø*–       d      > ßÌÌà�    H À à1ˆÌÌà�    H À à2ˆÌÌà�    H À à3ˆÌÌà�    H À à4ˆÌÌà�    H À à5ˆÌÌà�    H À à6ˆÌÌà�    H À à7ˆÌÌà�    H À à8ˆÌÌà�    H À à9ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à10ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à11ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à12ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à13ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à14ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à15ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à16ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à17ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à18ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à19ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à20ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à21ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à22ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à23ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à24ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à25ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à26ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à27ˆÌÌà�    Ð À à28Ô"       à.À+   Ø'À+  À+" Ô3| x    ~          H¿                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
            Ï9   
 '           K A L E T E    0    K A L E T E   
 .      
       
       
         È¿    È    È¿  Ý
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    ÝÑ7 €*  2* X X       dð                  dÈ 7 ÑÑ    Z ÑÓ   ° p°   œX Óòòñ o ññi ñòòñi ññh ñÓ     Óñh ñño ñÓ    Óñ o ññn ñÔ% €6    Ôñn ññf ñDesignated€for€electronic€publication€onlyñf ñño ñóóñ o ññi ñóóñi ñño ññ p ññg ñÌñg ññp ñÓ   ª    Óñ p ñÌñp ñà@    Œ
Œ
 ì àòòà@ @  Œ
Œ
 ì àUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€VETERANS€APPEALSóóˆÐ   	 °      ÐÌñ o ñÓ    Óño ñòòñ o ñÓ  Ý   Óño ñNo.€97„131Ð   	 �à   ÐÌEdward€W.€Schroeder,à    p àAppellant,Ð   	 pÀ   Ð€Ì€€€€€€€v.€à    p àÐ   	 P
    Ðà    p àÌTogo€D.€West,€Jr.,ÌSecretary€of€Veterans€Affairs,à    p àAppellee.ÓE  4 °    X °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð  (#° pE ÓóóÐ   	  p	   ÐÌÌà@    Ž
Ž
 ì àBefore€NEBEKER,€òòChief€Judgeóó,€and€KRAMER,€FARLEY,ˆÐ   	 ð@   Ðà@    1
1
 ì àHOLDAWAY,€IVERS,€STEINBERG,€and€GREENE,€òòJudgesóó.ˆÐ   	 à0   ÐÌà@    & ì àòòO€R€D€E€RóóˆÐ   	 À   Ðñ o ñòòÌà     àà    `	 àà    ¸ à€€€€€€€€€€òòNote:€€Pursuant€to€U.S.€Vet.€App€R.€28(i)Ð   	 Â   Ðà@    ŠŠ ì àthis€action€may€not€be€cited€as€precedentóóˆÐ   	 ¨ø   ÐÌóóño ññs ñÓ     Óñs ñà     àñt ññt ñIn€his€brief,€the€appellant€has,€inter€alia,€moved€for€an€initial€decision€by€the€full€Court€on€theÏissue€of€whether€a€duty€to€assist€attaches€pursuant€to€38€U.S.C.€ðð€5107(a)€prior€to€the€submission€ofÏa€well„grounded€claim.€€ñ o ñò
òño ñHowever,€the€Court€notes€that€the€decision€of€the€U.S.€Court€of€Appeals€forÏthe€Federal€Circuit€in€òòEpps€v.�Goberóó,€126�F.3d€1464,€1468€(Fed.€Cir.€1997),€òòcert.€denied€sub€nom.Ð   	 €Ð   ÐEpps€v.€West,óó€118€S.€Ct.€2348€(1998)€(mem.),€expressly€rejected€the€appellant's€contention€in€thisÐ   	 pÀ   Ðcase,€and€that€that›€case€is€binding€on€this€Court.€œñ o ñó
óño ñ›ÌÌà     àOn€consideration€of€the€foregoing€and€the€record€on€appeal,€it€isÌÌà     àORDERED€that€the€motion€is€denied.ÌÌDATED:à    `	 àœñ y ññx ñFebruaryñx ññy ññx ññx ññy ñFebruaryñy ññx ñ€ñx ññz ñ8ñz ññ { ññz ñ.ñz ññ{ ññ| ñ,€1999ñ| ññ } ñ›à    h à›à    h à›à    h àñ} ñ›ñ~ ñÔ% €3    Ôñ~ ñà    h àà    À àà     àPER€CURIAM.Ð   	  P   ÐœÌñ w ññv ñÔ% €9    Ôñv ññw ññ ~ ññw ñÔ% €:    Ôñw ññ~ ññ u ñCopies›€to:ÌÌMichael€P.€Horan,€Esq.ÌParalyzed€Veterans€of€AmericaÌ801€18th€Street,€NWÌWashington,€DC€€20006Ìœ›ÌGeneral€Counsel€(027)ÌDepartment€of€Veterans€AffairsÌ810€Vermont€Avenue,€NWÌWashington,€DC€€20420ÌÌœapr/egkñu ñ›