ÿWPCÍ/  
      G     HlÑÆ•‹dÔ\7”ü#vì`'ÏX_c(’‘Š·RCê »ÎüÕ v‘ãÙJ³Tx�XÅ¢Y´kJ»º¬´E.ÕoK&j|Â-b$æž¬JÅí}"�U=Àï	àçC¢X3ˆ�eÊdå“è€'7âÇ&5Ë5$®HDL÷›eHã9DÙÑJÑôwHu'[¡út%+ÉM{ŽDPZÇ�mñ|-¥ó0ì±è!…2wãEê§hìu·˜~Íy›„g6ì=Æ�O‘FhR?Š».f�„øUÐGÍ™š›–ô^x$×ç|¸em;k
Ó¦÷ü—ž€?TG?=çÄñˆ;sê½¿oæož:5Ùñ€;]�Žx+5N½g?’´)¶`vÓ_paK¾wf•Euä±=Î\Éšû×uiS‘|`„Y¤7Mn*\’jÈ{ºÝsˆô™5áY8'Ù–SêË«¶ßM’DÂ+¹‘CjðÝ|E,55¾ÚÊ¹ò÷… Bšß�e£”eU»-YíEåZü³'Ï§ª’n]M�Ü*>Šî~M'ÄùÐðªî‡JÜi=u†‚å­WDËÝfsOÖLG-¯“-Ê˜i_pDCŽ77ë@9Ég
ÈR5Ð >           #     d   U   N   o  	%      ½  0   œ   Ã  0   ~   _  0   x   Ý  0   k   U  0   k   À  0   š   +	  0   ~   Å	  0   Ñ   C
  0   ä     0   ¦   ø  0   ÷   ž  0   
  •  0     Ÿ  0   1  ½  0   C  î  0   V  1  0   Ï   ‡  0   ¤   V  0   ¤   ú  0   Ã   ž  0   ¼   a  0   »     0   Ù   Ø  0   £   ±  0   £   T  0   z   ÷  0   ä   q  	      U  0   =   f  0   F   £  0   P   é  	1   •   9  0   Ù   Î  	1     §  0   ¾   ®  0   ·   l   U   .   #      }  Q    E      Î#  n   X  Ð#   U   >   (%  	B      f%  n   X  ƒ%  n   ­   Û&  n   X  ˆ'  n   ­   à(  	1   m   �)     @  ú)  w   L   :+  4      †+     @  š+        Ú,   U   N   é,   	      7-     ~  =-   	      »/   	      Á/   	      Ç/   ˜H P   L a s e r J e t   5 / 5 M   -   E n h a n c e d                     HPBXLA       È È È È È È È È 0                                                                                                                                                               ( ÈhH  	   Z  ‹6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r           X    (   t               Fð$ ¡   ¡   Ó      ÓÑ     ÑÑ7 €(  ì X  X       dÈ                     7 ÑÑ    Z ÑÔ     ÔÔ      Ô    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$ š   š   à0
    
 àà0
    
 àà0
    
 àà 
    
 à  	     
   ÿÿ  A _ e k q w  ‡ � D o c u m e n t   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   I .   1 .   A .   a .   ( 1 )   ( a )   i )   a )         j       o            ÿÿ4 T e c h   I n i t   I n i t i a l i z e   T e c h n i c a l   S t y l e   ÓS €	%                      1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1                 þ S ÓØ                     Ø          ÿÿ        C u y � � � ± É å T e c h n i c a l   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   1   1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1         x   F               £42 P l e a d i n g   H e a d e r   f o r   n u m b e r e d   p l e a d i n g   p a p e r   Ó    È    ÓÑ     ° ÑÑ   è° ÑÖ €)       ÿÿ ÍHa:; Ö    (   �               2xr$ ¨   ¨   Ý
 ƒ  Fð! ÝÓ      ÓÑ     ÑÑ7 €(  U8( X X       dâ    X   X       dæ 7 ÑÑ    Z ÑÔ     ÔÔ      ÔÝ    Ý< þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r          
   s  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 à27ˆÐ   	 P-0*6   Ð‡à�    Ð À à28Ô"              Ø'      " Ô  « < 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) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                      d  « < 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« < þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xôx þ6X   @É “8Å; X@« < 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« < þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xôx þ6X   @É “8Å; X@                 # e   3 7 = C I Q Y a g ­   ­   1 .   a .   i .   ( 1 )   ( a )   ( i )   1 )   a )       ÿE l m e r ÿ  ÿG i z n i k ÿ  ÿL a n d i c h o ÿ  ÿZ e v a l k i n k ÿ  ÿo p ÿ   ÿe n t i t l e m e n t s ÿ   ÿY o m a ÿ  ÿR o b i n e t t e ÿ  ÿH u d g i n s ÿ  ÿC l e a r w a t e r ÿ  ÿe m h ÿ  ÿA p p ÿ  ÿV e t . A p p ÿ  ÿ3 d ÿ  ÿC i r ÿ  ÿR O ÿ      G  H Ê I e�J « K Ê L D M Ê N  O {P  Q D R Ê Z/#þ6                ÿE l m e r ÿ  ÿG i z n i k ÿ  ÿL a n d i c h o ÿ  ÿZ e v a l k i n k ÿ  ÿo p ÿ   ÿe n t i t l e m e n t s ÿ   ÿY o m a ÿ  ÿR o b i n e t t e ÿ  ÿH u d g i n s ÿ  ÿC l e a r w a t e r ÿ  ÿe m h ÿ  ÿA p p ÿ  ÿV e t . A p p ÿ  ÿ3 d ÿ  ÿC i r ÿ  ÿR O ÿ   3| x    R  ( 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           H^                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
            Í
$   
 '           U S C V A    0    U S C V A   
 .      
       
       
         ÈR    ÈX    È^  Ý
 ƒ  Fð! ÝÓ      ÓÑ     ÑÑ7 €(  E( X X       dâ                  dÈ 7 ÑÑ    Z ÑÔ     ÔÔ      ÔÝ    ÝÓ     ÓÑ7 €,  º�, X X       dð ( X X       dâ 7 ÑÔ ‡8  XÁú  X  X X   Ôñ JñÓ= €   QÈ    Ð   X       d     Ð            d= ÓñJññJñÓ= €   Áú  XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= ÓñJñà@    s
s
 ì àñ JñòòóóñJñà@ @  s
s
 ì àòòUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€VETERANS€APPEALS€óóˆÐ   	 °      ÐÌÌà@    óó% ì àNo.€97„1005ˆÌÌà@    ˆˆ ì àòòPhilogene›€œRichard,›€Appellantóó,ˆÐ   	 .	~   ÐÌà@    šš) ì àòòv.ˆÐ   	 ú
J   ÐóóÌà@    §§" ì àòòœHershel›€W.€œGober›,óóˆÐ   	 Æ	   Ðà@    AA ì àòòActing€Secretary€Of€Veterans€Affairs,€Appellee.óóˆÐ   	 ¬ü
   ÐÌÌà@    B	B	 ì àBefore€œNEBEKER,€òòChief€Judgeóó,€and€FARLEY€and€IVERSòò,€Judges.óó›ˆÐ   	 ^®   ÐÌœñ KññHñÔ% €;    ÔñHññKñ›à@    & ì àòòO€R€D€E€RóóˆÐ   	 *z   ÐÌœñ Dñà@    ìì* ì àñDññ Hñ›ñHñòòñ BñNote:€€Pursuant€to€U.S.€Vet.€App.€R.€28(œi›),ˆÐ   	 öF   Ðà@    qq ì àthis€action€may€not€be€cited€as€œprecedent.ñBñóóñ Bñ›ˆÐ   	 Ü,   Ð›Ð   	 öF   ÐñBññ Dñ›ñCñÌñCññDñ›à     àOn€August€11,€1997,€counsel€for€the€appellant€advised€the€court€that€the€veteran€had€died€onÐ   	 öF   ÐJune€30,€1997.€€Counsel€for€the€appellant€filed€a€motion€for€a€œ60„day›€stay€of€proceedings€in€orderÏto€allow€time€for€a€personal€representative€to€be€œappointed.€€Counsel€for€the€Secretary€opposed€theÏmotion.›€ÌÌÑ7 €,  º�, X X       dð , X X       dð 7 Ñœñ LññIñÓ= €   Á�  XÐ   X       d  XÐ   X       d= ÓñIññLñ›ñMñÔ% €=    ÔñMñà     àThe€Court€held€œin€the€consolidated€cases€of€òòLandicho›€v.€Brownóó€œand€òòOseo›€v.€Brown€óóthatÐ   	 tÄ   Ðsubstitution€of€œa€widow›€œin›€œthe€former€and€a€son€in€the€latter€is€not›€permissible€in€this€Court€whereÏthe€œappellants€are›€œveterans›€who€œdie›€while€the€œdenials›€by€the€Board€of€Veterans'€Appeals€(Board)€ofÏœtheir›€œclaims›€for€disability€compensation€under€chapter€11€of€title€38,€U.S.€Code,€œare›€pending€here€onÏappeal.€€òòLandichoóó,€7�Vet.App.€42,€44€(1994);€òòsee€Zevalkink€v.€Brownóó,€œ102�F.3d›€1236,€1243„44€(Fed.Ð   	 \   ÐCir.€1996).€€The€Court€held€œthat,€because€"veterans'€claims€under€chapter€11€do€not€survive€theirÏdeaths,"€›€the€appropriate€remedy€is€to€œdeny€substitution,€vacate›€the€Board€decision€from€which€theÏappeal€was€œtaken,›€and€œdismiss›€the€appeal.€€òòLandichoóó,€7€Vet.App.€at€œ47,€54.€€In€this€case,€counselÐ   	 ¾   Ðraises€the€possibility€of€the€appointment€not€of€a€widow€or€a€son,€but€of€a€"personal€representative"Ïof€the€estate€of€the€deceased€veteran.ÌÌà     àAlthough€the€question€of€a€"personal€representative"€makes€this€a€question€of€first€impressionÏfor€this€Court€(sòòee€Zevalkinkóó,€102€F.3d€at€1239€n.4›),€the€distinction€is€one€without€a€difference.€€TheÐ   	 <#Œ"   Ðoperative€event€is€the€death€of€the€veteran€and€the€consequent€extinguishing€of€œhis›€œclaims.€€òòSeeÐ   	 "$r#   ÐÔ# †  XÁú  X  X8 XÁúÒ   # ÔLandichoóó,€7€Vet.App.€at€55€(Court€held€that€"Ô ‡8  XÁú  X  X XÁú Ôthese›€œappeals›€œhave›€œbecome›€moot€by€virtue€of€the€œdeathsÐ   	 %X $   Ðof›€the€original€veteran€œappellants").€€Ô# †  XÁú  X  X8 XÁúß  # ÔÔ ‡8  XÁú  X  X XÁú ÔJust€as€the€appellant's€appeal€has€become€moot,€so›€has€the€issueÐ   	 î%>!%   Ðof€œsubstitution.›€ÌÌà     àAs€in€òòLandichoóó,€the€appropriate€action€for€this€Court€to€take€is€to€vacate€the€Board€decisionÐ   	  (ð#(   Ðand€dismiss€this€appeal.€€A€decision€of€the€Court€vacating€the€Board€decision€has€the€legal€effect€ofÏnullifying€the€previous€merits€adjudication€by€the€regional€office€(RO)€because€that€decision€wasÏsubsumed€by€the€Board€decision.€€òòSee€Yoma€v.€Brownóó,€8�Vet.App.€298€(1995)€(relying€on€òòRobinetteÐ   	 R+¢&+   Ðœv.›€Brownóó,€8�Vet.App.€69,€80€(1995));€òòsee€also€Hudgins€v.€Brownóó,€8�Vet.App.€365,€368€(1995)€(perÐ   	 8,ˆ',   Ðcuriam€order)€(accrued-benefits€claim€by€survivor€will€have€same€character€as€claim€veteran€wasÐ    -n(-    Ðpursuing€at€time€of€death,€and€adjudication€of€that€accrued„benefits€claim€not€affected€by€Board€orÏRO€decision€nullified€by€Court's€order€vacating€Board€decision).€€This€is€done€to€ensure€that€theÏBoard€decision€and€the€underlying€œRO›€œdecision(s)›€will€have€no€preclusive€effect€in€the€adjudicationÏof€any€accrued„benefits€claims€derived€from€the€veteran's€entitlements.òò€€Id.óó€€Because€this€appeal€hasÐ   	 b²   Ðbecome€moot€by€virtue€of€the€death€of€the€veteran€appellant,€the€appeal€will€be€dismissed.€€òòSeeóóÐ   	 H˜   ÐòòLandichoóó,€œ7�Vet.App.›€at€53„54.Ð   	 .	~   ÐÌà     àOn€consideration€of€the€foregoing,€it€is€Ìœà     àà    `	 àÌà     àORDERED€that€the€appellantððs€motion€for€a€stay€of€proceedings€is€denied.€€It€is€furtherÌ›Ìà     àORDERED€that€œthe€February€21,€1997,›€Board€decision€is€VACATED.€€œIt›€is€furtherÌà     àÌà     àORDERED€that€this€appeal€is€DISMISSED€for€lack€of€jurisdiction.€€ÌÌDATED:à    `	 àœñ OññNñSeptemberñNññOññNññNññOñSeptemberñOññNñ€ñNññPñ22,€1997ñPññ Qñ›à    h à›à    h à›à    h àñQñ›ñRñÔ% €9    ÔñRñà    h àà    À àà     àœPER€CURIAM.›Ð   	 *z   ÐÌÌÌà     àà    `	 àà    ¸ àà     àà    h àà    À àà     àà    p àÌœñ GñCopies€to:ÌÌRobin€C.€œCulbertson›,€Esq.ÌNational€Veterans€Legal€Service€ProgramÌ2001€S€Street,€NW,€Suite€610ÌWashington,€DC€œ20009›ÌÌGeneral€Counsel€(027)ÌDepartment€of€Veterans€AffairsÌ810€Vermont€Avenue,€NWÌWashington,€DC€20420ÌñGñÔ# †  XÁú  X  X8 XÁú�  # Ôñ GññAñÔ% €<    ÔñAññGñ›