’WPC¢7  
      Ėą     =Ā_ĪõŠAVA¦ŚIķ@ĀÆæ§Aå/ŗ³<DHĪx*5é³#`ē%ÆåE³?WqĀZ”$żųĒ]uń/Æ	ÕuFöQīFÜTķńŅ-ļÕ¹ü'Åč£
jhŠUĀWā¾ĪÄ@jzy5PŃó@~i÷¶	ń÷q÷óŻ
āµsżĖxŌX9u¹»~Å%”0ĪDģ:)½!čUbM-Ö3C/«U
°2kgYŠšO.mü¤āóéčT3ĖęĒŗ²głP(Żo“*āĄ©ĄõŽgYÕÄ+ģś¾Õ~Įo'*[Ņ]H³ög@JLaŠłX)M:Oā«łå'ÅR@2\,'c³¶³ÓõŁ4MDiJTQ:Üa6k6åvØ”½Ā¦ō]ÄEM~÷>¾«ö5 cO((“MūŲZNm:WbĄ/ó )°öV=Ą:ŅįĄW±ÄW¢ænw¬š*~'=Æv'Lėær©ŪźéDDzß5ł)ČŽ1’=¾+I$÷Ņt’šc#k®ü¹UõĖųØŲŁ³Ŗ9*ŗT1.ŌCę¶µa K           0   ~     0   x     0   k     0   k   {  0      ę  0   ~     0   Ń   ž  0   ä   Ļ	  0   ¦   ³
  0   ÷   Y  0   
  P  0     Z  0   1  x  0   C  ©  0   V  ģ  0   Ļ   B  0   ¤     0   ¤   µ  0   Ć   Y  0   ¼     0   »   Ų  0   Ł     0   £   l  0   £      U   .   ²  	%      ą  0   z   ę  0   ä   `  	      D  0   =   U  0   F     0   P   Ų  	1      (  0   Ł   ½  	1       0   ¾        }  [  0   ±   Ų!   E      "  0   Ø   "  0   Å   3#  0      ų#  0   &   $  0   &   ¹$  0   &   ß$  0   &   %   U   >   +%   U   >   i%  n   X  §%  0      ’&  	B      '  #     ²'     ~  ½(        ;+        C+  	1   m   O+   	      ¼+        Ā+   !      Ņ+   !     b,   !     r-   !     .   !     /  	)      ¢0        ®0   	      ½1  "   ]  Ć1   U   N    5  w     n5  4      v7   	      7   	      7   	      7   	      7      V       &          ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 8 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ą0    . .  ąą8    `	. . `	 ąĢ     V                ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 4 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ą    . .  ąņņņņ.óóóó    V                 ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 6 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ą8    . .  ąĢ     V                 ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 5 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ą0    . .  ąĢ     V       /         ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 2 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ĢņņŌ2     ŌA.Ō3
   
 ŌņņŌ
     ŌŌ     ŌĢ óóóó    V       &          ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 7 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ą0    . .  ąą0    `	. . `	 ąĢ     z       U          ’’: 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   ąŠ    . .   ąŌ2       ŌI.Ō3
   
 Ōą     °. . ° ąą0    . .  ąĢ     z       h          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąąŠ    `	. . ų ąŌ2      ŌA.Ō3
   
 Ōą     . .  ąą0    `	. . `	 ąĢ     V       ?         ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 3 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   Ģą    . .  ąņņŌ2     Ō1.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ
     ŌŌ     Ō óó    z       {          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąąŠ    ø. . P
 ąŌ2      Ō1.Ō3
   
 Ōą     `	. . `	 ąą0    ø. . ø ąĢ     z                 ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąą    ø. . ø ąąŠ    . . Ø ąŌ2      Ōa.Ō3
   
 Ōą     ø. . ø ąą0    . .  ąĢ     z       ¢          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąą    ø. . ø ąą    . .  ąąŠ    h. .  ąŌ2      Ō(1)Ō3
   
 Ōą     . .  ąą0    h. . h ąĢ     z       µ          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąą    ø. . ø ąą    . .  ąą    h. . h ąąŠ    Ą. . ą ąŌ2      Ō(a)Ō3
   
 Ōą     h. . h ąą0    Ą. . Ą ąĢ     z       Ē          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąą    ø. . ø ąą    . .  ąą    h. . h ąą    Ą. . Ą ąąŠ    . . ° ąŌ2      Ōi)Ō3
   
 Ōą     Ą. . Ą ąą0    . .  ąĢ     z       Ś          ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąą    `	. . `	 ąą    ø. . ø ąą    . .  ąą    h. . h ąą    Ą. . Ą ąą    . .  ąąŠ    p. .  ąŌ2      Ōa)Ō3
   
 Ōą     . .  ąą0    p. . p ąĢ     V       X         ’’8 D o c u m e n t [ 1 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   ĢŌ     Ōą@    ģ. . ^ ąņņņņŌ
      ŌŌ2      ŌI.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ    ŌŌ     ŌŌ      ŌĢ óóóó    l       2         ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąņņŌ2     Ō(1)Ō3
   
 Ō.óó    l       2         ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąņņŌ2     Ō(a)Ō3
   
 Ō.óó    l       /   %      ’’: 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   ĢņņŌ2     ŌA.Ō3
   
 ŌņņŌ
     ŌŌ     ŌóóĢ ą    . .  ąóó    l       ,   !      ’’: 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   ĢņņŌ2     Ō1.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ
     ŌŌ     Ō ą    . .  ąóó    l      (   !      ’’: 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   ņņŌ2     Ōa.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ
     ŌŌ     Ō ą    . .  ąóó    l       :   0      ’’: 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   ĢņņņņŌ
      ŌŌ2      ŌI.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ    ŌŌ     ŌŌ      ŌĢ óóą    . .  ąóó    l       1         ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąņņŌ2     Ōi)Ō3
   
 Ō.óó    l       1         ’’: 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   ą    . .  ąņņŌ2     Ōa)Ō3
   
 Ō.óó< ž6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r           X    R       &          ’’8 B i b l i o g r p h y   B i b l i o g r a p h y   ą0    . .  ąą     °. . ° ąĢĢ    f          p        ’’2 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     ÓĒÓS 	!   	             I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)                 S ÓŲ                     Ų               (                  ’’$       Ģą0
    
 ąą 
    
 ą    (                  ’’$       ą0
    
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 ą    (       (           ’’$       ą0
    
 ąą0
    
 ąą0
    
 ąą 
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 ą   	       ’’  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            ’’4 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                 ž S ÓŲ                     Ų          ’’        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               £82 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    Č    ÓŃ     ° ŃŃ   č° ŃÖ %       ’’ Ķ Ka:; Ö 
   s  Ż
 &  ’’( ŻŻ    ŻŌ   Xģ  X  X Xģ ŌÓ    Č    ÓŅ    X° ŅŅ   °° ŅÓ    ’’Ą°   X Óß> 3 ' '                 ü ° ų*       d       > ßß> 3 ' '                  ° ų*       d      > ßĢĢą    H Ą ą1ĢĢą    H Ą ą2ĢĢą    H Ą ą3ĢĢą    H Ą ą4ĢĢą    H Ą ą5ĢĢą    H Ą ą6ĢĢą    H Ą ą7ĢĢą    H Ą ą8ĢĢą    H Ą ą9ĢĢą    Š Ą ą10ĢĢą    Š Ą ą11ĢĢą    Š Ą ą12ĢĢą    Š Ą ą13ĢĢą    Š Ą ą14ĢĢą    Š Ą ą15ĢĢą    Š Ą ą16ĢĢą    Š Ą ą17ĢĢą    Š Ą ą18ĢĢą    Š Ą ą19ĢĢą    Š Ą ą20ĢĢą    Š Ą ą21ĢĢą    Š Ą ą22ĢĢą    Š Ą ą23ĢĢą    Š Ą ą24ĢĢą    Š Ą ą25ĢĢą    Š Ą ą26ĢĢą    Š Ą ą27Š   	 P-0*6   Šą    Š Ą ą28Ō"              Ų'      " Ō    (                  2f$ Ø   Ø   Ż
 2  &=! ŻŌ D  XŪ X  X X   ŌÓ     ÓŃ     ŃŃ7 0  Q0 X X       dš                  dš 7 ŃŻ    Ż      P       B         ’’0 H e a d i n g   C h a p t e r   H e a d i n g   Ēą@    ģ. . 
  ąņņņņŌ2      ŌI.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ
      ŌŌ      ŌĢĢóóóó    t       O          ’’4 R i g h t   P a r   R i g h t - A l i g n e d   P a r a g r a p h   N u m b e r s   ąŠ    . . 
  ąŌ2       ŌI.Ō3
   
 ŌŌ    ś’ Ōą0    . .   ąĢĢ    L       =         ’’6 S u b h e a d i n g   S u b h e a d i n g   ņņŌ2     ŌA.Ō3
   
 Ōą    . .   ąŌ
     ŌŌ     ŌĢĢóó    &                    ’’$ 1         &                    ’’$ 2         &                    ’’$ 4         &                    ’’$ 3     ) ō\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o   ) ō\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o   « < ž6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xōx ž6X   @É 8Å; X@) ō\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                                                                                   XXt ō\	    P ØPU XP    (   n               &=$ ”   ”   Ō D  XZ X  X X   ŌÓ     ÓŃ     ŃŃ7 0  Ā0 X X       dš 0 X X       dš 7 Ń                   d   H P   L a s e r J e t   5 P / 5 M P   ( H P )                             HPPCL5G      ,ä ,,,,,ä 0                                                                                                                                                             nLFĪ    k : \ f o r m s \ p a n e l . o p n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
            Ķ   
 '           U S C V A    0    U S C V A   
 .      
       
       
               ż  &4                   # e   3 7 = C I Q Y a g ­   ­   1 .   a .   i .   ( 1 )   ( a )   ( i )   1 )   a )     Č  3| [   !    ž’" @ H O Z q   ’’’’’’ ’’’’’’ć³E?’’’’’ž’ĄĢ 0³ Ļ0ĄĻüĄü 004      /’’’’’’N·’ūą  «õš                  šmpĻž	 @      ü2RQ@LL        " ’’ ³ µ ’’ą ’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’^4@@d¼¤0LLdØ0@0ddddddddddd88ØØØdÄ |¤¤HX¼ x l¤Ä@d@dd0dlXld@`l84h8¤llllLL@l\XXXdddØ/                                               d Č)     dd            d  ll               d ¤$                                    @            " ’’ ³ µ ’’ą ’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’^4@@d4LLdØ0@0ddddddddddd88ØØØ`ÄxPd¼|t|øTdTdd4hlXpX@`p<@l<¤pdplTTDp\`XXdddØ/                                               d Č)     dd            d  ll               d ¤$                                    @            " ’’ ³ µ ’’ą ’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’^,44P(@@P(8(TPPPPPPPPPP,,P |pttd<Hxh|d|Xl| ||t4T4PP(PXHXP4PX,,T,XXXX@@4XHpHHHTPT/                                               P  )     PP            P  dd               T $                                    4            " ’’ ³ µ ’’ą ’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’^4<Dd¼0LLdØ0D0ddddddddddd88ØØØ\Ä| LL°xl|°|TdTdd0hhXhX<Tl48d4¤lhhd@H8lXTPPdddØ/                                               d Č)     dd            d  ll               d ¤$                                    @           ; < = > ? < Ō6X  9  ` +   C o u r i e r          * ī\	  	 p`   T m s R m n     P r o      * ō4	  	 p  " T m s R m n   B o l d   P r o     T) ī\	  	 p`   T m s R m n     P r o     ( ī*f9	 p` & T m s R m n   I t a l i c   P r o        Čæ  L  ? x x x , ,    Xx ģž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’ž’’’’’’’ž’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’N  7 T C T , , / XT Qž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’ģ’’’’’’ö ’’’’q’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’TG  7 T C T , , b  XT ,ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’ž’ž’’’’’’’T y . D 8 D , ,  ōD Qēž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’ž’’’’’’’ž’’’’’{ ’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’ž’ž’’’’’’’9  5 P C P , , Š  XP DČž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’d  Full-PE Land  Land  Land  Land G  H Legal H  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Z Land H  G  G Land G  G  Pro  ’’’’ Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro  Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro Land Pro La( ČhH  	   Z  6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r         V   Ź E Ė  Ģ E Ķ  Ī eĻ D Š  Ń D Ņ  Ó  Ō  Õ gÖ U ×  Ų U Ł U Ś E Ū P Ü  Ż  Ž [ ß  ą  į  ā E ć  ä  å D ę U ē  č  é  ź  ė  ģ  ķ  ī  ļ  š  ń  ņ  ó  ō  õ  ö  ÷  ų  ł  ś  ū D ü  ż E ž D ’    D  D    D      D  D 	  
 D  D    E              D  U  Ź      Ź  D  Ź  Ź  U     D ! Ź ÓŖ&          ŠŲ'ķ  Č    Čæ    Čæ    H  Ż
 2  &=! ŻŌ D  XŪ X  X X   ŌÓ     ÓŃ     ŃŃ7 0  Q0 X X       dš                  dČ 7 ŃŻ    Żń ńÓ= /  X\/ XŠ  X       d     Š            d= Óńńń ńńńŌ% H    ŌńńńńńńŌ% I    ŌńńŃ    f ŃńńĢńńą@    ŽŽ ģ ąņņUNITEDSTATESCOURTOFAPPEALSFORVETERANSCLAIMSóóŠ   	  š    ŠĢĢą@    ģģ3 ģ ąņņNoóó.961253Š   	 pĄ   ŠĢą@    õõ* ģ ąņņStephenB.Jones,Appellantóó,Š   	 P
    ŠĢą@    7 ģ ąņņv.óóŠ   	 0   ŠĢą@    ÖÖ/ ģ ąņņTogoD.West,Jr.,óóŠ   	 `	
   Šą@    $ ģ ąņņSecretaryofVeteransAffairs,Appellee.óóŠ   	  P
   ŠĢĢą@    ee" ģ ąOnAppealfromtheBoardofVeterans'AppealsĢĢĢą@    hh* ģ ą(DecidedńńMay11,1999ńńń  ńń ńń!ńŌ% J    Ōń!ń)ĢĢĢĢņņą     ąJohnS.Lopatto,IIIóó,ņņóówasonthebrieffortheappellant.Š   	 `°   ŠĢą     ąņņJohnH.Thompsonóó,ActingGeneralCounsel;ņņRonGarvinóó,AssistantGeneralCounsel;ņņJoanŠ   	 @   ŠE.Moriartyóó,DeputyAssistantGeneralCounsel;andņņJacquelineM.SimsóówereonthebrieffortheŠ   	 0   Šappellee.ĢĢą     ąBeforeKRAMER,HOLDAWAY,andGREENE,ņņJudgesóó.ńŁńŠ   	  P   ŠĢńŁńń ŚńńŁńą0     ąńŁńńŚńńŪńą     ąHOLDAWAY,ņņńŪńńÜńJudgeóóńÜńńŻń,filedtheopinionoftheCourt.ńŻńń ŽńńŻńņņóóńŻńńŽńńßńKRAMER,ņņńßńń āńńąńjUDGEńąńńāńńćńJudgeóóńćńńäń,filedadissentingŠ   	 ą0   Šopinion.ńäńń ćńńąńóóńąńńćńń āńńįń,ńįńńāńń ąńńßńóóńßńńąńń ÜńńŪńóóńŪńńÜńń åńĢńåńńęńĢńęńĢÓ         Óą     ąHOLDAWAY,ņņJudgeóó:Theappellant,StephenB.Jones,appealstheMay1996decisionofŠ   	 °"     ŠtheBoardofVeterans'Appeals(BVAorBoard)whichdetermined,interalia,thathisclaimń ūń,ńūńń żńńüń0ńüńńżńforĻsecondaryserviceconnectionń žńforńžńń’ńofń’ńresidualsofafractureofthetibiaandthefibulaofhisleftlegń  ń,ń ńwasĻnotwellgrounded.Thisappealistimely,andtheCourthasjurisdictionofthecaseunder38U.S.C.Ļšš7252(a).Forthefollowingreasons,theCourtwillaffirmthedecisionoftheBoard.ĢĢą@    224 ģ ąņņI.FACTSóóŠ   	  +p&,   Šą     ąTheappellantservedonactivedutyintheU.S.ArmyfromJune1968toJune1970.ńčńńčńń ēńR.atĻ59.ńēńIn1971,Ļheń ńsufferedńńńńwasinńńamotorcycleaccidentwhereinhesufferedseveralinjuriesincludingafracturedlefttibiaŠ    š-@)0    Šandfibula.ńéńńéńń éńR.at82,85,89,101103.ńéńTheappellantunderwentseveralsurgeriesonhisleftlegwhichdidnotcompletelyrepairĻthenonunionofhislefttibiaandfibula.ńźńńźńń źńR.at179,246.ńźńThesurgeriesalsoresultedinshorteninghisleftlegbyoverĻfourinches.ń ėńņņIdóó.ńėńĢą     ąInJanuary1986,theappellantwasgrantedserviceconnectionforpost-traumaticstressĻdisorder(PTSD)andsubsequentlyassigneda50%disabilityrating.ńģńńģńń ģńR.at376381,387.ńģńInApril1990,hisdisabilityĻratingwasincreasedto70%disabling.InJanuary1991,theappellantfiledaclaimforserviceĻconnectionofhisleftlegcondition.ńķńńķńń ķńR.at577.ńķńW.D.Gammon,Ph.D.,aVAclinicalpsychologist,submittedĻań ńJanuary1991ńńlettertotheVAregionaloffice(VARO)insupportoftheappellant'sclaimforserviceconnectionĻofhisleftlegcondition.ńļńńļńń ļńR.at583.ńīńńīńńļńHestatedthatafterservicetheappellanthadexhibitedmanybehavioralĻindiciaofPTSD,includingthrill-seekingbehavior.ńšńńšńń šńņņIdóó.ńšńDr.Gammonconcludedthattheappellant'sĻmotorcycleaccidentin1971wastheresultoftheappellant'sthrill-seekingbehavior.ņņń ńńIdńńńóóń ńń.ńńńInMarch1991,Š   	 Ą   ŠtheappellantsubmittedaSubstantiveAppealwithregardtotheVARO'sdecisiondenyinganĻincreaseddisabilityratingforPTSD,serviceconnectionforhisrightknee,andaclothingallowance.ńņńĻńņńń ņńR.at61826.ńņńAspartofhisSubstantiveAppeal,theappellantstated:"MyleftlegconditionisaresultofthrillĻseekinginpersuit[sic]oftheconstantadrenal[sic]rushrewardVietnamhadgivenmeafterĻbecomingasurvivor."ńóńńóńń óńR.at619.ńóńAtaJune1991VApersonalhearing,theńńappellantńńń ńveteranńńtestifiedthatDr.GammonĻfeltthatńńtheappellant'sńńń ńhisńńleginjurywascausedbyń ńtheveteran'ńńń	ńhiń	ństhrill-seekingbehavior.ńōńńōńń ōńR.at676.ńōńAtanOctober1991ĻhearingbeforetheBVA,theappellantdescribedtheeventsleadinguptohis1971accidentasĻfollows:ĢÓ        ÓÓ
        Óą8     ąSomepeoplesentmeonamissiontogototheliquorstoretogetsomefewmoreĻbeersandIwasdrivingbacktothisplaceandtherewasacarinfrontofme,justĻgoingslowandIlookedoutaroundhimandsawitwassafetopassandIgotbesideĻhimandhedownshiftedhiscar.WhenIgotbesidehimandhiscarturnedsidewaysĻandIserved[sic]toavoidhimandthecenterstandofmymotorcyclehittheĻpavementatwhichtime,therearwheelwaspickedupoffthepavementandIlostĻcontrolandIwentofftheroad.Š    Š Š   ŠÓ       Õ   ÓÓ
       ē   Óń õńR.at746.ńõńSubsequently,Dr.GammonsubmittedanotherstatementpointingoutthattherewasanincreasingĻbodyofevidence"tosupportthenotionthat'thrillseeking'behaviorisregularlyseeninPTSDĻcombatvet[erans]."ńöńńöńń öńR.at816.ńöńTheappellantalsosubmittedanApril1993statementthatreiteratedhisbeliefĻā
    
 āthathismotorcycleaccidentwasprecipitatedbyPTSD-inducedthrillseeking.ń ÷ńR.at871.ń÷ńŠ   	 Ø*ų%4   Šą     ąInFebruary1993,theVAROdeniedsecondaryserviceconnectionfortheappellant'sleftlegĻā
    
 ādisabilitybecausetheevidenceofrecorddidnotdemonstratethattheaccidentwascausedbyhisĻthrill-seekingbehavior.ńųńńųńń ųńR.at845.ńųńOnappealtotheBVA,theBoarddeterminedthattherewasnoreasonableĻbasisintheevidenceofrecordtoshowthattheaccidentwascausedbytheappellant'sthrill-seekingĻbehavior.ńłńńłńń łńR.at41.ńłńTheBoardrecognizedthatDr.GammonhadopinedthattheaccidentwascausedbyĻthrill-seekingbehavior,butstatedthatthedoctorwasnotaneyeń 
ńń
ńwitnessand"thatthefactualrecordĻdoesnotsupportsuchaconclusion."ń śńņņIdóó.ńśńĢĢą@    YY2 ģ ąņņII.ANALYSISóóŠ   	 š@   Šą     ąAclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionmustbegrantedwhenadisability"isproximatelyĻduetoortheresultofaservice-connecteddiseaseorinjury."38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)(1998).LikeallĻclaims,aclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionmustbesupportedby"evidencesufficienttojustifyĻabeliefbyafairandimpartialindividualthattheclaimiswellgrounded."38U.S.C.šš5107(a);ĻņņBuckleyv.Westóó,12Vet.App.76,84(1998).Awellgroundedclaimis"aplausibleclaim,onewhichŠ   	 ųH   Šismeritoriousonitsownorcapableofsubstantiation.SuchaclaimneednotbeconclusivebutonlyĻpossibletosatisfytheinitialburdenof[section5107(a)]."ņņMurphyv.Derwinskióó,1Vet.App.78,81Š   	 Č   Š(1990).Generally,foraclaimtobewellgrounded,aclaimantmustsubmiteachofthefollowing:Ļ(1)amedicaldiagnosisofacurrentdisability;(2)medicalevidence,orincertaincircumstanceslayĻevidence,ofinserviceincurrenceoraggravationofadiseaseorinjury;and(3)medicalevidenceofĻanexusbetweentheinserviceinjuryordiseaseandthecurrentdisability.ņņSeeCaluzav.Brownóó,Š   	 hø&   Š7Vet.App.498,506(1995),ņņaff'dpercuriamóó,78F.3d.604(Fed.Cir.1996)(table).WithregardtoŠ   	 Š  (   Šaclaimforsecondaryserviceconnection,aclaimantmustprovidecompetentevidencethattheĻsecondaryconditionwascausedbytheservice-connectedcondition.ņņSeeWallinv.Westóó,Š   	  #š,   Š11Vet.App.509,512(1998);ņņReiberv.Brownóó,7Vet.App.513,51617(1995).ABVAdecisionŠ   	 %X .   ŠonwhetheraclaimiswellgroundedisamatteroflawwhichthisCourtreviewsdenovo.ņņSeeŠ   	 p&Ą!0   ŠCaluzaóó,7Vet.App.at505.ThecredibilityoftheevidenceispresumedwhendeterminingwhetherŠ   	 Ų'(#2   Šaclaimiswellgrounded.ņņSeeRobinettev.Brownóó,8Vet.App.69,7576(1995);ņņKingv.Brownóó,Š   	 @)$4   Š5Vet.App.19,21(1993).However,thepresumptionofcredibilitydoesnotapplywhereafactĻassertedisbeyondaperson'scompetencyorwheretheevidenceisinherentlyfalse.ņņSeeidóó.Š   	 ,`'8   Šą     ąThereisnodisputethattheappellantsuffersfromacurrentdisabilityoftheleftlegorthatĻheisserviceconnectedforPTSD.ThequestionbeforetheCourtiswhetherthereiscompetentĻevidencetodemonstrateareasonablepossibilitythatthemotorcycleaccidentwasņņproximatelyóóŠ   	 Š   Šcausedbyń ńtheńńPTSD-inducedthrill-seekingbehavioroftheappellant.BasedondenovoreviewoftheĻevidence,theCourtfindsthatthereisnotńńsuchevidenceńńandthattheclaimisnotwellgrounded.ņņSeeŠ   	 P
    ŠWallin,Reiberóó,andņņCaluzaóóń ń.ńńńń,allņņńńńńsupraóóńńńń.ńńń ńńńóóńńńńŠ   	 ø
   Šą     ąInņņReiberóó,theCourtheldthataveteran'scontention,thathislowerbackdisorderwascausedŠ   	  p   Šasaresultofafallprecipitatedbyhisservice-connectedleftanklecondition,requiredatwo-stepĻanalysistodetermineiftheevidencewassufficienttoestablishproximatecause.7Vet.App.at516.ĻFirst,theCourtdeterminedthattheappellant'stestimonywascompetenttoestablishthathisĻservice-connectedankleconditionhadcausedhisfall.ņņSeeidóó.Second,theCourtfoundthattheŠ   	 Ą   Šappellanthadsubmittedmedicalevidencethatthefallhadindeedcausedhisbackinjury.ņņSeeidóó.Š   	 (x   ŠBasedonthatanalysisńń,ńńtheCourtfoundtheclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionforthelowerĻbackdisorderwellgrounded.ņņSeeidóó.at517.Š   	 ųH   Šą     ąInthematterpresentlybeforetheCourt,theappellantiscompetenttotestifyastotheĻsequenceofeventsthatledtohismotorcycleaccident.ņņSeeReiber,supraóó.TheappellanttestifiedŠ   	 Č   Šthattheaccidentwascausedwhenheattemptedtopassaslowmovingautomobile.HetestifiedthatĻhelookedaheadandsawthatitwassafetopassandpulledalongsidetheslowmovingvehicle.AtĻthattime,foranunknownreason,theautomobiledownshiftedandturnedsideways.TheĻautomobile'sactioncausedtheappellanttoswervetoavoidtheautomobile,tolosecontrolofhisĻmotorcycle,andtogoofftheroad.Whentheappellantveeredofftheroad,hesufferedmultipleĻsevereinjuries.Theappellant'stestimonyestablishesthathisaccidentwascausedbytheautomobileĻthatturnedsidewayswhiletheappellantwasattemptingń ÓńńÅń,inacarefulmanner,ńÅńńÓńń ĘńńĘńtopassit.ThereisnoindicationintheĻrecordthattheappellant'sbehaviorwasrecklessorevennegligent.ń 
ńńÕńŌ% B    ŌńÕńń
ńńĒńInfact,iftheappellant'sńĒńń ČńńĒńversionisńĒńńČńńÉńaccountĻiscorrect,hewasproceedinginacarefulmannerńÉńń ŌńńÉń,inslowtraffic,ńÉńńŌńńÉńandwasinjuredbythenegligenceoftheotherĻdriver.ńÉńń ŹńńÉńTńÉńńŹńńĖńItwasthatnegligencethatwastheprońĖńń ĢńńĖńzńĖńńĢńńĶńximatecauseofhisinjury.ńĶńTherefore,astheBoardĻfound,thereisnoreasonablebasisintheevidenceofrecordtodemonstratethattheproximatecauseĻofhisleftleginjurieswasthrill-seekingbehaviorrelatedtoPTSD.Forthatreason,hisclaimisnotĻwellgrounded.ņņSeeReiberóóandņņCaluzaóó,bothņņsupraóó.Š   	 ,`'8   Šą     ąTheappellanthassubmittedseveralstatementsindicatingthathebelieves,inagreementwithĻDr.Gammon,thathismotorcycleaccidentwascausedbythrill-seekingbehaviorduetoPTSD.ĻFirst,theappellantisnotcompetenttoestablishthatanyofhisactionswerecausedbythrill-seekingĻbehavior.Thatdeterminationisamedicalquestionthatrequiresmedicalexpertise.ņņSeeGrottveitŠ   	 č8   Šv.Brownóó,5Vet.App.91,93(1993);ņņEspirituv.Derwinskióó,2Vet.App.492,494(1992).Second,toŠ   	 P
    Štheextenthisstatementsimplythattheaccidentwascausedbyanyactiononhispart,suchĻimplication,inlightofhiscontrarytestimony,isinsufficienttoestablishawell-groundedclaim.ņņCf.Š   	  p   ŠRobinetteóóandņņKingóó,bothņņsupraóó(holdingthatstatementsthatareinherentlyfalseareinsufficienttoŠ   	 Ų	   Šwellgroundaclaim).Ģą     ąDr.Gammonisamedicalprofessionalwhoiscompetenttotestifythattheappellant'sĻservice-connectionPTSDcausedthrill-seekingbehaviorintheappellant.ņņSeeCohenv.Brownóó,Š   	 Ą   Š10Vet.App.128,13942(1997).ThatfactwasexpresslyacknowledgedbytheBoard.However,ĻDr.Gammonwasnotaneyewitnesstothesceneoftheappellant'saccident.AnyopinionregardingĻwhatactionsorsequenceofeventscausedtheaccidentisoutsidethescopeofhiscompetence.ņņCf.Š   	 ųH   ŠEspirituóó,2Vet.App.at294(holdingthatlayopinionsregardingmedicalquestionswerenotŠ   	 `°   Šcompetentevidencetoestablishawell-groundedclaim).Therefore,Dr.Gammon'smedicalopinionĻhasnoprobativeweightwithrespecttotheproximatecauseoftheappellant'saccident.ņņCf.Cohenóó,Š   	 0    Š10Vet.Appat145(holdingthatamedicalprofessional'sopinionbasedonapost-serviceĻexaminationofaveteranisnotcompetentevidencethatanin-servicestressoroccurred);ņņReonalŠ   	  P$   Šv.Brownóó,5Vet.App.458,46061(1993)(holdingthatamedicalopinionbasedonafactualŠ   	 hø&   ŠpredicatethathadbeenrejectedbytheBoardhasnoprobativevalueandisnot,therefore,materialĻevidencethatwarrantsareopeningoftheń Ļńappellant'sńĻńńŠńpreviouslydisallowedńŠńń ŃńńŃńńŅńńŅńclaim).BecausetheappellanthasĻnotsubmittedevidencethatdemonstratesthathismotorcycleaccidentandresultingleftleginjuryĻwasproximatelycausedbythrill-seekingbehavior,hisclaimisnotwellgrounded,andthedecisionĻoftheBoardwillbeaffirmed.ĢĢą@    0 ģ ąņņIII.CONCLUSIONóóŠ   	 @)$4   Šą     ąAfterconsiderationofthepleadingsandareviewoftherecord,theCourtholdsthattheĻappellanthasnotdemonstratedthattheBVAcommittedeitherlegalorfactualerrorwhichwouldŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠńńŌ% G    Ōńńwarrantreversalorremand.TheCourtisalsosatisfiedthattheBVAdecisionfulfillsthe"reasonsĻorbases"requirementsof38U.S.C.šš7104(d)(1).ņņSeeóóņņGilbertv.Derwinskióó,1Vet.App.49,5657Š   	 h   Š(1990).Ģą     ąThedecisionoftheBoardisń ĪńsummarilyńĪńAFFIRMED.ń śńńśńń ńńÖńĢńÖńńńńńĢńńń ńńńŌ% 9    Ōńńńńń śńńśńńŲńĢńŲńń ńńńą     ąKRAMER,ņņJudgeóó,dissenting:Onappeal,theSecretarymakesessentiallytwoarguments.Š   	 ø
   ŠFirst,hearguesthat,becausetheeffectivedateforserviceconnectionforposttraumaticstressĻdisorder(PTSD)isin1984,theappellantdidnothavea"predicateserviceconnecteddisability"atĻthetimeofthe1971accidentandthathisclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisthereforebarredĻby38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)(1998)andņņAllenv.Brownóó,7Vet.App.439,446(1995)(enbanc).Š   	 XØ   ŠSecretary'sBrief(Br.)at1112.Second,theSecretaryarguesthattheevidencedoesnotdemonstrateĻthattheappellantwassufferingfromPTSDatthetimeoftheaccidentin1971andthatPTSDĻthereforecouldnothavecausedtheaccident.Secretary'sBr.at11,16.BecauseIbelievethattheĻappellant'sclaimisnotbarredasamatteroflawandthathehassubmittedawellgroundedclaim,ĻIwouldvacatethedecisionoftheBoardandremandthematterforameritsadjudication.IthereforeĻrespectfullydissent.Ģą     ąWithregardtotheSecretary'sfirstargument(whichwasnotaddressedbythemajority),Ļ38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)providesthata"[d]isabilitywhichisproximatelyduetoortheresultofaĻserviceconnecteddiseaseorinjuryshallbeserviceconnected."However,contrarytotheSecretary'sĻapparentinterpretationofthissection,thereisnothinginthelanguageofšš3.310(a)thatwouldĻprecludesecondaryserviceconnectionforasecondarydisabilitythatarisespriortotheeffectivedateĻofserviceconnectionfortheprimarydisability.ņņSeeGardnerv.Brownóó,5F.3d1456,1458(Fed.Cir.Š   	 8"*   Š1993)("startingpointininterpretingastatuteisitslanguage,foriftheintentofCongressisclear,Ļthatistheendofthematter"(internalquotationmarksomitted)),ņņaff'dóó,513U.S.115(1994);ņņSmithŠ   	 %X .   Š(WilliamA.)v.Brownóó,35F.3d1516,1523(Fed.Cir.1994)(canonsofstatutoryinterpretationapplyŠ   	 p&Ą!0   Šalsotointerpretingregulations);ņņseealsoGardneróó,513U.S.at118("interpretivedoubtistobeŠ   	 Ų'(#2   Šresolvedintheveteran'sfavor");ņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at446(same).Similarly,theSecretary'srelianceŠ   	 @)$4   ŠonņņAllenóóismisplaced.ņņSeeóóņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at448("[T]heCourtholdsthattheterm'disability'asŠ   	 Ø*ų%6   Šusedin[38U.S.C.]šš1110referstoimpairmentofearningcapacity,andthatsuchdefinitionŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠmandatesthatanyadditionalimpairmentofearningcapacityresultingfromanņņalreadyóóŠ   	 °      Šservice-connectedcondition...shallbecompensated."(emphasisinoriginalomitted;emphasisĻadded)).ThepertinentlanguageinņņAllenóóstandsforthepropositionthatņņcompensationóóforadisabilityŠ   	 Š   ŠattributabletoasecondarilyserviceconnectedconditioncouldbepaidonlyforaperiodafterserviceĻconnectionfortheprimaryconditionhasbeenestablished.ņņCf.óóņņBarelav.Westóó,11Vet.App.280,283Š   	 P
    Š(1998)(althoughstatuteprohibitedcompensationfordisabilityduetoalcoholanddrugabuse,itdidĻnotbarawardofserviceconnection).Thislanguage,however,simplydoesnotaddresstheņņserviceŠ   	  p   ŠconnectabilityóóofasecondaryconditionthathaditsonsetpriortotheeffectivedateofserviceŠ   	 Ų	   Šconnectionfortheprimarycondition.Consequently,IwouldrejecttheSecretary'sargumentsthatĻtheappellant'sclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisbarredasamatteroflaw.Ģą     ąFurther,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgrounded.Asthemajorityacknowledges,Ļ"[t]hereisnodisputethattheappellantsuffersfromacurrentdisabilityoftheleftlegorthatheisĻserviceconnectedforPTSD."ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at4.Asthemajorityfurtheracknowledges,thereŠ   	 ą   Šisevidenceofrecordthattheappellant'scurrentleftlegdisabilityisattributabletohis1971Ļmotorcycleaccident.ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at12.Consequently,inordertowellgroundhisclaimforŠ   	 `°   Šserviceconnection,theremustbeevidencerelatingtheappellant'saccident(andthustheresultingĻlegdisability)tohisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņVelezv.Westóó,11Vet.App.148,158(1998).Š   	 0    ŠHere,theappellanthassubmittedastatementindicatingthathisleftlegconditionwasthe"resultĻofthrillseekinginp[u]rsuitoftheconstantadrenalrushrewardVietnamhadgiven[him]afterĻbecomingasurvivor."R.at619.Theappellantalsosubmittedastatementinsupportofclaim,inĻwhichhestatedthat"theresidualsoffractureof[left]lowerlegare...theresultofamotorcycleĻaccidentprecipitatedby[PTSD]inducedthrillseeking."R.at87172.Inaddition,Dr.GammonĻsubmittedaletter,statingthattheappellant"exhibitedmanyofthebehaviorscharacteristicallyseenĻinindividualswithPTSDincluding'thrillseeking'behavior.Asaresultofthisbehavior,[theĻappellant]wasinvolvedinamotorcycleaccident...resultinginaleftleginjuryforwhichhestillĻwearsaspecialbraceandshoe."R.at583.BecauseIbelievethattheappellantiscompetenttoĻopineasthenatureofhisbehavioratthetimeoftheaccident(thathewasengaginginthrillseekingĻbehavior)andastowhetheritwasthatbehaviorthatcausedtheaccident,andbecauseIfurtherĻbelievethatthedoctoriscompetenttoopineastoaconnectionbetweenthebehaviorthattheŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠappellantwasengaginginatthetimeoftheaccidentandhisPTSD,IwouldfindthattheappellantĻhassubmittedplausibleevidencethattheaccident,andthushiscurrentlegdisability,isrelatedtoĻhisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņWhitev.Derwinskióó,1Vet.App.519,521(1991)(thresholdastoŠ   	 Š   Šwhetherclaimiswellgroundedis"ratherlow").Ģą     ąAsthemajoritypointsout,thereisalsoevidenceofrecordindicatingthattheactionsofĻanotherdriver,ratherthantheappellant'sPTSDinducedthrillseeking,mayhavecausedtheĻmotorcycleaccident.Admittedly,thisevidenceispatentlymoredetailedandpotentiallymoreĻcrediblethantheevidencethattheappellantwasengaginginthrillseekingbehavioratthetimeofĻtheaccident.However,theCourthasconsistentlyheldthat,forpurposesofdeterminingwhetherĻaclaimiswellgrounded,theevidenceņņinsupportóóoftheclaimisņņpresumedcredibleóó.ņņSeeóóņņElkinsŠ   	 XØ   Šv.Westóó,12Vet.App.209,219(1999);ņņWintersv.Westóó,12Vet.App.203,208(1999)(enbanc);Š   	 Ą   ŠņņPearlmanv.Westóó,11Vet.App.443,447(1998);ņņRobinettev.Brownóó,8Vet.App.69,7576(1995);Š   	 (x   ŠņņKingv.Brownóó,5Vet.App.19,21(1993).ItisonlyinanensuingmeritsadjudicationthattheweightŠ   	 ą   Šandcredibilityoftheevidenceistobeassessed.ņņSeeRobinetteóó,8Vet.App.at76;ņņseealsoóóņņRuckerŠ   	 ųH   Šv.Brownóó,10Vet.App.67,72(1997)(holdingthatBoarderredinassessingweightandcredibilityŠ   	 `°   Šofevidencebeforedeterminingwhetherclaimwaswellgrounded).Consequently,thisnegativeĻevidence,nomatterhowcompelling,shouldnotbeconsideredindeterminingwhethertheappellantĻhassubmittedawellgroundedclaim.Ģą     ąRatherthanpresumecredibletheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sclaim,themajority,Ļinreviewingdenovowhethertheappellantsubmittedawellgroundedclaim,hasessentiallyĻassessedtheweightandcredibilityoftheevidence,deemedmorecredibletheevidenceņņagainstóótheŠ   	 Š  (   Šappellant'sclaim,andtherebyconcludedthattheactionsoftheotherdrivercausedtheappellant'sĻmotorcycleaccidentandresultinginjuries.Inrejectingtheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sĻclaim(evidencethatPTSDinducedthrillseekingcausedtheaccident),themajoritythenimpliesthatĻsuchevidenceisinherentlyincrediblebecauseitconflictswiththenegativeevidenceofrecord.ĻAlthoughtheBoardandtheCourtarenotrequired,atthewellgroundingstage,topresumetobetrueĻappellantsubmittedpositiveevidencethatisinherentlyincredible,ņņseeRobinette,supraóó,thatŠ   	 @)$4   ŠexceptiontothepresumptionofcredibilityisnotmeanttoallowtheweighingofconflictingĻevidenceatawellgroundingstageandthediscardingofevidencethat,althoughitsupportstheŠ   	 ,`'8   Šclaim,appearstobelesscredible.ņņSeeRuckeróó,10Vet.App.at78(Steinberg,J.,concurringinpart,Š   	 °      Šdissentinginpart)(atthresholdstageofwellgrounding,BoardgenerallyoughtnottoweighĻevidenceorconsidernegativeevidence).Ģą     ąFortheforegoingreasons,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgroundedandthattheĻclaimthereforeshouldberemandedforameritsadjudication.ńńńńń ńń×ńą     ąKRAMER,ņņJudgeóó,dissenting:Onappeal,theSecretarymakesessentiallytwoarguments.Š   	 ø
   ŠFirst,hearguesthat,becausetheeffectivedateforserviceconnectionforposttraumaticstressĻdisorder(PTSD)isin1984,theappellantdidnothavea"predicateserviceconnecteddisability"atĻthetimeofthe1971accidentandthathisclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisthereforebarredĻby38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)(1998)andņņAllenv.Brownóó,7Vet.App.439,446(1995)(enbanc).Š   	 XØ   ŠSecretary'sBrief(Br.)at1112.Second,theSecretaryarguesthattheevidencedoesnotdemonstrateĻthattheappellantwassufferingfromPTSDatthetimeoftheaccidentin1971andthatPTSDĻthereforecouldnothavecausedtheaccident.Secretary'sBr.at11,16.BecauseIbelievethattheĻappellant'sclaimisnotbarredasamatteroflawandthathehassubmittedawellgroundedclaim,ĻIwouldvacatethedecisionoftheBoardandremandthematterforameritsadjudication.IthereforeĻrespectfullydissent.Ģą     ąWithregardtotheSecretary'sfirstargument(whichwasnotaddressedbythemajority),Ļ38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)providesthata"[d]isabilitywhichisproximatelyduetoortheresultofaĻserviceconnecteddiseaseorinjuryshallbeserviceconnected."However,contrarytotheSecretary'sĻapparentinterpretationofthissection,thereisnothinginthelanguageofšš3.310(a)thatwouldĻprecludesecondaryserviceconnectionforasecondarydisabilitythatarisespriortotheeffectivedateĻofserviceconnectionfortheprimarydisability.ņņSeeGardnerv.Brownóó,5F.3d1456,1458(Fed.Cir.Š   	 8"*   Š1993)("startingpointininterpretingastatuteisitslanguage,foriftheintentofCongressisclear,Ļthatistheendofthematter"(internalquotationmarksomitted)),ņņaff'dóó,ņņBrownv.Gardneróó,513U.S.Š   	 %X .   Š115(1994);ņņSmith(WilliamA.)v.Brownóó,35F.3d1516,1523(Fed.Cir.1994)(canonsofstatutoryŠ   	 p&Ą!0   Šinterpretationapplyalsotointerpretingregulations);ņņseealsoóóņņGardneróó,513U.S.at118Š   	 Ų'(#2   Š("interpretivedoubtistoberesolvedintheveteran'sfavor");ņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at446(same).Š   	 @)$4   ŠSimilarly,theSecretary'srelianceonņņAllenóóismisplaced.ņņSeeóóņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at448("[T]heCourtŠ   	 Ø*ų%6   Šholdsthattheterm'disability'asusedin[38U.S.C.]šš1110referstoimpairmentofearningcapacity,Š   	 ,`'8   ŠandthatsuchdefinitionmandatesthatanyadditionalimpairmentofearningcapacityresultingfromĻanņņalreadyóóservice-connectedcondition...shallbecompensated."(emphasisinoriginalomitted;Š   	 h   Šemphasisadded)).ThepertinentlanguageinņņAllenóóstandsforthepropositionthatņņcompensationóóforŠ   	 Š   ŠadisabilityattributabletoasecondarilyserviceconnectedconditioncouldbepaidonlyforaperiodĻafterserviceconnectionfortheprimaryconditionhasbeenestablished.ņņCf.óóņņBarelav.Westóó,Š   	 P
    Š11Vet.App.280,283(1998)(althoughstatuteprohibitedcompensationfordisabilityduetoalcoholĻanddrugabuse,itdidnotbarawardofserviceconnection).Thislanguage,however,simplydoesĻnotaddresstheņņserviceconnectabilityóóofasecondaryconditionthathaditsonsetpriortotheŠ   	 Ų	   Šeffectivedateofserviceconnectionfortheprimarycondition.Consequently,IwouldrejecttheĻSecretary'sargumentsthattheappellant'sclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisbarredasaĻmatteroflaw.Ģą     ąFurther,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgrounded.Asthemajorityacknowledges,Ļ"[t]hereisnodisputethattheappellantsuffersfromacurrentdisabilityoftheleftlegorthatheisĻserviceconnectedforPTSD."ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at4.Asthemajorityfurtheracknowledges,thereŠ   	 ųH   Šisevidenceofrecordthattheappellant'scurrentleftlegdisabilityisattributabletohis1971Ļmotorcycleaccident.ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at12.Consequently,inordertowellgroundhisclaimforŠ   	 Č   Šserviceconnection,theremustbeevidencerelatingtheappellant'saccident(andthustheresultingĻlegdisability)tohisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņVelezv.Westóó,11Vet.App.148,158(1998).Š   	 č"   ŠHere,theappellanthassubmittedastatementindicatingthathisleftlegconditionwasthe"resultĻofthrillseekinginp[u]rsuitoftheconstantadrenalrushrewardVietnamhadgiven[him]afterĻbecomingasurvivor."R.at619.Theappellantalsosubmittedastatementinsupportofclaim,inĻwhichhestatedthat"theresidualsoffractureof[left]lowerlegare...theresultofamotorcycleĻaccidentprecipitatedby[PTSD]inducedthrillseeking."R.at87172.Inaddition,Dr.GammonĻsubmittedaletter,statingthattheappellant"exhibitedmanyofthebehaviorscharacteristicallyseenĻinindividualswithPTSDincluding'thrillseeking'behavior.Asaresultofthisbehavior,[theĻappellant]wasinvolvedinamotorcycleaccident...resultinginaleftleginjuryforwhichhestillĻwearsaspecialbraceandshoe."R.at583.BecauseIbelievethattheappellantiscompetenttoĻopineasthenatureofhisbehavioratthetimeoftheaccident(thathewasengaginginthrillseekingĻbehavior)andastowhetheritwasthatbehaviorthatcausedtheaccident,andbecauseIfurtherŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠbelievethatthedoctoriscompetenttoopineastoaconnectionbetweenthebehaviorthattheĻappellantwasengaginginatthetimeoftheaccidentandhisPTSD,IwouldfindthattheappellantĻhassubmittedplausibleevidencethattheaccident,andthushiscurrentlegdisability,isrelatedtoĻhisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņWhitev.Derwinskióó,1Vet.App.519,521(1991)(thresholdastoŠ   	 č8   Šwhetherclaimiswellgroundedis"ratherlow").Ģą     ąAsthemajoritypointsout,thereisalsoevidenceofrecordindicatingthattheactionsofĻanotherdriver,ratherthantheappellant'sPTSDinducedthrillseeking,mayhavecausedtheĻmotorcycleaccident.Admittedly,thisevidenceispatentlymoredetailedandpotentiallymoreĻcrediblethantheevidencethattheappellantwasengaginginthrillseekingbehavioratthetimeofĻtheaccident.However,theCourthasconsistentlyheldthat,forpurposesofdeterminingwhetherĻaclaimiswellgrounded,theevidenceņņinsupportóóoftheclaimisņņpresumedcredibleóó.ņņSeeóóņņWintersŠ   	 Ą   Šv.Westóó,12Vet.App.203,208(1999)(enbanc);ņņPearlmanv.Westóó,11Vet.App.443,447(1998);Š   	 (x   ŠņņRobinettev.Brownóó,8Vet.App.69,7576(1995);ņņKingv.Brownóó,5Vet.App.19,21(1993).ItisŠ   	 ą   ŠonlyinanensuingmeritsadjudicationthattheweightandcredibilityoftheevidenceistobeĻassessed.ņņSeeRobinetteóó,8Vet.App.at76;ņņseealsoóóņņRuckerv.Brownóó,10Vet.App.67,72(1997)Š   	 `°   Š(holdingthatBoarderredinassessingweightandcredibilityofevidencebeforedeterminingwhetherĻclaimwaswellgrounded).Consequently,thisnegativeevidence,nomatterhowcompelling,shouldĻnotbeconsideredindeterminingwhethertheappellanthassubmittedawellgroundedclaim.Ģą     ąRatherthanpresumecredibletheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sclaim,themajority,Ļinreviewingdenovowhethertheappellantsubmittedawellgroundedclaim,hasessentiallyĻassessedtheweightandcredibilityoftheevidence,deemedmorecredibletheevidenceņņagainstóótheŠ   	 Š  (   Šappellant'sclaim,andtherebyconcludedthattheactionsoftheotherdrivercausedtheappellant'sĻmotorcycleaccidentandresultinginjuries.Inrejectingtheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sĻclaim(evidencethatPTSDinducedthrillseekingcausedtheaccident),themajoritythenimpliesthatĻsuchevidenceisinherentlyincrediblebecauseitconflictswiththenegativeevidenceofrecord.ĻAlthoughtheBoardandtheCourtarenotrequired,atthewellgroundingstage,topresumetrueĻevidencethatisinherentlyincredible,ņņseeRobinette,supraóó,thatexceptiontothepresumptionofŠ   	 @)$4   ŠcredibilityisnotmeanttoallowtheweighingofconflictingevidenceatawellgroundingstageandĻthediscardingofevidencethat,althoughitsupportstheclaim,appearstobelesscredible.ņņSeeŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠRuckeróó,10Vet.App.at78(Steinberg,J.,concurringinpart,dissentinginpart)(atthresholdstageŠ   	 °      Šofwellgrounding,Boardgenerallyoughtnottoweighevidenceorconsidernegativeevidence).Ģą     ąFortheforegoingreasons,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgroundedandthattheĻclaimthereforeshouldberemandedforameritsadjudication.ń×ńńńń ńńńńńą     ąKRAMER,ņņJudgeóó,dissenting:Onappeal,theSecretarymakesessentiallytwoarguments.Š   	 ø
   ŠFirst,hearguesthat,becausetheeffectivedateforserviceconnectionforposttraumaticstressĻdisorder(PTSD)isin1984,theappellantdidnothavea"predicateserviceconnecteddisability"atĻthetimeofthe1971accidentandthathisclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisthereforebarredĻby38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)(1998)andņņAllenv.Brownóó,7Vet.App.439,446(1995)(enbanc).Š   	 XØ   ŠSecretary'sBrief(Br.)at1112.Second,theSecretaryarguesthattheevidencedoesnotdemonstrateĻthattheappellantwassufferingfromPTSDatthetimeoftheaccidentin1971andthatPTSDĻthereforecouldnothavecausedtheaccident.Secretary'sBr.at11,16.BecauseIbelievethattheĻappellant'sclaimisnotbarredasamatteroflawandthathehassubmittedawellgroundedclaim,ĻIwouldvacatethedecisionoftheBoardandremandthematterforameritsadjudication.IthereforeĻrespectfullydissent.Ģą     ąWithregardtotheSecretary'sfirstargument(whichwasnotaddressedbythemajority),Ļ38C.F.R.šš3.310(a)providesthata"[d]isabilitywhichisproximatelyduetoortheresultofaĻserviceconnecteddiseaseorinjuryshallbeserviceconnected."However,contrarytotheSecretary'sĻapparentinterpretationofthissection,thereisnothinginthelanguageofšš3.310(a)thatwouldĻprecludesecondaryserviceconnectionforasecondarydisabilitythatarisespriortotheeffectivedateĻofserviceconnectionfortheprimarydisability.ņņSeeGardnerv.Brownóó,5F.3d1456,1458(Fed.Cir.Š   	 8"*   Š1993)("startingpointininterpretingastatuteisitslanguage,foriftheintentofCongressisclear,Ļthatistheendofthematter"(internalquotationmarksomitted)),ņņaff'dóó,513U.S.115(1994);ņņSmithŠ   	 %X .   Š(WilliamA.)v.Brownóó,35F.3d1516,1523(Fed.Cir.1994)(canonsofstatutoryinterpretationapplyŠ   	 p&Ą!0   Šalsotointerpretingregulations);ņņseealsoGardneróó,513U.S.at118("interpretivedoubtistobeŠ   	 Ų'(#2   Šresolvedintheveteran'sfavor");ņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at446(same).Similarly,theSecretary'srelianceŠ   	 @)$4   ŠonņņAllenóóismisplaced.ņņSeeóóņņAllenóó,7Vet.App.at448("[T]heCourtholdsthattheterm'disability'asŠ   	 Ø*ų%6   Šusedin[38U.S.C.]šš1110referstoimpairmentofearningcapacity,andthatsuchdefinitionŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠmandatesthatanyadditionalimpairmentofearningcapacityresultingfromanņņalreadyóóŠ   	 °      Šservice-connectedcondition...shallbecompensated."(emphasisinoriginalomitted;emphasisĻadded)).ThepertinentlanguageinņņAllenóóstandsforthepropositionthatņņcompensationóóforadisabilityŠ   	 Š   ŠattributabletoasecondarilyserviceconnectedconditioncouldbepaidonlyforaperiodafterserviceĻconnectionfortheprimaryconditionhasbeenestablished.ņņCf.óóņņBarelav.Westóó,11Vet.App.280,283Š   	 P
    Š(1998)(althoughstatuteprohibitedcompensationfordisabilityduetoalcoholanddrugabuse,itdidĻnotbarawardofserviceconnection).Thislanguage,however,simplydoesnotaddresstheņņserviceŠ   	  p   ŠconnectabilityóóofasecondaryconditionthathaditsonsetpriortotheeffectivedateofserviceŠ   	 Ų	   Šconnectionfortheprimarycondition.Consequently,IwouldrejecttheSecretary'sargumentsthatĻtheappellant'sclaimforsecondaryserviceconnectionisbarredasamatteroflaw.Ģą     ąFurther,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgrounded.Asthemajorityacknowledges,Ļ"[t]hereisnodisputethattheappellantsuffersfromacurrentdisabilityoftheleftlegorthatheisĻserviceconnectedforPTSD."ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at4.Asthemajorityfurtheracknowledges,thereŠ   	 ą   Šisevidenceofrecordthattheappellant'scurrentleftlegdisabilityisattributabletohis1971Ļmotorcycleaccident.ņņAnteóóat__,slipop.at12.Consequently,inordertowellgroundhisclaimforŠ   	 `°   Šserviceconnection,theremustbeevidencerelatingtheappellant'saccident(andthustheresultingĻlegdisability)tohisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņVelezv.Westóó,11Vet.App.148,158(1998).Š   	 0    ŠHere,theappellanthassubmittedastatementindicatingthathisleftlegconditionwasthe"resultĻofthrillseekinginp[u]rsuitoftheconstantadrenalrushrewardVietnamhadgiven[him]afterĻbecomingasurvivor."R.at619.Theappellantalsosubmittedastatementinsupportofclaim,inĻwhichhestatedthat"theresidualsoffractureof[left]lowerlegare...theresultofamotorcycleĻaccidentprecipitatedby[PTSD]inducedthrillseeking."R.at87172.Inaddition,Dr.GammonĻsubmittedaletter,statingthattheappellant"exhibitedmanyofthebehaviorscharacteristicallyseenĻinindividualswithPTSDincluding'thrillseeking'behavior.Asaresultofthisbehavior,[theĻappellant]wasinvolvedinamotorcycleaccident...resultinginaleftleginjuryforwhichhestillĻwearsaspecialbraceandshoe."R.at583.BecauseIbelievethattheappellantiscompetenttoĻopineasthenatureofhisbehavioratthetimeoftheaccident(thathewasengaginginthrillseekingĻbehavior)andastowhetheritwasthatbehaviorthatcausedtheaccident,andbecauseIfurtherĻbelievethatthedoctoriscompetenttoopineastoaconnectionbetweenthebehaviorthattheŠ   	 ,`'8   ŠappellantwasengaginginatthetimeoftheaccidentandhisPTSD,IwouldfindthattheappellantĻhassubmittedplausibleevidencethattheaccident,andthushiscurrentlegdisability,isrelatedtoĻhisserviceconnectedPTSD.ņņSeeóóņņWhitev.Derwinskióó,1Vet.App.519,521(1991)(thresholdastoŠ   	 Š   Šwhetherclaimiswellgroundedis"ratherlow").Ģą     ąAsthemajoritypointsout,thereisalsoevidenceofrecordindicatingthattheactionsofĻanotherdriver,ratherthantheappellant'sPTSDinducedthrillseeking,mayhavecausedtheĻmotorcycleaccident.Admittedly,thisevidenceispatentlymoredetailedandpotentiallymoreĻcrediblethantheevidencethattheappellantwasengaginginthrillseekingbehavioratthetimeofĻtheaccident.However,theCourthasconsistentlyheldthat,forpurposesofdeterminingwhetherĻaclaimiswellgrounded,theevidenceņņinsupportóóoftheclaimisņņpresumedcredibleóó.ņņSeeóóņņElkinsŠ   	 XØ   Šv.Westóó,12Vet.App.209,219(1999)(enbanc);ņņWintersv.Westóó,12Vet.App.203,208(1999)(enŠ   	 Ą   Šbanc);ņņPearlmanv.Westóó,11Vet.App.443,447(1998);ņņRobinettev.Brownóó,8Vet.App.69,7576Š   	 (x   Š(1995);ņņKingv.Brownóó,5Vet.App.19,21(1993).ItisonlyinanensuingmeritsadjudicationthatŠ   	 ą   Štheweightandcredibilityoftheevidenceistobeassessed.ņņSeeRobinetteóó,8Vet.App.at76;ņņseealsoóóŠ   	 ųH   ŠņņRuckerv.Brownóó,10Vet.App.67,72(1997)(holdingthatBoarderredinassessingweightandŠ   	 `°   Šcredibilityofevidencebeforedeterminingwhetherclaimwaswellgrounded).Consequently,thisĻnegativeevidence,nomatterhowcompelling,shouldnotbeconsideredindeterminingwhethertheĻappellanthassubmittedawellgroundedclaim.Ģą     ąRatherthanpresumecredibletheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sclaim,themajority,Ļinreviewingdenovowhethertheappellantsubmittedawellgroundedclaim,hasessentiallyĻassessedtheweightandcredibilityoftheevidence,deemedmorecredibletheevidenceņņagainstóótheŠ   	 Š  (   Šappellant'sclaim,andtherebyconcludedthattheactionsoftheotherdrivercausedtheappellant'sĻmotorcycleaccidentandresultinginjuries.Inrejectingtheevidenceinsupportoftheappellant'sĻclaim(evidencethatPTSDinducedthrillseekingcausedtheaccident),themajoritythenimpliesthatĻsuchevidenceisinherentlyincrediblebecauseitconflictswiththenegativeevidenceofrecord.ĻAlthoughtheBoardandtheCourtarenotrequired,atthewellgroundingstage,topresumetobetrueĻappellantsubmittedpositiveevidencethatisinherentlyincredible,ņņseeRobinette,supraóó,thatŠ   	 @)$4   ŠexceptiontothepresumptionofcredibilityisnotmeanttoallowtheweighingofconflictingĻevidenceatawellgroundingstageandthediscardingofevidencethat,althoughitsupportstheŠ   	 ,`'8   Šclaim,appearstobelesscredible.ņņSeeRuckeróó,10Vet.App.at78(Steinberg,J.,concurringinpart,Š   	 °      Šdissentinginpart)(atthresholdstageofwellgrounding,BoardgenerallyoughtnottoweighĻevidenceorconsidernegativeevidence).Ģą     ąFortheforegoingreasons,Ibelievethattheappellant'sclaimiswellgroundedandthattheĻclaimthereforeshouldberemandedforameritsadjudication.ńń