ÿWPC»(  
      Ÿl     âþåJ MPsƒÖÒ=
{x(*ºh(6êqÄ}ROÀKvÿ.î}Ø@ßƒ¾Ñ¢†Rò¶†ì²0°a)¦<Ñ[Œ×ïˆÏ|7÷-ê!Ëò)Ý\K7õÀö¦XÚ»Û™'mâmô/52Û
I+ —Yƒî|áHçtÿßéU™ˆ=ˆñÞ!ÔºœËFÑ uƒe¸Œ§9É˜­¤dé”R
î¢ÏôÚo7Y„3¿vN›%±!&@§Ñ¸ÎB˜Ñ\~j×ct;àžˆ¡hS…£ä˜ëÁhõÚŒÝR˜µ#.nzˆY.PÜ³Ô–g:„Ó¼1®Z³Wd/·C°òFö|	ù‚‚6\jý³*c…»Ì‘½ŸÐ” ¥Kh(VD’¨_ÀE]_GõTÚâè*áÝ?y©«
PEÊ¥K]:‹J˜ZN7dú‚—Z\ð!Òçz^•›]·ë;#:ŠÕFºWCyÇ}Ú°˜‡\û>å·l;t#JÃ™xúK‰wñµ­Æ®×[ÐD‚†ItÓPC¸¦Bæ.ÉW£°Ó¹™‡ñ2`4Ô@%ñ#a„IÊ¹2AX>2¶ %‚öäÛå[ûÍ^>k‰¢#S5S–‹ç£«Tj£'rÙ‹—&ãæ«ÑZ ?           	%      r   U   >   x  0   (   ¶   U   2   Þ  w   @     0   ~   P  0   x   Î  0   k   F  0   k   ±  4        0   š   0  0   ~   Ê  0   Ñ   H	  	1   m   
        †
  0   ä   •
  0   ¦   y  0   ÷     0   
    0        0   1  >  0   C  o  0   V  ²  0   Ï     0   ¤   ×  0   ¤   {  0   Ã     0   ¼   â  0   »   ž  0   Ù   Y  0   £   2  0   £   Õ  0   z   x  0   ä   ò  	      Ö  	1   •   ç  0   =   |  0   F   ¹  0   P   ÿ  0   Ù   O  	1     (  0   ¾   /     i  í  0   C   V"   U   N   ™"  	B      ç"   E      #  0   &   #  0   ¨   ,#  0   Å   Ô#  0   ›   ™$  0   &   4%  n   ­   Z%     ‚  &   	      ‰(        (   	      —(   	      (   	      £(   	      ©(   	      ¯(   	      µ(    X) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o       (                    $ ¡   ¡   * î\	  	 p`   T m s R m n     P r o     
   é Ê ê D ë Ê ì eí Ê î Ê ï  ð D ñ  ò Ê     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 §˜ü(§˜ü(                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                  # e   3 7 = C I Q Y a g ­   ­   1 .   a .   i .   ( 1 )   ( a )   ( i )   1 )   a )   3| x    ò      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 €	$     	           I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)                 S ÓØ                     Ø % & '            	     ÿÿ  A _ e k q w  ‡  D o c u m e n t   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   I .   1 .   A .   a .   ( 1 )   ( a )   i )   a )         (                  ÿÿ$ ˜   ˜   Ìà0
    
 àà 
    
 à    (                  ÿÿ$ ™   ™   à0
    
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    
 àà 
    
 à    (       (           ÿÿ$ š   š   à0
    
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    
 àà0
    
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     ÔÔ     ÔÌÌóó    &                    ÿÿ$ 1     « ) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                                                                                   XXt ô\	    PŽ ¨PU XP                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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 '           M E R E D A    0    M E R E D A   
 .      
       
       
         È¿         È¿    È¿    È¿    H    È¿    È  Ý
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    ÝÑ7 €        X  X       dð                  dÈ 7 ÑÑ    e ÑÓ     ÓÑ     ÑÔ €-  X‹‡ X  X X   ÔÓ= €   X  XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= Óà@    ÷÷ ì àòòUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€APPEALS€FOR€VETERANS€CLAIMSóóˆÐ   	 °      ÐÌÌà@    %%% ì àNo.€99„413ˆÌÌà     àà    `	 àà@    ææ ì àòòThomas€E.€Bruce,€Appellant,ˆÐ   	 `	°   ÐÌà@    šš) ì àv.ˆÌÌà@    §§" ì àHershel€W.€Gober,ˆÌà@    PP ì àActing€Secretary€of€Veterans€Affairs,€Appelleeóó.ˆÐ   	 `	
   ÐÌÌà@    ee ì àOn€Appeal€from€the€Board€of€Veterans'€AppealsˆÌÌÌÓ   Ó(Decided€€€ñïñ€August€1,€2000ñïññ ðñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñðññññ€ññññòñÔ% €<    Ôñòñ€)ÌÓ  Ž   ÓÌà@    ìì* ì àˆÌÌà     àòòThomas€E.€Bruce,€pro€se.óóÐ   	 pÀ   ÐÌà     àòòLeigh€A.€Bradleyóó,€General€Counsel;€òòRon€Garvinóó,€Assistant€General€Counsel;€òòMichael€A.Ð   	 P    ÐLeonardóó,€Deputy€Assistant€General€Counsel;€and€òòRichard€Scott€Raganóó,€all€of€Washington,€D.C.,Ð   	 @   Ðwere€on€the€pleading€for€the€appellee.ÌÌà     àBefore€KRAMER,€FARLEY,€and€IVERS,€òòJudgesóó.Ð   	 `   ÐÌÓ    €     Óà     àKRAMER,€òòJudgeóó:€€The€appellant,€Thomas€E.€Bruce,€appeals€a€July€23,€1998,€decision€of€theÐ   	 ð@   ÐBoard€of€Veterans'€Appeals€(BVA€or€Board)€denying€entitlement€to€waiver€of€recovery€of€anÏoverpayment€of€VA€compensation€benefits€in€the€amount€of€$82,928.76.€€Record€(R.)€at€2,€9.€€TheÏappellant€has€filed€an€informal€brief,€and€the€Secretary€has€filed€a€motion€for€summary€affirmanceÏin€lieu€of€a€brief.€€This€appeal€is€timely,€and€the€Court€has€jurisdiction€pursuant€to€38€U.S.C.Ïðððð7252(a)€and€7266(a).€€The€Court€notes€that,€on€March€24,€2000,€this€appeal€was€stayed€for€30Ïdays€in€accordance€with€òòIn€re€Panel€Referrals€in€Pro€Se€Casesóó,€12€Vet.App.€316€(1999)€(en€bancÐ   	 `'°"(   Ðorder).€€For€the€reasons€that€follow,€the€Court€will€affirm€the€decision€of€the€Board.Ìñ êñÌÌñêñÌâ
    
 âÓ   ÓòòI.óóÐ    ˜+è&. \  ÐÓ  A   Óà     àThe€appellant€served€on€active€duty€from€January€1969€to€November€1970.€€òòSeeóó€R.€at€2.€€HeÐ   	 °      Ðâ
    
 âwas€granted€service€connection€for€schizophrenic€reaction,€paranoid€type,€in€1970€and€has€been€Ð    ,-|(2 €  Ðrated€100%€disabled€for€that€condition€since€1971.€€R.€at€13,€15.€€In€1980,€Congress€enactedÏ38U.S.C.€ðð5313,€which€provides€limitations€on€the€payment€of€compensation€to€a€veteranÏincarcerated€for€conviction€of€a€felony.€òò€Seeóó€Pub.€L.€No.€96„385,€ðð€504(a),€94€Stat.€1528,€1534Ð   	 jº   Ð(1980).€€In€1991€and€1992,€a€VA€regional€office€(RO)€received€information€reflecting€that€theÏappellant€had€been€convicted€of€a€felony€and,€as€a€result,€had€been€continuously€incarcerated€in€aÏpenal€institution€since€August€1987.€€R.€at€22,€24,€54.€€Based€on€that€information,€the€ROÏretroactively€reduced€from€100%€to€10%€the€appellant's€disability€compensation,€effective€on€theÏ61st€day€of€his€incarceration.€€R.€at€32„34;€60„62;€òòseeóó€38€U.S.C.€ðð5313(a)(1)(A)€(limiting€to€10%Ð   	 ;‹	   Ðmonthly€payment€of€disability€compensation€for€veteran€convicted€of€felony€and€incarcerated€inÏpenal€institution€for€more€than€60€days).€€This€ultimately€resulted€in€the€calculation€of€anÏoverpayment€to€the€appellant€in€the€amount€of€$82,928.76.€€òòSeeóó€R.€at€36„43,€51.€€à    x àÐ   	 R¢   Ðà     àAfter€receiving€notice€of€the€overpayment,€the€appellant€submitted€to€VA€a€request€forÏwaiver€of€recovery€of€that€debt.€€R.€at€56.€€In€support€of€his€request,€he€asserted€that€he€had€not€beenÏinformed€that€his€compensation€"could€be€reduced€because€of€being€incarcerated€for€a€felony";€thatÏhis€family€had€informed€VA€of€his€incarceration;€and€that€recovery€would€create€a€financial€hardshipÏbecause€his€financial€resources€had€been€completely€depleted€as€a€result€of€the€criminal€proceedingsÏleading€to€his€conviction.€€R.€at€56„57.€€A€VA€Committee€on€Waivers€and€CompromisesÏsubsequently€determined€that,€even€though€a€report€of€income€reflected€that€the€appellant's€expensesÏexceeded€his€income,€recovery€of€the€debt€would€not€cause€hardship€because€the€appellant€wasÏ"incarcerated€at€government€expense."€€R.€at€65.€€The€Committee€further€determined€that€theÏappellant€had€"substantial€fault"€in€the€creation€of€the€overpayment€and€that€waiver€would€result€inÏhis€unjust€enrichment.€€R.€at€65,€67.€€Consequently,€the€Committee€denied€his€request€for€waiver€ofÏrecovery.€€R.€at€65.€€The€appellant€appealed€that€decision,€asserting€that€his€family€had€timelyÏinformed€VA€of€his€incarceration€and€arguing€that€collection€of€the€overpayment€would€create€undueÏfinancial€hardship€because€he€did€not€have€the€financial€resources€to€retain€an€attorney€to€assist€inÏappealing€his€conviction.€€R.€at€73„76,€86„88.Ìà     àIn€the€BVA€decision€on€appeal,€the€Board€initially€determined€that€the€overpayment€had€beenÏproperly€created€(R.€at€5)€and€that€"there€was€no€fraud,€misrepresentation,€or€bad€faith€on€the€partÏof€the€[appellant]€with€respect€to€creation€of€the€overpayment€at€issue"€(R.€at€7).€€The€Board€thenÏconsidered€the€factors€listed€inòò€óó38€C.F.R.€ðð€1.965(a)€(1999)€in€order€to€determine€whether€recoveryÐ   	 9,‰':   Ðwould€be€"against€the€principles€of€equity€and€good€conscience."€€R.€at€7.€€In€addressing€thoseÏfactors,€the€Board€€found€that€there€was€"no€fault€on€the€part€of€the€[appellant]€in€the€creation€of€theÏassessed€overpayment"€because€it€would€not€be€reasonable€"to€expect€[the€appellant]€to€be€aware€ofÏthe€fact€that€his€incarceration€would€result€in€a€reduction€of€his€compensation€payments."€€R.€at€7.€ÏThe€BVA€also€found€that€VA€was€not€at€fault€in€creating€the€overpayment€because€"it€would€haveÏcaused€an€undue€burden"€to€require€VA€to€notify€every€veteran€in€receipt€of€compensation€in€1980€Ïthat€he€or€she€"would€have€to€report€incarceration€for€a€felony€on€the€off€chance€that€he€or€she€mightÏthen€be€or€sometime€later€be€incarcerated€for€a€felony."€€R.€at€8.€€The€BVA€further€concluded€thatÏrecovery€would€not€create€an€"undue€financial€hardship"€on€the€appellant,€reasoning€that€"theÏ[appellant]€is€currently€incarcerated;€as€such€his€basic€necessities€(i.e.,€food,€shelter,€clothing)€areÏprovided€for€by€the€correctional€institution,€and€any€collection€would€not€deprive€him€of€theseÏnecessities."€€R.at8.€€As€to€the€remainder€of€the€elements€in€ðð€1.965(a),€the€Board€stated:ÌÓ      €  ÓÒ  ° ÒÒ   ° ÒAs€the€[appellant]€received€disability€compensation€to€which€he€[was]€not€entitledÏ(as€a€result€of€his€incarceration),€this€resulted€in€his€unjust€enrichment.€€Additionally,Ïthere€is€no€evidence€that€the€[appellant]€relinquished€a€valuable€right€or€incurred€anyÏlegal€obligations€resulting€from€reliance€on€VA€benefits.€€Furthermore,€the€evidenceÏof€record€discloses€no€other€element€of€the€standard€of€equity€and€good€conscienceÏwhich€would€persuade€the€Board€that€the€Government€should€waive€its€right€to€theÏrepayment€of€the€assessed€indebtedness.€€ÌÌÒ   °¥   ÒÒ  °—   ÒÓ   €    …   ÓR.€at€9.€€Accordingly,€the€Board€concluded€that€recovery€of€the€overpayment€would€not€be€againstÏequity€and€good€conscience€and€thus€denied€entitlement€to€waiver.€€R.€at€9.€€This€appeal€followed.Ìà     àOn€appeal,€the€appellant€contends€that€VA€was€at€fault€in€the€creation€of€the€overpaymentÏbecause€VA€did€not€inform€him€about€the€change€in€law€that€provided€that€incarceration€would€resultÏin€a€reduction€in€his€VA€disability€compensation€or€notify€him€that€it€was€his€responsibility€to€reportÏhis€incarceration€to€VA.€€Appellant's€Informal€Brief,€Attachment€at€1„3.€€Additionally,€he€argues€thatÏthe€Board€erred€in€determining€that€recovery€of€the€overpayment€would€not€create€an€undue€financialÏhardship.€€òòIdóó.€at€3.€€In€that€€regard,€he€essentially€asserts€that€his€basic€necessities€are€not€all€providedÐ   	 ß%/!.   Ðfor€by€the€penal€institution€because€he€is€required€to€pay€for€such€items€as€toiletries,€medication,Ïdental€appointments,€and€medical€appointments€and€that€"without€the€financial€aid€of€familyÏmembers"€he€would€not€be€able€to€obtain€"some€of€the€needed€items€[that]€he€deems€a€necessity€toÏhis€survival€in€such€a€surrounding."€€òòIdóó.€at€4„5.€€Finally,€he€contends€that€failure€to€reimburse€theÐ   	 S+£&6   Ðgovernment€would€not€result€in€his€unjust€enrichment€because€there€is€no€evidence€"showing€whereÏor€how€[he]€may€have€benefited€from€the€overpayment."€€òòIdóó.€at€4.€€The€Secretary€responds€that€theÐ   	 ]   ÐBVA€decision€should€be€affirmed€because€it€was€made€in€accordance€with€applicable€laws€andÏregulations€and€because€the€appellant€has€not€identified€any€errors€of€fact€or€law€that€would€warrantÏremand€or€reversal.€€Secretary's€Motion€at€1.ÌÌÓ   ÓòòII.óóÐ   	 Þ.   ÐÓ  Ï"   Óà     àPursuant€to€38€U.S.C.€ðð€5302(a),€"[ñìññìñt]hereñìñ›ñìññèññèñ€shall€be€no€recovery€of€payments€or€overpaymentsÏ.€.€.€of€any€benefits€under€any€of€the€laws€administered€by€the€Secretary€whenever€the€SecretaryÏdetermines€that€recovery€would€be€against€equity€and€good€conscience."€€òòSeeóó€38€C.F.R.€ðððð€1.962,Ð   	 ÷G   Ð1.963,€1.965(a)€(1999);€òòsee€alsoóó€38€U.S.C.€ðð5302(c)€œ(recovery€may›€not€be€œwaived€if›€there€is€"anÐ   	 T¤   Ðindication€of€fraud,€misrepresentation,€or€bad€œfaith");›€38€C.F.R.€œðð1.965(b)›€(1999).€€œIn€determiningÏwhether€recovery€would€be€against€equity€and€good€conscience,€the€Secretary€is€required€to€considerÏthe€elements€set€forth€in€38›€C.F.R.€ðð€œ1.965(a),€which€are€not€intended€to€be€all€inclusive:€€(1)€theÏfault€of€the€debtor;€(2)€the€balancing€of€faults€between€the€debtor€and€VA;€(3)€undue€hardship;Ï(4)›œwhether€the€purpose€of€the€existing€benefits€would€be€defeated;€(5)€unjust€enrichment;€andÏ(6)whether€the€appellant€changed€his€position€to€his€detriment.òò€€See€Ridings›€v.Brownóó,€6Vet.App.Ð   	 ‚Ò    Ð544,€546€(1994).€€Determining€whether€there€would€be€"undue€hardship,"€in€turn,€requires€aÏœdetermination›€as€to€œ"[w]hether›€collection€would€deprive€œ[the]€debtor›€œ.€.€.€of›€basic€necessities."€Ïœ38C.F.R.›€ðð1.965(a)(3).€€œ"Waiver›€decisions,€and€the€review€of€such€decisions€by€the€BVA,€areÏsubject€to€review€by€this€Court€to€determine€whether€the€statutory€standard€was€applied€inÏaccordance€with€the€regulatory€guidance€or€whether€the€decision€was€made€in€an€arbitrary€orÏcapricious€manner."€€œòòSmith€(ñãñBarbara)ñãñ›€œv.Derwinskióó,›€1€Vet.App.€267,€279€(1991);€òòseeóó€38U.S.C.Ð   	 °" ,   Ðñ èññäñÔ% €:    Ôñäññèñœðð7261(a)(3)(A);›€òòCullen€v.€Brownóó,€5Vet.App.€510,€512€(1993).€€œThe›€scope€of€review€under€theÐ   	 $].   Ð"arbitrary€and€capricious"€standard€is€œnarrow€and€does€not€permit€the€Court€to€substitute€its€judgmentÏfor€that€of€the€Board.€€òòSee€Kaplan€v.Brownóó,€9Vet.App.€116,€119€(1996).€€"If€the€Board€articulatesÐ   	 Ç&"2   Ða€satisfactory€explanation€for€its€decision,€including€a€rational€connection€between€the€facts€foundÏand€the€choice€made,€the€Court€must€affirm."€òò€Jordan€v.Brownóó,€10Vet.App.€171,€175€(1997);€òòseeóóÐ   	 )Ñ$6   Ðâ
    
 âòòalsoóó›€œ38U.S.C.›€ðð€7104(d)(1);€òòGilbert€œv.›œDerwinskióó,›€œ1Vet.App.›€49,€57€(1990).€œÐ   	 Þ*.&8   Ðà     àBecause€the€appellant,€in€his€brief,€raises€arguments€only€as€to€the€Board's€consideration€of€Ïâ
    
 âfault,€undue€hardship,€and€unjust€enrichment,€the€Court€will€confine€its€review€to€issues€related€toÏthose€factors.€€òòSeeóó€òòFord€v.Goberóó,€10Vet.App.€531,€535€(1997);€òòGrivois€v.Brownóó,€6Vet.App.€136,Ð   	 jº   Ð138€(1994)€(issues€or€claims€not€argued€on€appeal€are€deemed€abandoned);òò€Bucklinger€v.Brownóó,Ð   	 Ç   Ð5Vet.App.€435,€436€(1993).Ìà     àOn€appeal,€the€appellant€appears€to€express€disagreement€with€the€Board's€determination€that€Ïit€would€have€been€unduly€burdensome€for€VA€to€notify€every€veteran€in€receipt€of€compensationÏin€1980€of€the€enactment€of€38U.S.C.€ðð€5313€and€its€further€determination€that€VA€therefore€wasÏnot€at€fault€in€creation€of€the€overpayment.€€R.€at€8.€€However,€the€appellant€has€not€pointed€to€anyÏauthority€indicating€that€VA€had€a€duty€to€provide€such€notification,€nor€is€the€Court€aware€of€anyÏsuch€duty.€€òòCfóó.€38€U.S.C.€ðð7722(c)€(Secretary€shall€distribute€full€information€to€eligible€veteransÐ   	 R¢   Ðregarding€"all€òòbenefitsóó€and€services"€to€which€they€may€be€entitled€(emphasis€added));€òòWellsÐ   	 ¯ÿ   Ðv.Principióó,€3Vet.App.€307,€309€(1992).€€Further,€the€appellant€has€not€provided€any€other€argumentÐ   	 \   Ðthat€would€support€a€finding€of€VA€fault.€€Accordingly,€the€Court€concludes€that€the€appellant€hasÏnot€demonstrated€that€the€Board€failed€to€provide€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€its€conclusionÏregarding€the€apportionment€of€fault€in€the€present€case.€Ìà     àThe€appellant€also€expresses€disagreement€with€the€Board's€determination€that€recovery€ofÏthe€overpayment€would€not€create€an€undue€hardship€on€the€appellant.€€In€this€regard,€the€CourtÏnotes€that,€prior€to€the€BVA€decision,€the€appellant€argued€that€his€financial€resources€had€beenÏdepleted€as€a€result€of€the€criminal€proceedings€leading€to€his€incarceration;€argued€that,€due€toÏinadequate€funds,€he€had€been€forced€to€appeal€his€conviction€without€legal€representation;€andÏprovided€information€reflecting€that€his€expenses€exceeded€his€income.€€R.at€29,€56„57,€65,€87.€ÏAlthough€the€Board€did€not€explicitly€address€these€contentions,€the€Board's€determination€that€theÏappellant's€"basic€necessities€(i.e.,€food,€shelter,€clothing)€are€provided€for€by€the€correctionalÏinstitution"€necessarily€encompasses€an€implicit€determination€that€any€of€his€claimed€expendituresÏwere€not€for€"basic€necessities"€and€that€inadequate€funds€for€such€expenditures€would€not€lead€toÏa€deprivation€of€"basic€necessities."€€38€C.F.R.€ðð€1.965(a)(3)€(assessment€of€"[u]ndue›€hardship"Ïelement€requires€determination€as€to€"[œw]hether›€collection€would€deprive€debtor€.€.€.€of€basicÏnecessities").€€Consequently,€the€Court€concludes€that€the€Board€provided€a€sufficient€articulationÏof€its€reasoning€in€this€regard.Ð   	 9,‰':   Ðà     àœThe›€appellant€œfurther€contends,›€for€the€first€time€on€appeal,€that€while€incarcerated€he€mustÏpay€for€items€such€as€toiletries,€medication,€dental€appointments,€and€medical€appointments€and€thatÏ"without€the€financial€aid€of€family€members"€he€would€not€be€able€to€obtain€some€"items€he€deemsÏa€œnecessity."›€€Appellant's€Informal€Brief,€Attachment€at€4„5.€€Although,€under€certain€circumstances,Ïthe€Court€would€have€jurisdiction€to€consider€an€òòargumentóó€raised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal€(òòseeóóÐ   	 $
t   ÐòòMaggitt€v.Westóó,€202€F.3d1370,€1377€(Fed.€Cir.€2000)),€the€Court€is€precluded€by€statute€fromÐ   	 Ñ
   Ðœñ åñconsideringñåññæñincluding€in€the€record€on€appealñæñ›€any€òòevidenceóó€that€was€not€contained€in€the€"record€of€proceedingsÐ   	 Þ.   Ðœbñ êññçñÔ% €7    Ôñçññêñefore›€the€Secretary€and€the€Board"€(38€U.S.C.€ðð€7252(b);€òòsee€Cumby€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€363,€365Ð   	 ;‹	   Ð(1999);òò€Rogozinski€v.Derwinskióó,€1€Vet.App.€19,€20€(1990)).€€Here,€the€appellant's€statements€in€hisÐ   	 ˜è
   Ðbrief€essentially€constitute€an€attempt€to€introduce€new€evidence€(regarding€the€nature€and€level€ofÏhis€purported€expenditures)€in€support€of€an€argument€that€he€previously€raised€(that€recovery€of€theÏoverpayment€would€deprive€him€of€basic€necessities).€€òòSeeóó€œòòñ ìññéñÔ% €;    Ôñéññìññ îññíñÔ% €=    ÔñíññîññîñÔ% €>    ÔñîñRobinette›€v.Brownóó,€8Vet.App.€69,€78Ð   	 ¯ÿ   Ð(1995)€(defining€the€term€"evidence").€€Thus,€the€Court€will€not€consider€this€evidence€in€renderingÏits€decision.€€However,€the€Court€notes€that€the€appellant€may€be€able€to€utilize€statements€regardingÏthe€nature€and€level€of€his€expenditures€(together€with€any€corroborating€evidence)€to€demonstrateÏ"new€and€material€evidence"€in€connection€with€an€attempt€to€reverse€or€modify€the€waiver€decisionÏunder€œ38C.F.R.›€ðð€1.969(a)€(1999).Ìà     àFinally,€as€to€the€appellant's€assertion€that€the€Board€erred€in€finding€unjust€enrichment,€theÏCourt€concludes€that€the€Board's€explanation€in€this€regard,€œalbeit›€brief,€was€satisfactory.€€òòSeeóó€R.atÐ   	 :Š$   Ð9€("As€the€[appellant]€received€disability€compensation€to€which€he€[was]€not€entitled€(as€a€resultÏof€his€incarceration),€this€resulted€in€his€unjust€enrichment.").Ìà     à¹Ó   ÓòòIII.óóÐ   	 ®"þ,   ÐÓ  ÆA   Óà     àIn€sum,€the€Court€holds€that€the€appellant€has€not€demonstrated€that€the€Board€failed€toÏarticulate€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€its€decision,€and€thus€the€Court€cannot€conclude€that€theÏBVA's€denial€of€waiver€was€arbitrary,€capricious,€an€abuse€of€discretion,€or€otherwise€not€inÏaccordance€with€the€law.€€Accordingly,€the€July€23,€1998,€BVA€decision€is€œAFFIRMED.ñ íññëñÔ% €9    Ôñëññíñ›