WPC2  
      e     tW ^LrWa=Nuz6w"!t?lhrI#CMt]@j\&MB:K[*0/U}߫-"鯀5YA8a&w.b[tM/6O~X]&?6pRԃyLʚXӃ"=*;4]HɰH/9q4/B|W3Dh|\褦d$qx	hx{J376Z_՘P9(W4	4Jc+pƖq:6wXT#	-*(igJ/޹u熷XlrKFvHi]+f՚Օɂ`pWEP*(}M?<YrD_ԛ?r*Ү	HohA}Y*4=P?eÆpH B            U   N     	%        0   (     0   ~     0   x     0   k     0   k   y  0        0   ~   ~  0        0      	  0      
  0      W  0   
  N  0     X  0   1  v  0   C    0   V    0      @  0        0        0      W  0        0        0        0      j  0        0   z     0      *  	        0   =     0   F   \  0   P     	1        0        	1     `  0      g  0   C   %   U   .   h   E         U   >             n   X    	B      6   ^      S   w      _   4      c      i  w         #  0      #  0   D   $  #     $  0      &   U	   N   g'       '     6  Q,       /  N      s2   	      u2            u2        {2            {2            {2            {2  	m      }2  ( hH  	   Z  6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r           X    (                    $           V       &          8 D o c u m e n t [ 8 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   0    . .  8    `	. . `	      V                8 D o c u m e n t [ 4 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e       . .  .    V                 8 D o c u m e n t [ 6 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   8    . .       V                 8 D o c u m e n t [ 5 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   0    . .       V       /         8 D o c u m e n t [ 2 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   2     A.3
   
 Ԁ
               V       &          8 D o c u m e n t [ 7 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   0    . .  0    `	. . `	      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       . .  2       I.3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    . .       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       . .      `	. .  2      A.3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    `	. . `	      V       ?         8 D o c u m e n t [ 3 ]   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e       . .  2     1.3
   
 Ԁ
               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       . .      `	. . `	     . . P
 2      1.3
   
 Ԁ     `	. . `	 0    . .       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       . .      `	. . `	     . .      . .  2      a.3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    . .       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       . .      `	. . `	     . .      . .      h. .  2      (1)3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    h. . h      z                 : 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       . .      `	. . `	     . .      . .      h. . h     . .  2      (a)3
   
 Ԁ     h. . h 0    . .       z                 : 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       . .      `	. . `	     . .      . .      h. . h     . .      . .  2      i)3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    . .       z                 : 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       . .      `	. . `	     . .      . .      h. . h     . .      . .      p. .  2      a)3
   
 Ԁ     . .  0    p. . p      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        @    . . ^ 
      2      I.3
   
 Ԁ               Ԉ     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       . .  2     (1)3
   
 Ԁ.    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       . .  2     (a)3
   
 Ԁ.    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   2     A.3
   
 Ԁ
               . .      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   2     1.3
   
 Ԁ
               . .      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   2     a.3
   
 Ԁ
               . .      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   
      2      I.3
   
 Ԁ                    . .      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       . .  2     i)3
   
 Ԁ.    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       . .  2     a)3
   
 Ԁ.    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   0    . .       . .      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        S 	"       	         I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)                 S                          !           (                  $       0
    
  
    
     (                  $       0
    
 0
    
  
    
     (       (           $       0
    
 0
    
 0
    
  
    
        	     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   S 	$                      1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1                  S                                        C u y       T e c h n i c a l   T e c h n i c a l   D o c u m e n t   S t y l e   1   1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1   1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1         x   F               J2 P l e a d i n g   H e a d e r   f o r   n u m b e r e d   p l e a d i n g   p a p e r                      0        Ha:;     (                  2 B$       
    !     < 6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r           ) \	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o         < 6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xx 6X   @ 8; X@) \	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                                                                                   XXt \	    P PU XP                   d  |'+s    	     *              
   _  
 &  (      '  X  X  X X             X            X > , ( '                   *       d       > > , ( '                   *       d      >     H  1    H  2    H  3    H  4    H  5    H  6    H  7    H  8    H  9      10      11      12      13      14      15      16      17      18      19      20      21      22      23      24      25      26      27      28"       .+   '+  +" 3| x            (   G   (           2t$       
    !           X X                 0
   
     (                 #$           0
   
  H P   L a s e r J e t   5 P                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  , ,,,,, 0                                                                                                                                                                     <   P           P   @: Q u i c k F o r m a t 1      6    X         X  X       c       b      6    X         X  X       c       b     ( 9  	   Z  6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r          
     
 2  t$       X X                 1
   
     _        ԀSeeHollidayv.Principi,14Vet.App.280,290(holdingthat,inviewof"theabsenceof[Departmentof   	       VeteransAffairs(VA)]implementingregulations,and...[inviewof]concernsoffundamentalfairnessandfairprocess,   	 t    theCourtmustavoidcuttingoffanappellant'srightsunderthe[VeteransClaimsAssistanceActof2000,Pub.L.No.   	 8   106475,114Stat.2096(Nov.9,2000)(VCAA),]byprematurelyinjectingitselfintotheVAadjudicationprocessand   	 L   makingdeterminationsonissuesthatwerenotaddressedbyVAinthefirstinstance"andthat,therefore,"atleastatthis   	    time...thisCourtmaynotdetermineinthefirstinstancetheapplicabilityoftheVCAA"toanappellant'sclaims),mot.   	    for_        recons_        .denied,14Vet.App.327(percuriamorder),mot.forfullCourtreviewdenied,15Vet.App.21(2001)(en   	 H	   bancorder). 
   ,  
 2  t$       X X                 2
   
     _          5    6       6  Xm<  X 6            c          b           ݀ 6     X6 Xm< SeeMahlv.Principi,15Vet.App.37,41(2001)(Steinberg,J.,dissenting)(ifCourtweretoissuedecision   	       holdingthatcertainerrorshadoccurredinBoardadjudication,possibilitythatBoardwould,onremand,repeatthose   	     sameerrorswouldbemarkedlyreduced).# 6  Xm<  X 6 	  #    	 `    5  ~        Xm<  X  X6 Xm<       X Xm<           c          b            
     
 2  t$       X X                 3
   
     _        ԀThisisexactlythepointImadeinmydissentinMahl!thataVCAAremanddoesnotrendermootthe   	       appellant'sallegationsofBVAadjudicationerror,because"theissuewhethertheappellantcouldbeentitledtothebenefit   	 t    soughtonappealunderthelawasitexistedpriortotheenactmentoftheVCAAisstillverymuchincontentionbecause   	 8   Karnasrequiresconsiderationofbotholdandnewlaw,withtheultimateapplicationofthelawthatismorefavorable   	 L   totheclaimant".Mahl,15Vet.App.at47.   H               U  
    !     _             8 )  V) X X       d                  d  8     Z     p   X @      @ @  HH  UNITEDSTATESCOURTOFAPPEALSFORVETERANSCLAIMS   	       No.991001   	 t   JamesT.Benjamin,    p Appellant,   	 L	   Ѐ̀v.    p    	 $t   AnthonyJ.Principi,   	 L	   SecretaryofVeteransAffairs,    p Appellee.E  4     X   `	   h   p    x   (# pE    	 8	
   @    

  BeforeHOLDAWAY,_        IVERS_        ԀandSTEINBERG,Judges.   	    @    &  ORDER    p    	          )  XV X  X X   OnApril19,2001,theCourt,inasinglejudgeorder,vacatedanApril1,1999,decision   	 \   oftheBoardofVeterans'Appealsandremandedthematterfor_        readjudication_        Ԁinlightofthe   	 H   enactmentofthe#   Xm<  X X) XV-  # VeteransClaimsAssistanceActof2000,Pub.L.No.106475,114Stat.2096   	 4   (Nov.9,2000).OnMay10,2001,theappellant,throughcounsel,filedamotionforreconsideration,   	  p   or,inthealternative,forapaneldecision.   	 \        Uponconsiderationoftheforegoing,theparties'priorpleadings,andtherecordonappeal,   	 4   itis   	          ORDERED,bythesinglejudge,thatthemotionforreconsiderationisdenied.Itisfurther   	         ORDERED,bythepanel,thatthemotionforapaneldecisionisdenied.   	    DATED:September6,20010    h               p      PERCURIAM.    X  h(#h(#   6  Xm<  X  X Xm<          STEINBERG,Judge,dissenting:IagreethatthiscaseshouldberemandedfortheBoardof   	 0"    Veterans'Appeals(BoardorBVA)toconsiderthepotentiallyapplicableprovisionsofthe#   Xm<  X  X6 Xm<  # Veterans   	 #l!   ClaimsAssistanceActof2000,Pub.L.No.106475,114Stat.2096(Nov.9,2000)(VCAA) 6  Xm<  X  X Xm< ._          7         
 3  #     1
   
      
   
 _        ԀI   	 $X"   votedinfavorofapaneldecision,however,becauseIbelievethattheCourtshouldalsoaddresstwo   	 $D #   oftheappellant'sassertionsoferrorthatarenotpredicatedonthepotentialapplicabilityofthe    %0!$    _       VCAAandthatarecapableofrepetitiononremand.  8         
 3  #     2
   
      
   
    	            OnNovember27,2000,theappellantfiledabriefthatassertsseveraladjudicationerrorsin   	    theBoard'sApril1,1999,decision.TheSecretaryfiledabriefinreplyonMarch9,2001;heargues   	 t   thatreadjudicationisnecessaryinlightoftheenactmentoftheVCAAandthatsucharemandwould   	 `   rendermoottheconsiderationofanypurportedadjudicativeerrorsintheBVAdecision.Secretary's   	 L	   Briefat4.Theappellant,inhisMay10,2001,motionforreconsiderationorpaneldecision,asserts,   	 8
   interalia,that"toremandstrictlyundertheVCAAwouldprejudicehim...andshieldtheSecretary   	 $t   fromjudicialreviewofthoseBoarderrors[that]areunrelatedtotheVCAA".Appellant'sMotion   	 `   at3.   	 L	        InacasewhereenactmentoftheVCAAnecessitatesremand,allotherassertionsofBoard   	 $
   errorarenotrenderedmoot.ThisCourthasboththejurisdictionandthediscretiontoaddressall   	    assertionsofBoardadjudicationerror,includingerrorsassertedasalternativegroundsforremand.   	    SeeBestv.Principi,15Vet.App.18,20(2001)(percuriamorder)(Courthas,butoftenrefrainsfrom   	    exercisingeithersuasponteoratappellant'srequest,discretiontoaddressallegationsoferrorby   	    BoardwhenitisdeterminedthatVCAAnecessitatesremand);Mahlv.Principi,15Vet.App.37,47   	 p   (2001)(Steinberg,J.,dissenting)("inacasesuchasthisonewhereaclaimisremandedpursuantto   	 \   Karnas[v.Derwinski,1Vet.App.308(1991),]theissuewhethertheappellantcouldbeentitledto   	 H   thebenefitsoughtonappealunderthelawasitexistedpriortotheenactmentoftheVCAAisstill   	 4   verymuchincontentionbecauseKarnasrequiresconsiderationofbotholdandnewlaw,withthe   	  p   ultimateapplicationofthelawthatismorefavorabletotheclaimant").   	 \        Indeed,thisCourt'sjurisdictionandobligationtoaddressasserted"oldlaw"errorsis   	 4   establishedassetforthinmydissentinMahl,supra,andintwoadditionalcasesthathavecometo   	     myattentionsincethattime.InKingstonv.West,thisCourtheldthattheappellantcouldnot"waive   	    hisrighttoreadjudicationpursuanttoKarnas",Kingston,11Vet.App.272,273(1998)(percuriam   	    order).TheCourtthenwentontoholdthattheBoard'sdecisionunderoldlawhadfailedtoprovide   	    anadequatestatementofreasonsorbasesandtoremandonthatgroundaswellasunderKarnas.   	    Id.at27374.Shortlybeforethatcase,theCourtinBakerv.West,11Vet.App.163(1998),also   	 l   refusedtoacceptawaiverofaremandunderKarnas,id.at16869,andthenheldthat"VAhad   	 X    failedinitsdutytoassisttheveteranbynot[sic]obtaininghis[SocialSecurityAdministration]   	 D!   records",id.at169.ExplainingthenecessitytoconsiderallegationsofBVAadjudicativeerror   	 0"    notwithstandingtheremandforreadjudicationpursuanttoKarnas,theCourtinKingstonstated:   	 #l!   "BecausetheBoardwillhavetocomparetheappellant'sbenefitsunderboththeoriginalandthe   	 $X"   
    
 amendedratingschedule,theCourtmustconsiderhischallengestotheBVAdecisionbeforeus."   	 $D #   Kingston,11Vet.App.at273(citingBaker,supra).  9         
 3  #     3
   
      
   
 ׀Hence,ratherthanthestatementinMahl,   	       
    
 15Vet.App.at38,echoedinBest,15Vet.App.at19,that"[i]thasbeenthepracticeofthisCourt   	     thatwhenaremandisorderedbecauseofanundoubtederrorthatrequiressucharemedy,theCourt   	    willnot,asageneralrule,addressotherputativeerrorsraisedbytheappellant",thelawatthetime   	 t   ofMahlandBestseemstohavebeenexactlytheopposite.SeealsoMahl,15Vet.App.at4445   	 `   (Steinberg,J.,dissenting).Finally,theconflictbetweentheCourt'sactiontodayinrefusingto   	 L	   reviewtheassertedBVAerrorsandtheCourt'sactionsinKingstonandBakerisallthemore   	 8
   puzzlingbecauseoneofmycolleaguesinthemajoritytodaywaspartofthepanelsineachofthose   	 $t   casesandauthoredtheCourt'sopinioninBaker.   	 `   Ѐ   	 L	        TheappellantcontendsthattheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs(VA)medicalexaminer   	 8	
   failedtoreviewtheappellant'sclaimsfile,includinganyofhisservicemedicalrecords(SMRs),   	 $
   priortohisexaminationinMarch1997.Dr.JohnA.Crowe,aVAmedicalexaminer,statedinhis   	    April1997reportthattheclaimsfilewasnotavailableforhisreviewpriorto,oratthetimeof,his   	    March1997medicalexaminationoftheappellant.Record(R.)at112.TheBoarddecisionnoted   	    theappellant'scontentionregardingtheinadequacyoftheMarch1997examination,butconcluded   	    that"thereisnothingabouttheexaminationthatappearsinadequateonitsface".R.at3.Contrary   	 p   tothisconclusion,amedicalexaminermustconsidertherecordsofpriormedicalexaminationsand   	 \   treatmentinordertoensureafullyinformedopinion.SeeHamptonv.Gober,10Vet.App.481,483   	 H   (1997);Schroederv.Brown,6Vet.App.220,225(1994);#   Xm<  X  X6 Xm<6	  #  6  Xm<  X  X Xm< Green(Victor)v.Derwinski,1Vet.App.   	 4   121,123(1991).% ;    Thefailuretomaketheappellant'sclaimsfile,includinghisSMRs,availableto   	  p   Dr.CrowepriortotheMarch1997examination,callsintoquestionthethoroughnessofthe   	 \   examination!anexaminationthattheBoardreliedoninitsdecision.SeeGreen,1Vet.App.at124   	 H   (1991)("thoroughandcontemporaneousmedicalexamination"isonethat"takesintoaccountthe   	 4   recordsofthepriormedicaltreatment,sothattheevaluationoftheclaimeddisabilitywillbeafully   	     informedone").TheBoardthuserredinconcludingthatDr.Crow'sexaminationwasnotinadequate   	    onitsface.   	         TheappellantalsoassertsthattheBoard'sfindingthatheexperiencednofunctionaldisability   	    asaresultofhisheelinjurywasmadewithoutanysupportingmedicalevidenceinviolationofthe   	 l   reasonsorbasesrequirementin38U.S.C.7104(d).Appellant'sMotionat2.Iagree.Adisability   	 X    ofthemusculoskeletalsystemrequiresadeterminationastowhetherthepartsofthesystemaffected   	 D!   bytheclaimeddisabilitycanperformthenormalworkingmovementsofthebodywithnormal   	 0"    excursion,strength,speed,coordination,andendurance.38C.F.R.4.40(2000)."Whencomplete   	 #l!   examinationsarenotconductedcoveringallsystemsofthebodyaffectedbydiseaseorinjury,itis   	 $X"   impossibletovisualizethenatureandextentoftheserviceconnecteddisability."38C.F.R.4.42   	 $D #   (2000).TheBoardmayconsideronlymedicalevidenceindependentofitsownmedicalopinions   	 %0!$   inordertosupportitsfindings.SeeColvinv.Derwinski,1Vet.App.171,175(1991);seealso   	 &"%   Colayongv.West,12Vet.App.524(1999)(findingexpertmedicalopiniondeficientandordering   	       Boardtoobtainnewexpertopiniononremand).ThereportofDr.Crowe(R.at11112),contains   	     asummaryoffunctionas"[w]ithinthelimitsofnormal"fortheclaimedheeldisorder,butdoesnot   	    includeadescriptionofthetestsusedtomakethatdetermination,andoffersnoopinionastothe   	 t   specificconsiderationslistedunder38C.F.R.4.40,includingendurance,coordination,strength,   	 `   andspeed.SeeAlldayv.Brown,7Vet.App.517,527(1995)(under38U.S.C.7104(d)(1),Board   	 L	   mustincludeinitsdecisionwrittenstatementofreasonsorbasesforitsfindingsandconclusionson   	 8
   allmaterialissuesoffactandlawpresentedonrecord;statementmustbeadequatetoenable   	 $t   appellanttounderstandprecisebasisforBoard'sdecision,aswellastofacilitatereviewinCourt).   	 `        BecauseIbelievethattheseBVAerrorsarecapableofrepetitiononremand,theyshouldbe   	 8	
   addressedbytheCourtinthecontextofitsremandtotheBoardforreadjudicationofthisappeal.   	 $
   SeeKingstonandBaker,bothsupra.Accordingly,Ivotedforapaneldecision,inorderfortheCourt   	    todoso,andIthereforerespectfullydissent.#   Xm<  X  X6 Xm<@$  # 