ÿWPC¨  
      Ú;     Æqu¢ë±+;HþÚ'KIÚ°ÒÑ&&Ó%3)¥ `¶"4æL&¬¤Ž‘é’tôƒ—.ñ9)iO9¡¯ÑÌàÛe91 ‚­}ÃÏ˜-
RÒq¸„àª¸¿Õ		QîÄÁ£Ûž`&É¸“(­ï"é2¤€g4$&Oö‡Ô2²¥?±*Õ`ÇÓ±À5Þ‘1ìnü+ù©ÍuýžÜ<Ý!runŠæÆ_$1LKˆ:E¶ì*Ì3pSwÇi—Áøn8´§¶6Éò¢Qµÿ–Xà%Ùâ§ªÂ$lõ!¯ošt¶|,âßºj]è×ôš¯ÊÑëø+dD)°~BRp÷?zGw¬h[ÒÖžUZ-Ú©U?çz{›¯óâ–tÛxÛ·($õ-@O’)'Q…ª†õ3y<'üEœ¶‘%r_CÑÂ"&c ËW"ë#®¥ª]ï*6Òîp˜2‰Ø2ñ|·ª3À|`'[”`L!qöTÒ;ŽcSt4³St…ÛöhæJ|Jx½Å59!z
É£‰¤Àj|Û3¯B+j„?œzD[„¹Â@EÅÁÈÞ5t†GÅ¦R
¡¡÷sƒ8èePJä¾ÉvÝ˜ds$jó0SfJ(^²uî»Š/‹¹ =bGÝµnEšîÿ            #     Ò   U   N   Ý  	%      +  0   (   1     ~  Y   	      ×  w   @   Ý  4              1   U   N   @        Ž   	      –   	      œ   	      ¢   ˜H P   L a s e r J e t   5 P / 5 M P   ( H P )                             HPPCL5G      ,ä ,,,,,ä 0                                                                                                                                                             nLDÎ( uHš  	   Z  ‹6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r           X    (                    $ ¡   ¡                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
            Î   
 '           U S C V A    0    U S C V A   
 .      
       
       
         È¿  
   dL  eL D fL  gL  hL eiL Ê jL Ê kL  lL D mL Ê Zm‘(ê”( ô j     3| x    mL                      ` 6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r                È     H    È  Ý
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    ÝÑ     ÑÑ    [ ÑÑ7 €
  %8
 X  X       dð                  dÈ 7 ÑòòÓ     ÓÓ   ÓÓ= €        XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= Óñ iLñÔ% €    ÔñiLñà0
 @  
 àUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€APPEALS€FOR€VETERANS€CLAIMSóóÐ   	 °      ÐÓ  z    ÓÌNo.€98„57ÌòòÌÌCatherine€A.€Ozer,€à    ¸ àà     àà    h àà    À àà     àà    p àAppellant,Ð   	 `	°   ÐóóÌà     àòòv.óóÐ   	 @   ÐÌòòTogo€D.€West,€Jr.,óóÐ   	  p	   ÐòòSecretary€of€Veterans€Affairs,€à    h àà    À àà     àà    p àAppellee.óóÐ   	 `	
   ÐÌÌÓ   ÓBefore€HOLDAWAY,€IVERS,€and€STEINBERG,€òòJudgesóó.Ð   	 à0   ÐÓ  ˜   Ó€à     àÐ   	 Ð    Ðà@    & ì àòòO€R€D€E€RóóˆÐ   	 À   ÐÌà     àThe€pro€se€appellant,€the€spouse€of€veteran€Philip€Ozer,€appeals€a€September€16,€1997,Ïdecision€of€the€Board€of€Veterans'€Appeals€(BVA)€that€denied€entitlement€to€dependent's€educationalÏassistance€(DEA)€under€chapter€35€of€title€38,€U.S.€Code.€€Record€(R.)at€3.€€The€appellant€has€filedÏan€informal€brief,€and€the€Secretary€has€filed€a€motion€for€single-judge€affirmance€and,€in€responseÏto€a€June€3,€1998,€Court€order,€the€Secretary€has€filed€a€brief€regarding€the€application€of€38U.S.C.Ïðð3512(b)€to€the€facts€of€this€case.€€ÌÌà     àSection€3512€of€title€38,€U.S.€Code,€has€the€following€provisions€as€to€periods€of€eligibilityÏfor€DEA:ÌÌà8     àà    `	 à(b)(1)€No€person€made€eligible€by€section€3501(a)(1)(B)€or€(D)€of€this€titleÏmay€be€afforded€educational€assistance€under€this€chapter€beyond€10€years€afterÏwhichever€of€the€following€last€occurs:Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà8    `	Ð Ð  àà    ¸ à(A)€The€date€on€which€the€Secretary€first€finds€the€spouseÏfrom€whom€eligibility€is€derived€has€a€service-connected€totalÏdisability€permanent€in€nature.Ð    `	x`	x  ÐÌà8     àà8    `	Ð Ð  àà    ¸ à(B)€The€date€of€death€of€the€spouse€from€whom€eligibility€isÏderived€who€dies€while€a€total€disability€evaluated€as€permanent€inÏnature€was€in€existence.Ð    `	x`	x  ÐÌ€à8     àà8    `	Ð Ð  àà    ¸ à(C)€The€date€on€which€the€Secretary€determines€that€theÐ   	 @)$'   Ðspouse€from€whom€eligibility€is€derived€died€of€a€service-connectedÏdisability.Ð    `	x`	x  ÐÌà8     àà    `	 à(2)€Notwithstanding€the€provisions€of€paragraph€(1)€of€this€subsection,€in€theÏcase€of€any€eligible€person€(as€defined€in€section€3501(a)(1)(B),€(C),€or€(D)€of€thisÐ    ð-@),    Ðtitle)€who€was€prevented€from€initiating€or€completing€such€person's€chosen€programÏof€education€within€such€period€because€of€a€physical€or€mental€disability€which€wasÏnot€the€result€of€such€person's€own€willfullñhLñ›ñhLñ€[sic]€misconduct,€such€person€shall,€uponÏapplication€made€within€one€year€after€(A)€the€last€date€of€the€delimiting€periodÏotherwise€applicable€under€this€section,€(B)€the€termination€of€the€period€of€mentalÏor€physical€disability,€or€(C)€October€1,€1980,€whichever€is€the€latest,€be€granted€anÏextension€of€the€applicable€delimiting€period€for€such€length€of€time€as€the€SecretaryÏdetermines,€from€the€evidence,€that€such€person€was€so€prevented€from€initiating€orÏcompleting€such€program€of€education.€€When€an€extension€of€the€applicableÏdelimiting€period€is€granted€under€the€exception€in€the€preceding€sentence,€theÏdelimiting€period€will€again€begin€running€on€the€first€day€following€such€eligibleÏperson's€recovery€from€such€disability€on€which€it€is€reasonably€feasible,€asÏdetermined€in€accordance€with€regulations€which€the€Secretary€shall€prescribe,€forÏsuch€eligible€person€to€initiate€or€resume€pursuit€of€a€program€of€education€withÏeducational€assistance€under€this€chapter.Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 à(3)(A)€Notwithstanding€the€provisions€of€paragraph€(1)€of€this€subsection,€anyÏeligible€person€(as€defined€in€clause€(B)€or€(D)€of€section€3501(a)(1)€of€this€title)Ïmay,€subject€to€the€approval€of€the€Secretary,€be€permitted€to€elect€a€date€referred€toÏin€subparagraph€(B)€of€this€paragraph€to€commence€receiving€educational€assistanceÏbenefits€under€this€chapter.€€The€date€so€elected€shall€be€the€beginning€date€of€theÏdelimiting€period€applicable€to€such€person€under€this€section.Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà8    `	Ð Ð  àà    ¸ à(B)€The€date€which€an€eligible€person€may€elect€underÏsubparagraph€(A)€of€this€paragraph€is€any€date€during€the€periodÏbeginning€on€the€date€the€person€became€an€eligible€person€within€theÏmeaning€of€clause€(B)€or€(D)€of€section€3501(a)(1)€of€this€title€andÏending€on€the€date€determined€under€subparagraph€€(A),€(B),€or€(C)Ïof€paragraph€(1)€of€this€subsection€to€be€applicable€to€such€person.Ð    `	x`	x  ÐÌà     àà    `	 à...€.ÌÌà8     àà    `	 à(d)€The€term€"first€finds"€as€used€in€this€section€means€the€effective€date€ofÏthe€rating€or€date€of€notification€to€the€veteran€from€whom€eligibility€is€derivedÏestablishing€a€service-connected€total€disability€permanent€in€nature€whichever€isÏmore€advantageous€to€the€eligible€person.Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌ38U.S.C.€ðð3512(b),€(d).€€Section€3501(a)(1)€of€title€38,€U.S.€Code,€provides€the€following€pertinentÏdefinitions:ÌÌà     à(a)€For€the€purposes€of€this€chapter€and€chapter€36€of€this€title--ÌÌà     à(1)€The€term€"eligible€person"€means--Ð   	 ,`'*   Ð‡à     àà    `	 à...€.Ì€à8     àà    `	 à(B)€the€surviving€spouse€of€any€person€who€died€of€a€service-connectedÐ   	  ð    Ðdisability,€[or]Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà     àà    `	 à...€.Ìà8     àÐ    Ð Ð   Ðà8     àà    `	 à(D)€the€spouse€of€any€person€who€has€a€total€disability€permanent€in€natureÏresulting€from€a€service-connected€disability,€or€the€surviving€spouse€of€a€veteranÏwho€died€while€a€disability€so€evaluated€was€in€existence,€arising€out€of€activeÏmilitary,€naval,€or€air€service€after€the€beginning€of€the€Spanish-American€War,€butÏonly€if€such€service€did€not€terminate€under€dishonorable€conditions.€€The€standardsÏand€criteria€for€determining€whether€or€not€a€disability€arising€out€of€such€service€isÏservice€connected€shall€be€those€applicable€under€chapter€11€of€this€title.Ð    Ð Ð   Ðà8     àÐ    Ð Ð   Ð38U.S.C.€ðð3501(a)(1)(B),€(D).€€Ìà     àÌà     àRegarding€the€application€of€section€3512€to€the€facts€of€this€case,€the€Court€notes€thatÏsection€3512(b)(1)€provides:€"No€person€...€may€be€afforded€educational€assistance€under€thisÏchapter€beyond€10€years€òòòòafteróóóó€whichever€of€[the€three€events€listed€in€subparagraphs€(A),€(B),€or€(C)]Ð   	 à   Ð...€òòòòlastóóóó€occurs".€€38U.S.C.€ðð3512(b)(1)€(emphasis€added).€€In€this€case,€the€event€listed€inÐ   	 €Ð   Ðsubparagraph€(A)€has€occurred:€VA€has€found€(either€in€July€1983€or€June€1980)€that€the€veteran€hasÏa€service„connected€total€disability€permanent€in€nature,€and€the€veteran€is€still€alive.€€Because€theÏevents€listed€in€subparagraphs€(B)€and€(C)€both€involve€the€death€of€the€veteran,€in€this€case€thoseÏevents€must€occur€"òòòòafteróóóó"€the€event€listed€in€subparagraph€(A).€€The€Court€also€notes€that€sectionÐ   	 @   Ð3512(b)(3)€appears€to€provide€that€the€appellant€can€"elect€a€date...€to€commence€receiving"€DEA,Ïbut€does€not€expressly€establish€a€termination€date.€€Similarly,€subsection€(b)(1)€appears€to€createÏa€ten„year€period€"òòòòbeyondóóóó"€which€no€DEA€may€be€afforded.€€Neither€of€these€statutory€provisionsÐ   	 `   Ðappears€to€œprovide›€that€DEA€may€be€afforded€òòòòonlyóóóó€for€a€fixed€ten„year€œperiod.Ð   	  P   Ð›Ìà     àIn€view€of€the€foregoing€and€based€on€the€Court's€review€of€section€3512€in€its€entirety,€asÏwell€as€the€attendant€Department€of€Veterans€Affairs€(VA)€regulations€cited€by€the€Secretary€in€hisÏpleadings,€the€Court€needs€answers€(with€accompanying€reasons)€to€the€following€additionalÏquestions:ÌÌà8     àà    `	 àòò1.óó€Because€it€appears€that€there€are€two€dates€(June€1980€and€July€1983,€òòseeóóÐ   	 $à"   ÐR.at€28,€34))€on€which€it€was€established€that€the€veteran€was€eligible€for€DEA,€doesÏsection€3512(d)€or€any€other€authority€permit€the€Secretary€to€use€the€later€date€inÏdeciding€when€the€veteran€was€"first€found"€to€have€a€service-connected€totalÏdisability€permanent€in€nature?à    À àÐ    P( #& Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 àòò2.€(a)óó€Does€section€3512(b)(3)(A)€permit€the€appellant,€with€approval€by€theÐ   	 0*€%(   ÐSecretary,€to€choose€the€date€on€which€she€may€begin€receiving€DEA?€Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÐ   	 ,`'*   Ðà8     àà    `	 àòò(b)óó€If€the€Secretary€approves€the€appellant's€decision€to€elect€a€date€on€whichÐ   	 °      Ðshe€may€begin€receiving€DEA,€does€the€second€sentence€in€section€3512(b)(3)(A)Ïrequire€the€Secretary€to€start€the€running€of€the€delimiting€period€from€the€dateÏ"elected"€by€the€appellant?Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 àòò3.(a)óó€For€the€purposes€of€section€3512(b)(3),€when€did€the€appellant€becomeÐ   	 `	°   Ðan€eligible€person€„„€in€January€1988,€when€she€first€married€the€veteran€(R.€at€42),Ïor€on€the€date€that€VA€first€found€that€the€veteran€had€a€service-connected€totalÏdisability€permanent€in€nature?€€Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 àòò(b)€óóIf€the€latter,€then€do€the€dates€set€forth€in€38C.F.R.€ðð21.3046(a)(2)(ii)Ð   	 `	
   Ð(1999)€„„€"(A)€[œt]heñhLñ›ñhLñ€effective€date€of€the€[veteran's€100%]€rating,€or€(B)€[œt]heñhLñ›ñhLñ€date€ofÏnotification€[of€that€rating]"€„„€constitute€a€permissible€restriction€on€the€statutoryÏoptions€set€forth€in€section€3512(b)(3),€òòsee€Lee€(Raymond)€v.Westóó,€__Vet.App.€__,Ð   	 à0   Ð__,€No.€98„726,€slip€op.€at€8„9€(Mar.14,€2000)€(striking€down€VA€regulation€whenÏ"'statute€was€mandatory,€leaving€no€room€for€...€VA€to€impose€additional€restrictionsÏon€entitlement'")?€òò€Ð    °  Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 à4.óó€What€is€the€statutory€basis€and€justification€for€the€application€of€theÐ   	 à   Ðdifferent€criteria€in€38C.F.R.€ðð21.3046(a)(2)(ii)€or€(iii)€on€the€basis€of€whether€"VAÏmade€a€final€determination€of€eligibility€before€[or€after]€October€28,€1986,"€andÏwhat€was€the€rationale€for€establishing€these€different€categories?Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌòòà8     àà    `	 à5.óó€What€is€the€statutory€basis€and€justification€for€the€regulatory€limitation€ofÐ   	 @   Ðeligibility€to€a€period€of€"10€years"€that€is€contained€in€38C.F.R.€ðð21.3046(c)Ï(1999)?à8    ¸Ð Ð  àà     àÐ     p ¸x¸x  ÐÌà8     àà    `	 àòò6.(a)óó€Does€section€3512(b)(3)(B)€permit€the€appellant€to€"elect"€one€date€fromÐ   	  P   Ðsection€3512(b)(1)€(A),€(B),€or€(C)?€Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà8     àà    `	 àòò(b)óó€If€so,€even€though€the€necessary€event€for€triggering€sectionÐ   	 Ð     Ð3512(b)(1)(A)€has€already€occurred,€what€prevents€her€from€deferring€her€œñaLñelectionÏof€ñaLñreceipt›€of€DEA€until€she€is€a€surviving€spouse,€as€provided€for€in€sectionÏ3512(b)(1)(B)€and€(C)?Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌà     àTo€the€extent€that€any€pertinent€legislative€or€regulatory€history€or€opinions€of€the€VAÏGeneral€Counsel€can€be€found€that€might€assist€the€Court€in€understanding€the€answers€to€the€aboveÏquestions,€such€material€should€be€discussed€in€any€memorandum€filed€pursuant€to€this€order,€andÏcopies€of€such€materials€should€be€appended€to€such€memorandum.€Ìà     àÌà     àUpon€consideration€of€the€foregoing,€it€isÌâ
    
 âÐ   	  +p&)   Ðà     àORDERED€that,€not€later€than€30€days€after€the€date€of€this€order,€the€Secretary€file,€andÏâ
    
 âserve€on€the€appellant€and€any€amici€that€may€have€indicated€an€intention€to€file€a€memorandum€inÏresponse€to€this€order,€a€supplemental€memorandum€addressing€the€questions€set€forth€above.€€It€isÏfurtherÌÌà     àORDERED€that,€not€later€than€30€days€after€service€of€the€Secretary's€supplementalÏmemorandum,€the€appellant€may€file,€and,€if€so,€shall€serve€on€the€Secretary,€a€memorandumÏaddressing€the€questions€set€forth€above,€including€but€not€limited€to€responses€to€points€made€in€theÏSecretary's€supplemental€memorandum.€€It€is€furtherÌÌà     àORDERED€that,€not€later€than€30€days€after€the€Secretary€files€his€supplementalÏmemorandum,€any€interested€individual€or€entity€is€invited€to€file€a€memorandum€addressing€theÏquestions€set€forth€above,€including€but€not€limited€to€responses€to€points€made€in€the€Secretary'sÏsupplemental€memorandum.€€Any€such€interested€individual€or€entity€that€intends€to€file€such€anÏamicus€memorandum€is€requested€to€notify€the€Clerk€of€the€Court,€not€later€than€œñbLñ5ñbLññ cLñ30ñcLñ›€days€after€theÏœñdLñSecretary€files€his€ñdLññfLñsupplemental€ñfLññdLñmemñdLññgLñorandumñgLññ eLñdate›€of›€this›€orderñeLñ,›€of€such€intention.Ìà     àÌDATED:à    `	 àœñkLñMay€4,€2000ñkLññ lLñ›à     à›à     àñlLñ›ñmLñÔ% €    ÔñmLñà     àà    h àà    À àà     àPER€œCURIAM.ñ mLññjLñÔ% €    ÔñjLññmLñ›