WPC<&  
      nM     {W"dBe(x6(\ oAJ1&N_E1-B#eԼvXsq;F@:beVN(qVlWǫ;%GZi:ZT'V:F7Mr|eAx3!bi}+Yӡ[AqRr~ݘ3w86\z;J
wISi9S"٘ɥ,1wL6b戇LHVP6a֜)f[![F`59yXLmٝCSr
1{L2T}Oj@s<_)&>Z'?գj` 'X]{РQFD(`6؛Y=z(OKV82e`zD\^P	}fGP+FNs.#e0M]%j\Q6X#{^EǾR"	]{vPjQ+rk= !           #       	%         	        V         	        n   X       	  E  0   (      U   2        	  G   U                         U  .   #   !      Q   !      !   !         !      A   !         !     a  	)      q  "   ]        .  !   	      
#     ~  #   	      %  w   @   %  4      %   U   H   %            %   	      0&   	      6&   H P   L a s e r J e t   5 / 5 M   -   E n h a n c e d                     HPBXLA               0                                                                                                                                                                 X  ]     ]   < 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    L o u   R o n   G a r v i n   A d r i e n n e   K o e r b e r   L a m o u r e   U . S . C . A .   R O   t ] h e  ( c ] a r d i o p u l m o n a r y (  a ] r r e s t  ( c ] e r e b r o v a s c u l a r (  a ] c c i d e n t   m ] a s s i v e    p ] n e u m o n i t i s    D o r l a n d   2 8 t h   S [ e r v i c e   C [ o n n e c t e d   D [ i s a b i l i t y   V A M C   b ] a s e d   P r i n c i p i   b a n c   U . S . C .   G l y n n   D a m r e l   F u g o   A l l d a y   E l k i n s   3 d   F e d . C i r   D u r a n   J a n d o c   S a b o n i s   V J R A   P u b . L .   a f f ' d   W ] h e r e  $ r e a d j u d i c a t i o n $  L i v i n g s t o n   D e r w i n s k i   D o u b   M y k l e s   T a l b e r t   L a n d i c h o    e n t i t l e m e n t s    R o b i n e t t e   V D A   Z e v a l k i n k   E r r o   M a n i o   C o l v i n   B l a c k b u r n   S k l a r   C o x   M a s o r s   c ] l e a r   A O J   B V A   S O C   D I C   S S O C   V e t . A p p   C . F . R .   C H A M P V A   E n g e l   W u c h i n i c h   N E B E K E R   s c h e d u l a r   b ] e c a u s e   N u e c e s    S c h l a g e n h a u f    C h i l d e r s  $ s ] c h i z o p h r e n i a $  M a l d o n a d o   O r t i z   M o l d o n a d o   e u t h y m i c  & u n d e r p r o d u c t i v e &  C [ l a i m   V . A .   j u d g e m e n t   U . R .   M a r u v a d a   B . V . A .   p r o l e x i n   r e l i z e s   C h r i s t i  " r e a j u d i c a t i o n "  L i l i a   M o o r e   u n a p p e a l e d   W i n k l e r   m e d i c a i t o n s   K l e c k   p r o l i x i n   4 8 t h   P e r r y   L i t t k e   r e a j u d i c a t e   P r o s c e l l e   f ] r o m   B o o t o n   B r a m m e r   C f   L e S h o r e   C a l u z a   Y a b u t   T h u r b e r   M a t h e w s   E l d r i d g e   t h o u g h [ t        (                    $       * \	  	 p`   T m s R m n     P r o         L o u   R o n   G a r v i n   A d r i e n n e   K o e r b e r   L a m o u r e   U . S . C . A .   R O   t ] h e  ( c ] a r d i o p u l m o n a r y (  a ] r r e s t  ( c ] e r e b r o v a s c u l a r (  a ] c c i d e n t   m ] a s s i v e    p ] n e u m o n i t i s    D o r l a n d   2 8 t h   S [ e r v i c e   C [ o n n e c t e d   D [ i s a b i l i t y   V A M C   b ] a s e d   P r i n c i p i   b a n c   U . S . C .   G l y n n   D a m r e l   F u g o   A l l d a y   E l k i n s   3 d   F e d . C i r   D u r a n   J a n d o c   S a b o n i s   V J R A   P u b . L .   a f f ' d   W ] h e r e  $ r e a d j u d i c a t i o n $  L i v i n g s t o n   D e r w i n s k i   D o u b   M y k l e s   T a l b e r t   L a n d i c h o    e n t i t l e m e n t s    R o b i n e t t e   V D A   Z e v a l k i n k   E r r o   M a n i o   C o l v i n   B l a c k b u r n   S k l a r   C o x   M a s o r s   c ] l e a r   A O J   B V A   S O C   D I C   S S O C   V e t . A p p   C . F . R .   C H A M P V A   E n g e l   W u c h i n i c h   N E B E K E R   s c h e d u l a r   b ] e c a u s e   N u e c e s    S c h l a g e n h a u f    C h i l d e r s  $ s ] c h i z o p h r e n i a $  M a l d o n a d o   O r t i z   M o l d o n a d o   e u t h y m i c  & u n d e r p r o d u c t i v e &  C [ l a i m   V . A .   j u d g e m e n t   U . R .   M a r u v a d a   B . V . A .   p r o l e x i n   r e l i z e s   C h r i s t i  " r e a j u d i c a t i o n "  L i l i a   M o o r e   u n a p p e a l e d   W i n k l e r   m e d i c a i t o n s   K l e c k   p r o l i x i n   4 8 t h   P e r r y   L i t t k e   r e a j u d i c a t e   P r o s c e l l e   f ] r o m   B o o t o n   B r a m m e r   C f   L e S h o r e   C a l u z a   Y a b u t   T h u r b e r   M a t h e w s   E l d r i d g e   t h o u g h [ t    < 
  9 p` (      SA V 3| O E [-w  < 6X  9  ` +   C o u r i e r          " B J Q \ s     ??=4    /N߃R                  `     <   @0||q?ǈ      M        @         " _4@@d0LLd0@0ddddddddddd88dĘ|HXxlĘ@d@dd0dlXld@`l84h8llllLL@l\XXXddd x   l     " _4@@d4LLd0@0ddddddddddd88`ĀxPd|t|TdTdd4hlXpX@`p<@l<pdplTTDp\`XXddd |   t |    " _,44P(@@P(8(TPPPPPPPPPP,,P|pttd<Hxh|d|Xl|||t4T4PP(PXHXP4PX,,T,XXXX@@4XHpHHHTPT d  | X l    " _4<Dd0LLd0D0ddddddddddd88\Č|LLxl||TdTdd0hhXhX<Tl48d4lhhd@H8lXTPPddd x   l |    " ~    Z4@ d LLd0@0ddddddddddd88  dĘ|HXxlĘ@ @ d dlXld@`l84h8llllLL@l\XXX/                                               d )     dd            d  ll               d .                                    @        @@          p  ? x x x , ,   Xx t+  : T C T , , / XT s qg  : T C T , , \  XT sP s 4 D 8 D , ,  D xC{ s  : P C P , ,   XP HU  : T C T , ,   XT setter Gothic Bold Letter Gothic Italic Univers  Univers Bold Univers Bold Italic Univers Condensed Univers Condensed Bo< 6X  9  ` +   C o u r i e r         *   	 p`   T m s R m n         * H  	 p   T m s R m n   B o l d       )     	 p`   T m s R m n          ( 	 p`   T m s R m n   I t a l i c       c*   	 p`   T m s R m n       L e g a l     ]      o p i n i o n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
            ;   
 '           U S C V A    0    U S C V A   
 .      
       
       
         H^  
   R- D S- D T- D U-  V- eW-  X-  Y-  Z- D [-  Z/#                ) \	  	   `   0 T m s R m n   1 2 p t       L e g a l   P r o     Z    Z  
    !           	  X X  X X   7 	  	 X X       d                  d 7          e  V-=    X   X       d                 d= V-V-=    X   X       d                 d= V- X-W-%     W-X-X-%     X-@    

-  UNITEDSTATESCOURTOFVETERANSAPPEALS   	       @    :  No.96685@    2  JohnD.Springer,Appellant,   	 `	   @    ?  v.@    7  TogoD.West,Jr.,@    

(  ActingSecretaryofVeteransAffairs,Appellee.   	 `	
   @    33*  OnAppealfromtheBoardofVeterans'Appeals@    1  (DecidedY-January23,1998Y- Z-񀀀Z-[-%     [-񀀀)     RobertA.Laughlinwasonthebrieffortheappellant.   	 p        MaryLouKeener,GeneralCounsel;RonGarvin,AssistantGeneralCounsel;Adrienne   	 P   Koerber,DeputyAssistantGeneralCounsel;andJacquelineM.Simswereonthebrieffor   	 @   appellee.     BeforeNEBEKER,ChiefJudge,andFARLEY U-%      U-andIVERS,Judges.   	 `                 IVERS,Judge:   X X X	 X TheveteranappealsaMarch7,1996,decisionoftheBoardofVeterans'   	 @   Appeals(BVAorBoard)whichdeterminedthatrentalandtortcompromiseproceedsreceivedbytheveteranconstitutedcountableincomeforImprovedDisabilityPension(IDP)purposes.        ӀEachpartyfiledabrief.OnAugust27,1997,theCourtgrantedtheparties'jointmotionforapartialremandandvacatedthatpartoftheBoard'sdecisionthatdeterminedthatrentalproceedsreceivedfrominheritedlandheldintrustbytheFederalGovernmentiscountableincomeforIDPpurposes.TheremainingquestionfortheCourtiswhetherthesumof$93,750.00receivedbytheveteranpursuanttothesettlementofaclaimundertheFederalTortClaimsAct(FTCA)iscountableforIDPpurposes.Forthereasonsstatedbelow,theCourtwillaffirmthedecisionoftheBVAwithrespecttothatissue.     -P(0   Ї@    $$<  I.FACTS   	            TheveteranservedonactivedutyfromSeptember1950toAugust1952.Record(R.)at   	 h   15.OnJanuary1,1983,theveteranwasgrantedIDPbenefitsbaseduponzeroincome.R.at19.EffectiveJuly1,1988,additionalbenefitswerepaidbaseduponhisneedforaidandattendanceresultingfromhisstatusasapatientinanursinghome.SupplementalR.at12.     ANovember1994letterfromtheveteran'srepresentativeinformedVAthattheveteranandtheFederalGovernment,inSeptember1994,hadagreedtoacompromisesettlementintheamountof$250,000.00,pursuanttotheFTCA.Accordingtothesettlement,theveteran'sattorney,actingastrustee,wastoreceive$156,250.00.Ofthatamount,theattorneywastoreceiveafeeof$62,500.00andtheremainder($93,750.00)wastobeusedforcostsadvancedand/orexpensesincurredinconnectionwiththepurchaseofahouse,furniture,avehicle,andinsurancefortheveteran.The$93,750.00remainingfromthetotalsettlementwastobeusedtofundthepurchaseofanannuityfortheveteran.R.at17677,18087.Theannuityprovidedforamonthlypaymentof$631.87throughoutthelivesoftheveteranandhisspouse,guaranteedfor120monthswithaguaranteedpayoutof$75,824.40.R.at183.TheveteranindicatedthatthetrusteehadbeenissuedasettlementcheckonNovember9,1994.R.at196.     InDecember1994theVAregionaloffice(RO)informedtheveteranthathisIDPhadbeensuspendedbasedupontheFTCAsettlementpaperssubmittedbytheveteran'srepresentative.R.at19394.TheROnotedthattheveteranhadreceivedthesumof$93,750.00topurchaseahouseandavehicleandtopaymiscellaneouscosts.R.at193.     InJanuary1995theROterminatedtheveteran'sbenefits,effectiveDecember1,1994,baseduponthe$93,750.00receivedinNovember1994.TheROexplainedthattheveteran'sbenefitshadbeendiscontinuedbecausehisannualincomeof$96,172.00exceededtheincomelimitof$15,345.00,setbylaw.HewasinformedthathissettlementincomewascountableincomeforVApurposesfortheperiodDecember1,1994,throughDecember1,1995.HewastoldthathecouldreapplyforpensionafterDecember1,1995.R.at199200.     TheveteransubmittedaNoticeofDisagreement.R.at202 N-2N-03.AStatementoftheCase
    
 wasissued.R.at21927.Theveteransubmittedasubstantiveappeal.R.at23132.   	 *%6        OnMarch7,1996,theBVArenderedthedecisioncurrentlyonappeal.TheBVA
    
 determinedthatthesumof$93,750.00,paidtotheveteran'strusteeassettlementundertheFTCAonbehalfoftheveteranO-,O-constitutedcountableincomeforIDPpurposes.R.at8.# 	  X X X X@  #    X X X	 X @    LL:  II.ANALYSIS   	 P
        # 	  X X X X  # Pursuantto38U.S.C.1521(a),theSecretary"shallpaytoeachveteranofaperiodof   	 
   warwhomeetstheservicerequirementsofthissection...andwhoispermanentlyandtotallydisabledfromnonserviceconnecteddisabilitynottheresultoftheveteran'swillfulmisconduct,pensionattherateprescribedbythissection..."SeealsoMartinv.Brown,7Vet.App.196,   	 @   198(1994).Themaximumratesforimprovedpension"shall"bereducedbythe"amountofthecountableannualincomeoftheveteranorsurvivingspouse."38C.F.R.3.23(1997);38U.S.C.1521.Indeterminingannualincomeunderchapter15oftitle38oftheUnitedStatesCode,"allpaymentsofanykindorfromanysource(includingsalary,retirementorannuitypayments,orsimilarincome,whichhasbeenwaived P-,P-...)shallbeincludedexcept[forlistedexclusions]."38Q-Q- R-R-U.S.C.1503(a);seealso38C.F.R.3.260,3.261,3.262(1997).Section1522(a) S-,S-oftitle   	 `   38oftheUnitedStatesCodestatesthattheSecretary"shall"denyordiscontinuethepaymentofaveteran'spensionorpaymenttotheveteran'sspousebasedupon N-%     N-considerationoftheannualincomeoftheveteran,theveteran'sspouse,orthechildren.     Furthermore,"[p]aymentsofanykindfromanysourceshallbecountedasincomeduring   	  P$   the12monthannualizationperiodinwhichreceivedunlessspecificallyexcluded...."38C.F.R.3.271(a)(1997).(Emphasisadded.)Recurringincomeisincomethatis"receivedoranticipatedinequalamountsandatregularintervals(e.g.,weekly,monthly,quarterly,etc.)"andthatcontinuesthroughoutanentire12monthannualizationperiod.38C.F.R.3.271(a)(1).Proceedsreceivedfromatortclaimsettlementarenotincludedinthelistof"Exclusionsfromincome"notedin38C.F.R.3.272(1997).     Theveteranhasnotpointedtoanystatutoryorregulatorymandateundertitle38whichwouldexcludetheproceedsfromthesettlementofhisclaimundertheFTCAfrombeingconsideredincome.Seegenerally38C.F.R.3.272.Instead,hehassuggestedtheneedfor   	 *%6   interpretationofseveralstatutoryandregulatoryprovisions,specifically38U.S.C.1503,1522   	 ,`'8   and38C.F.R.3.274,3.275.   X X X	 X Appellant'sBrief T-(Br.)T-at16.Instatutoryinterpretation,if"theplain   	       meaningofthestatuteisdiscernible,that'plainmeaningmustbegiveneffect.'"Walkerv.   	 h   Brown,8Vet.App.356,358(1995);seealsoBrownv.Gardner,513U.S.115(1994)."[W]hen   	    areviewingcourt'find[s]thetermsofastatuteunambiguous,judicialinquiryiscompletedexceptinrareandexceptionalcircumstance.'"Smithv.Derwinski,2Vet.App429,431(1992).Asthe   	 P
   Boardstatedinitsdecision,        8     Althoughitistruethat38C.F.R.3.274,3.275...dictatethatthevalueoftheitemssopurchased[house,vehicle,insurance,etc.]notbeconsideredinthefutureindeterminingtheveteran'snetworthforpensionpurposes,itdoesnotfollowthattheproceedsusedtopurchasesuchassetsshouldnotbeconsideredascountableincomeduringtheannualizationperiodinwhichreceived.               K!   R.at11.# 	  X X X X  #  	  X X X	 X Ԁ# 	  X X X	 XS#  #    X X X	 X Becausetheplainmeaningsofthestatutoryandregulatoryprovisionsinquestionare   	    notambiguous,theirplainmeaningrequiresthattheveteran'ssettlementofhisclaimagainsttheUnitedStatesGovernmentpursuanttotheFTCAbeconsideredcountableincomeforVApurposesandthattheappropriatedeductionsbemade.Martin,7Vet.App.at199;38U.S.C.1503   	 H   (annualincomeincludesannuitypayment);38U.S.C.1521(e)("ratepayableshallbereducedbytheamountoftheveteran'sannualincome").# 	  X X X X#  #    	    @    zz8  III.CONCLUSION   	          TheMarch7,1996,decisionoftheBVAisAFFIRMED.̜ S-S- W-U-%     U-W-