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      nM     {©W"d‰Î÷B�eô³ª(x6(\Á­� …ÏoÜAJ1&N_Eú1²œ-B#eÔ¼ívÜXsq­ÀÒ;Fî‹šÛäÇñ@:Á¶ˆÄb°Še®VÓNœ˜(qëÚVlËÖWÇ«µ;‹%GÈäëû­Zi·óø:£ZT'µëV Û:÷ÈF7Mr‡ï|ãe¶A¾úþx3¡œ!ÆbÁi}+½áY¤þÓ¡[AŒqR²rŠµ~Ý˜»Õ3÷w8µ6Ä\z;J
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þ®¨1‹{L¯÷°2T}ëOj@s<Œ_ß)&>¯ñZ'?ÂÕ£’Ïj`» '–°½ÂX]{Ð Q–¾FD(�`ˆé6¯Ø›ƒY=æz(Ò¶OèKV82€÷÷eÀ`®ÌØz¡»ðD\^ü­ñP¢	}fG –PÂ+ÁFNýóïs.¿†úé#e0M]%j\Q6X#ù{¯^…¶çëžEÊ÷Ç¾R‡ù"	«]è�{vàÁøPjQ¨¥·ò+rk§= !           #     Î  	%      Ù   	      ß  V      å   	      ç  n   X  í     ¨	  E  0   (   í   U   2        ¨	  G   U      ï                   U  .   #   !   Ð   Q   !   �   !   !   �   ±   !   �   A   !   �   Ñ   !     a  	)      q  "   ]        .  Ü!   	      
#     ~  #   	      Ž%  w   @   ”%  4      Ô%   U   H   è%            è%   	      0&   	      6&   ˜H P   L a s e r J e t   5 / 5 M   -   E n h a n c e d                     HPBXLA       È È È È È È È È 0                                                                                                                                                                 X  È]     È]  « < þ6X  9   ` (   C o u r i e r                                                                                                         Xôx þ6X   @É “8Å; X@) ô\	  	   `   & T m s R m n       L e g a l   P r o                                                                                   XXt ô\	    PŽ ¨PU XP    ÿL o u ÿ  ÿR o n ÿ  ÿG a r v i n ÿ  ÿA d r i e n n e ÿ  ÿK o e r b e r ÿ  ÿL a m o u r e ÿ  ÿU . S . C . A . ÿ  ÿR O ÿ  ÿt ] h e ÿ ( ÿc ] a r d i o p u l m o n a r y ÿ(  ÿa ] r r e s t ÿ ( ÿc ] e r e b r o v a s c u l a r ÿ(  ÿa ] c c i d e n t ÿ  ÿm ] a s s i v e ÿ   ÿp ] n e u m o n i t i s ÿ   ÿD o r l a n d ÿ  ÿ2 8 t h ÿ  ÿS [ e r v i c e ÿ  ÿC [ o n n e c t e d ÿ  ÿD [ i s a b i l i t y ÿ  ÿV A M C ÿ  ÿb ] a s e d ÿ  ÿP r i n c i p i ÿ  ÿb a n c ÿ  ÿU . S . C . ÿ  ÿG l y n n ÿ  ÿD a m r e l ÿ  ÿF u g o ÿ  ÿA l l d a y ÿ  ÿE l k i n s ÿ  ÿ3 d ÿ  ÿF e d . C i r ÿ  ÿD u r a n ÿ  ÿJ a n d o c ÿ  ÿS a b o n i s ÿ  ÿV J R A ÿ  ÿP u b . L . ÿ  ÿa f f ' d ÿ  ÿW ] h e r e ÿ $ ÿr e a d j u d i c a t i o n ÿ$  ÿL i v i n g s t o n ÿ  ÿD e r w i n s k i ÿ  ÿD o u b ÿ  ÿM y k l e s ÿ  ÿT a l b e r t ÿ  ÿL a n d i c h o ÿ   ÿe n t i t l e m e n t s ÿ   ÿR o b i n e t t e ÿ  ÿV D A ÿ  ÿZ e v a l k i n k ÿ  ÿE r r o ÿ  ÿM a n i o ÿ  ÿC o l v i n ÿ  ÿB l a c k b u r n ÿ  ÿS k l a r ÿ  ÿC o x ÿ  ÿM a s o r s ÿ  ÿc ] l e a r ÿ  ÿA O J ÿ  ÿB V A ÿ  ÿS O C ÿ  ÿD I C ÿ  ÿS S O C ÿ  ÿV e t . A p p ÿ  ÿC . F . R . ÿ  ÿC H A M P V A ÿ  ÿE n g e l ÿ  ÿW u c h i n i c h ÿ  ÿN E B E K E R ÿ  ÿs c h e d u l a r ÿ  ÿb ] e c a u s e ÿ  ÿN u e c e s ÿ   ÿS c h l a g e n h a u f ÿ   ÿC h i l d e r s ÿ $ ÿs ] c h i z o p h r e n i a ÿ$  ÿM a l d o n a d o ÿ  ÿO r t i z ÿ  ÿM o l d o n a d o ÿ  ÿe u t h y m i c ÿ & ÿu n d e r p r o d u c t i v e ÿ&  ÿC [ l a i m ÿ  ÿV . A . ÿ  ÿj u d g e m e n t ÿ  ÿU . R . ÿ  ÿM a r u v a d a ÿ  ÿB . V . A . ÿ  ÿp r o l e x i n ÿ  ÿr e l i z e s ÿ  ÿC h r i s t i ÿ " ÿr e a j u d i c a t i o n ÿ"  ÿL i l i a ÿ  ÿM o o r e ÿ  ÿu n a p p e a l e d ÿ  ÿW i n k l e r ÿ  ÿm e d i c a i t o n s ÿ  ÿK l e c k ÿ  ÿp r o l i x i n ÿ  ÿ4 8 t h ÿ  ÿP e r r y ÿ  ÿL i t t k e ÿ  ÿr e a j u d i c a t e ÿ  ÿP r o s c e l l e ÿ  ÿf ] r o m ÿ  ÿB o o t o n ÿ  ÿB r a m m e r ÿ  ÿC f ÿ  ÿL e S h o r e ÿ  ÿC a l u z a ÿ  ÿY a b u t ÿ  ÿT h u r b e r ÿ  ÿM a t h e w s ÿ  ÿE l d r i d g e ÿ  ÿt h o u g h [ t ÿ       (                    $ ¡   ¡   * î\	  	 p`   T m s R m n     P r o         ÿL o u ÿ  ÿR o n ÿ  ÿG a r v i n ÿ  ÿA d r i e n n e ÿ  ÿK o e r b e r ÿ  ÿL a m o u r e ÿ  ÿU . S . C . A . ÿ  ÿR O ÿ  ÿt ] h e ÿ ( ÿc ] a r d i o p u l m o n a r y ÿ(  ÿa ] r r e s t ÿ ( ÿc ] e r e b r o v a s c u l a r ÿ(  ÿa ] c c i d e n t ÿ  ÿm ] a s s i v e ÿ   ÿp ] n e u m o n i t i s ÿ   ÿD o r l a n d ÿ  ÿ2 8 t h ÿ  ÿS [ e r v i c e ÿ  ÿC [ o n n e c t e d ÿ  ÿD [ i s a b i l i t y ÿ  ÿV A M C ÿ  ÿb ] a s e d ÿ  ÿP r i n c i p i ÿ  ÿb a n c ÿ  ÿU . S . C . ÿ  ÿG l y n n ÿ  ÿD a m r e l ÿ  ÿF u g o ÿ  ÿA l l d a y ÿ  ÿE l k i n s ÿ  ÿ3 d ÿ  ÿF e d . C i r ÿ  ÿD u r a n ÿ  ÿJ a n d o c ÿ  ÿS a b o n i s ÿ  ÿV J R A ÿ  ÿP u b . L . ÿ  ÿa f f ' d ÿ  ÿW ] h e r e ÿ $ ÿr e a d j u d i c a t i o n ÿ$  ÿL i v i n g s t o n ÿ  ÿD e r w i n s k i ÿ  ÿD o u b ÿ  ÿM y k l e s ÿ  ÿT a l b e r t ÿ  ÿL a n d i c h o ÿ   ÿe n t i t l e m e n t s ÿ   ÿR o b i n e t t e ÿ  ÿV D A ÿ  ÿZ e v a l k i n k ÿ  ÿE r r o ÿ  ÿM a n i o ÿ  ÿC o l v i n ÿ  ÿB l a c k b u r n ÿ  ÿS k l a r ÿ  ÿC o x ÿ  ÿM a s o r s ÿ  ÿc ] l e a r ÿ  ÿA O J ÿ  ÿB V A ÿ  ÿS O C ÿ  ÿD I C ÿ  ÿS S O C ÿ  ÿV e t . A p p ÿ  ÿC . F . R . ÿ  ÿC H A M P V A ÿ  ÿE n g e l ÿ  ÿW u c h i n i c h ÿ  ÿN E B E K E R ÿ  ÿs c h e d u l a r ÿ  ÿb ] e c a u s e ÿ  ÿN u e c e s ÿ   ÿS c h l a g e n h a u f ÿ   ÿC h i l d e r s ÿ $ ÿs ] c h i z o p h r e n i a ÿ$  ÿM a l d o n a d o ÿ  ÿO r t i z ÿ  ÿM o l d o n a d o ÿ  ÿe u t h y m i c ÿ & ÿu n d e r p r o d u c t i v e ÿ&  ÿC [ l a i m ÿ  ÿV . A . ÿ  ÿj u d g e m e n t ÿ  ÿU . R . ÿ  ÿM a r u v a d a ÿ  ÿB . V . A . ÿ  ÿp r o l e x i n ÿ  ÿr e l i z e s ÿ  ÿC h r i s t i ÿ " ÿr e a j u d i c a t i o n ÿ"  ÿL i l i a ÿ  ÿM o o r e ÿ  ÿu n a p p e a l e d ÿ  ÿW i n k l e r ÿ  ÿm e d i c a i t o n s ÿ  ÿK l e c k ÿ  ÿp r o l i x i n ÿ  ÿ4 8 t h ÿ  ÿP e r r y ÿ  ÿL i t t k e ÿ  ÿr e a j u d i c a t e ÿ  ÿP r o s c e l l e ÿ  ÿf ] r o m ÿ  ÿB o o t o n ÿ  ÿB r a m m e r ÿ  ÿC f ÿ  ÿL e S h o r e ÿ  ÿC a l u z a ÿ  ÿY a b u t ÿ  ÿT h u r b e r ÿ  ÿM a t h e w s ÿ  ÿE l d r i d g e ÿ  ÿt h o u g h [ t ÿ   < Œ
  9 p` (    º  SA VÕ 3| O E [-w  < Ô6X  9  ` +   C o u r i e r          þÿ" B J Q \ s ‘ « È ÿÿÿÿÊ ÿÿÿÿÿÿñ³‹÷?ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ¿?ûÿ÷ÿÿÿÏÿÿÏÿô=À4    /ÿÿÿÿÿÿN÷ÿÿíÿÿßƒR«ÿù                  ðåúÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿßÿÿ`     <   @0ÅÿñŒ||qÇÿ‚?øñãÇˆ      �Øóÿÿÿýÿÿ÷ßMß       € @  €à €      " ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ_4@@˜d¼¤0LLd¨0@0ddddddddddd88¨¨¨dÄ˜ˆŒ Œ|¤¤HX”€¼˜ x ˜l„¤˜Ä˜˜�@d@dd0dlXld@`l84h8¤llllLL@l\ˆXXXddd¨Ì x   ˜ l „ ¤   " ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ_4@@˜dœœ4LLd¨0@0ddddddddddd88¨¨¨`Ä€„Œ”„x˜œPd˜€¼”œ|œŒt|”€¸Œ€„TdTdd4hlXpX@`p<@l<¤pdplTTDp\€`XXddd¨Ì | œ Œ t | ”   " ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ_,44€Pœˆ(@@Pˆ(8(TPPPPPPPPPP,,ˆˆˆP |pt„td„ˆ<Hxhœ|„d„|Xlˆ| ||t4T4PP(PXHXP4PX,,T,ˆXXXX@@4XHpHHHTPTˆ¨ d „ | X l ˆ   " ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ_4<D˜d¼�0LLd¨0D0ddddddddddd88¨¨¨\ÄŒ€Œ”„| œLL„ˆ°”˜x˜ˆl|”€°ˆ|ˆTdTdd0hhXhX<Tl48d4¤lhhd@H8lX„TPPddd¨Ì x ˜ ˆ l | ”   " ÿÿ~ ¯ ² ÿÿÝ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿZ4@ ˜d¼¤ LLd¨0@0ddddddddddd88 ¨ dÄ˜ˆŒ Œ|¤¤HX”€¼˜ x ˜l„¤˜Ä˜˜�@ @ d dlXld@`l84h8¤llllLL@l\ˆXXX/                                               d Ì)     dd            d  ll               d ¤.                                    @        @@          ”p ‰ ? x x x , ,   Xx átþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿ”+ Ž : T C T , , / XT »sþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿìÿÿÿÿÿÿö ÿÿÿÿqÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿgþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿ Ž : T C T , , \  XT sóþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿP s 4 D 8 D , , ‘ ôD xCþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿ{ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿ”s Ž : P C P , , ¾  XP HUþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÔË Ž : T C T , , ÷  XT »sþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿþÿÿÿÿÿetter Gothic Bold Letter Gothic Italic Univers  Univers Bold Univers Bold Italic Univers Condensed Univers Condensed Bo< Ô6X  9  ` +   C o u r i e r         ÿ* èø€  	 p`   T m s R m n         û* °øH  	 p�   T m s R m n   B o l d       ÿ)  Ð   	 p`   T m s R m n          ( èø€ã	 p`   T m s R m n   I t a l i c       c* èø€  	 p`   T m s R m n       L e g a l     È]      o p i n i o n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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   R- D S- D T- D U- Ê V- e�W- Ê X- Ê Y-  Z- D [- Ê Z/#                ) ô\	  	   `   0 T m s R m n   1 2 p t       L e g a l   P r o     ÈZ    ÈZ  Ý
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    ÝÓ     ÓÔ €	  X� X  X X   ÔÑ7 €	  �	 X X       dð                  dÈ 7 ÑÑ     ÑÑ    e Ññ V-ñÓ= €  ÿƒ XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= ÓñV-ññV-ñÓ= €  Â XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= ÓñV-ññ X-ññW-ñÔ% €    ÔñW-ññX-ññX-ñÔ% €    ÔñX-ñà@    ‰
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- ì àòòUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€VETERANS€APPEALSóóˆÐ   	 °      ÐÌÌà@    ÝÝ: ì àNo.€€96„685€ˆÌÌòòà@    ¾¾2 ì àJohn€D.€Springer,€Appellant,ˆÐ   	 `	°   ÐÌà@    ’’? ì àv.ˆÌÌà@    §§7 ì àTogo€D.€West,€Jr.,ˆÌà@    ú
ú
( ì à€Acting€Secretary€of€Veterans€Affairs,€Appellee.óóˆÐ   	 `	
   ÐÌÌà@    33* ì àOn€Appeal€from€the€Board€of€Veterans'€AppealsˆÌÌÌà@    íí1 ì à(Decided€€€ñY-ñJanuary€23,€1998ñY-ññ Z-ñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñZ-ññ[-ñÔ% €    Ôñ[-ñ€€€)ˆÌÌÌÌà     àòòRobert€A.€Laughlinóó€was€on€the€brief€for€the€appellant.›Ð   	 pÀ   ÐÌà     àœòòMary€Lou€Keeneróó,›€œGeneral›€Counsel;€òòRon€Garvinóó,€Assistant€General€Counsel;€œòòAdrienneÐ   	 P    ÐKoerber›óó,€œDeputy›€œAssistant›€General€Counsel;€and€œòòJacqueline€M.€Sims›óó€were€on€the€brief€forÐ   	 @�   Ðappellee.ÌÌà     àœBefore€NEBEKER,€òòChief€Judgeóó,€and€FARLEYòòñ U-ñÔ% €     ÔñU-ñ€óóand€IVERS,›€òòJudgesóó.Ð   	 `   ÐÌÓ    €     Óà     àœIVERS,€òòJudgeóó:›€€œÔ ‡  X� X X	 X� ÔThe€veteran€appeals€a€March€7,€1996,€decision€of€the€Board€of€Veterans'Ð   	 ð@   ÐAppeals€(BVA€or€Board)€which€determined€that€rental€and€tort€compromise€proceeds€received€byÏthe€veteran€constituted€countable€income€for€Improved€Disability€Pension€(IDP)€purposes.Ó    €  €  Ó€€EachÏparty€filed€a€brief.€€On€August€27,€1997,€the€Court€granted€the€parties'€joint€motion€for€a€partialÏremand€and€vacated€that€part€of€the€Board's€decision€that€determined€that€rental€proceeds€receivedÏfrom€inherited€land€held€in€trust€by€the€Federal€Government€is€countable€income€for€IDP€purposes.€ÏThe€remaining€question€for€the€Court€is€whether€the€sum€of€$93,750.00€received€by€the€veteranÏpursuant€to€the€settlement€of€a€claim€under€the€Federal€Tort€Claims€Act€(FTCA)€is€countable€forÏIDP€purposes.€€For€the€reasons€stated€below,€the€Court€will€affirm€the€decision€of€the€BVA€withÏrespect€to€that€issue.ÌÐ     -P(0   Ð‡à@    $$< ì àòòI.€€FACTSˆÐ   	 °      Ðóóà     àThe€veteran€served€on€active€duty€from€September€1950€to€August€1952.€€Record€(R.)€atÐ   	 h   Ð15.€€On€January€1,€1983,€the€veteran€was€granted€IDP€benefits€based€upon€zero€income.€€R.€at€19.€ÏEffective€July€1,€1988,€additional€benefits€were€paid€based€upon€his€need€for€aid€and€attendanceÏresulting€from€his€status€as€a€patient€in€a€nursing€home.€€Supplemental€R.€at€1„2.Ìà     àA€November€1994€letter€from€the€veteran's€representative€informed€VA€that€the€veteranÏand€the€Federal€Government,€in€September€1994,€had€agreed€to€a€compromise€settlement€in€theÏamount€of€$250,000.00,€pursuant€to€the€FTCA.€€According€to€the€settlement,€the€veteran'sÏattorney,€acting€as€trustee,€was€to€receive€$156,250.00.€€Of€that€amount,€the€attorney€was€toÏreceive€a€fee€of€$62,500.00€and€the€remainder€($93,750.00)€was€to€be€used€for€costs€advancedÏand/or€expenses€incurred€in€connection€with€the€purchase€of€a€house,€furniture,€a€vehicle,€andÏinsurance€for€the€veteran.€€The€$93,750.00€remaining€from€the€total€settlement€was€to€be€used€toÏfund€the€purchase€of€an€annuity€for€the€veteran.€€R.€at€176„77,€180„87.€€The€annuity€provided€forÏa€monthly€payment€of€$631.87€throughout€the€lives€of€the€veteran€and€his€spouse,€guaranteed€forÏ120€months€with€a€guaranteed€payout€of€$75,824.40.€€R.€at€183.€€The€veteran€indicated€that€theÏtrustee€had€been€issued€a€settlement€check€on€November€9,€1994.€€R.€at€196.€€Ìà     àIn€December€1994€the€VA€regional€office€(RO)€informed€the€veteran€that€his€IDP€had€beenÏsuspended€based€upon€the€FTCA€settlement€papers€submitted€by€the€veteran's€representative.€ÏR.�at€193„94.€€The€RO€noted€that€the€veteran€had€received€the€sum€of€$93,750.00€to€purchase€aÏhouse€and€a€vehicle€and€to€pay€miscellaneous€costs.€€R.€at€193.€€€€€€€Ìà     àIn€January€1995€the€RO€terminated€the€veteran's€benefits,€effective€December€1,€1994,Ïbased€upon€the€$93,750.00€received€in€November€1994.€€The€RO€explained€that›€the€veteran'sÏbenefits€had€been€discontinued€because€his€annual€income€of€$96,172.00€exceeded€the€income€limitÏof€$15,345.00,€set€by€law.€€He€was€informed€that€his€settlement€income€was€countable€income€forÏVA€œpurposes›€for€the€period€December€1,€œ1994,›€through€December€1,€1995.€€He€was€told€that€heÏcould€reapply€for€pension€after€December€1,€1995.€€R.€at€199„200.€€Ìà     àThe€veteran€submitted€a€Notice€of€Disagreement.€€R.€at€œ202„ñ N-ñ2ñN-ñ03.€€A€Statement€of€the€CaseÏâ
    
 âwas€issued.€€R.€at€219„27.€€The€veteran€submitted€a€substantive€appeal.€€R.€at€231„32.Ð   	 ¨*ø%6   Ðà     àOn›€March�œ7,›€1996,€the€BVA€rendered€the€decision€currently€on€appeal.€€The€BVAÏâ
    
 âdetermined€that€the€sum€of€œ$93,750.00,›€paid€to€the€veteran's€trustee€as€settlement€under€the€œFTCA›Ïon€behalf€of€the€œveteranñO-ñ,ñO-ñ›€constituted€countable€income€for€IDP€purposes.€€R.€at€8.ÌòòÌÔ# †	  Xûí X X Xûí@  # ÔÔ ‡  Xûí X X	 Xûí Ôà@    LL: ì àII.€€œANALYSISˆÐ   	 P
    Ðà     àÔ# †	  Xûí X X Xûí…  # ÔóóPursuant€to€38€U.S.C.€ðð€1521(a),€the€Secretary€"shall€pay€to€each€veteran€of€a€period€ofÐ   	 ¸
   Ðwar€who€meets€the€service€requirements€of€this€section€.€.€.€and€who€is€permanently€and€totallyÏdisabled€from€non„service„connected€disability€not€the€result€of€the€veteran's€willful€misconduct,Ïpension€at€the€rate€prescribed€by€this€section€.€.€."€€òòSee€also€Martin€v.€Brown,€óó7€Vet.App.€196,Ð   	 ð@   Ð198€(1994).€€The€maximum€rates€for€improved€pension€"shall"€be€reduced€by€the€"amount€of€theÏcountable€annual€income€of€the€veteran€or€surviving€spouse."€€38€C.F.R.€ðð€3.23€(1997);€38€U.S.C.Ïðð€1521.€€In€determining€annual€income€under€chapter€15€of€title€38€of€the€United€States€Code,€"allÏpayments€of€any€kind€or€from€any€source€(including€salary,€retirement€or€annuity€payments,€orÏsimilar€income,€which€has€been€waivedñ P-ñ,ñP-ñ€.€.€.)€shall€be€included€except€[for€listed€exclusions]."€Ï38ñQ-ñ�ñQ-ññ R-ñÏñR-ñU.S.C.€ðð€1503(a);€òòsee€also€óó38�C.F.R.€ðððð€3.260,€3.261,€3.262€(1997).€€Section€1522(a)ñ S-ñ,ñS-ñ€of€titleÐ   	 `°   Ð38€of€the€United€States€Code€states€that€the€Secretary€"shall"€deny€or€discontinue€the€payment€ofÏa€veteran's€pension€or€payment€to€the€veteran's€spouse€based€upon€ñ N-ñÔ% €    ÔñN-ñconsideration€of€the€annualÏincome€of€the€veteran,€the€veteran's€spouse,€or€the€children.Ìà     àFurthermore,€"[p]ayments›€òòof€any€kind€from€any€sourceóó€shall€be€counted€as€income€duringÐ   	  P$   Ðthe€12„month€œannualization›€period€in€which€received€unless€specifically€excluded€.€.€.€."€Ï38�C.F.R.€ðð€3.271(a)€(1997).€€(Emphasis€added.)€€Recurring€income€is€income€that€is€"receivedÏor€anticipated€in€equal€amounts€and€at€regular€intervals€(e.g.,€weekly,€monthly,€quarterly,€etc.)"Ïand€that€continues€throughout€an€entire€12„month€annualization€period.€€38€C.F.R.€ðð€3.271(a)(1).€ÏProceeds€received€from€a€tort€claim€settlement€are€not€included€in€the€list€of€"Exclusions€fromÏincome"€noted€in€38€C.F.R.€ðð€3.272€(1997).€€€€€Ìà     àThe€veteran€has€not€pointed€to€any€statutory€or€regulatory€mandate€under€title€38€whichÏwould€exclude€the€proceeds€from€the€settlement€of€his€claim€under€the€FTCA€from€beingÏconsidered€income.€€òòSee€generallyóó€38€C.F.R.€ðð€3.272.€€Instead,€he€has€suggested€the€need€forÐ   	 ¨*ø%6   Ðinterpretation€of€several€statutory€and€regulatory€provisions,€specifically€38€U.S.C.€ðððð€1503,€1522Ð   	 ,`'8   Ðand€38€C.F.R.€ðððð€3.274,€3.275.€€Ô ‡  Xûí X X	 Xûí ÔAppellant's€Brief€œñ T-ñ(Br.)›€ñT-ñat›€16.€€In€statutory€interpretation,€if€"the€plainÐ   	 °      Ðmeaning€of€the€statute€is€discernible,€that€'plain€meaning€must€be€given€effect.'"€€òòWalker€v.Ð   	 h   ÐBrownóó,€8�Vet.App.�356,€358€(1995);€òòsee€also€Brown€v.€Gardner,€óó513€U.S.€115€(1994).€€"[W]henÐ   	 €Ð   Ða€reviewing€court€œ'find[s]›€the€terms€of€a€statute€unambiguous,€judicial€inquiry€is€completed€exceptÏin€rare€and€exceptional€circumstance.'"€€òòSmith€v.€Derwinski,€óó2€Vet.App€429,€431€(1992).€€As€theÐ   	 P
    ÐBoard€stated€in€its€decision,€ÌÓ      €  Óà8     àAlthough€it€is€true€that€38€C.F.R.€ðððð€3.274,€3.275€.€.€.€dictate€that€the€value€of€theÏitems€so€purchased€[house,€vehicle,€insurance,€etc.]€not€be€considered€in€the€futureÏin€determining€the€veteran's€net€worth€for€pension€purposes,€it€does€not€follow€thatÏthe€proceeds€used€to€purchase€such€assets€should€not€be€considered€as€countableÏincome€during€the€annualization€period€in€which€received.Ð    Ð Ð   ÐÌÓ   €    K!   ÓR.€at€11.Ô# †	  Xûí X X XûíÓ  # ÔÔ ‡	  Xûí X X	 Xûí Ô€€Ô# †	  Xûí X X	 XûíS#  # ÔÔ ‡  Xûí X X	 Xûí ÔBecause€the€plain€meanings€of€the€statutory€and€regulatory€provisions€in€question€areÐ   	 À   Ðnot€ambiguous,€their€plain€meaning€requires€that€the€veteran's€settlement€of€his€claim€against€theÏUnited€States€Government€pursuant€to€the€FTCA€be€considered€countable€income€for€VA€purposesÏand€that€the€appropriate€deductions€be€made.€€òòMartin,€óó7€Vet.App.€at€199;€38€U.S.C.€ðð€1503Ð   	 øH   Ð(annual€income€includes€annuity€payment);€38€U.S.C.€ðð�1521(e)€("rate€payable€shall€be€reducedÏby€the€amount€of€the€veteran's€annual€income").€Ô# †	  Xûí X X Xûí—#  # ÔÐ   	 È   ÐÌà@    zz8 ì àòòIII.€€CONCLUSIONóóˆÐ   	 ˜è    Ðà     àThe€March€7,€1996,€decision€of€œthe›€BVA€is€œAFFIRMED.›ÌÌÌœñ S-ñœñS-ñòòñ W-ññU-ñÔ% €    ÔñU-ññW-ñ›