Lawrence M. Tropf v. R. James Nicholson

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

NO . 03-1923

LAWRENCE M. TROPF , APPELLANT ,

V.

R. JAMES NICHOLSON ,

SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, APPELLEE.

On Appeal from the Board of Veterans' Appeals

(Decided April 4, 2006 )

James W. Stewart (non-attorney practitioner), Barton F. Stichman, and Nancy L. Foti, all of

Washington, D.C., were on the brief for the appellant.

Tim S. McClain, General Counsel; R. Randall Campbell, Assistant General Counsel; and

Richard Mayerick, all of Washington, D.C., were on the brief for the appellee.

Before GREENE, Chief Judge, and LANCE and SCHOELEN, Judges.

Lance, Judge, filed the opinion of the Court. Greene, Chief Judge, filed a concurring

opinion.

LANCE, Judge: The appellant, veteran Lawrence M. Tropf, appeals, through counsel, that

part of a July 1, 2003, decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) that denied an increased

disability rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the back including Muscle Group

(MG) XX; a compensable disability rating for an SFW of the right upper arm including MG III; and

a compensable disability rating for residuals of a healed fracture of the distal end of the right fibula.

Record (R.) at 1-15. The appellant makes no argument regarding the Board's denial of a

compensable disability rating for the service-connected residuals of a healed fracture of the distal

end of the right fibula. Accordingly, any issues on appeal concerning this claim are abandoned. See

Ford v. Gober, 10 Vet.App. 531, 535 (1997) (claims not argued on appeal are deemed abandoned);

Bucklinger v. Brown, 5 Vet.App. 435, 436 (1993). For the reasons that follow, the Court will affirm

the Board decision in part, vacate it in part, and remand one matter for further proceedings consistent

with this opinion.

I. FACTS

The appellant served on active duty in the U.S. Army from April 1966 to May 1970. R. at

17. During his service, he sustained SFWs in combat in Vietnam. Id. There are no definitive

service medical records indicating whether his injured muscles retain shell fragments.

In May 1970, the appellant filed a claim for disability compensation for residuals of a

shrapnel injury to the right side of his back. R. at 46-47. In July 1970, a VA regional office (RO)

granted service connection for an SFW to the back with retained metallic fragments and assigned

a 10% disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.118, Diagnostic Code (DC) 7804 (disability caused by

scar). R. at 56. During a VA examination in June 1975, an x-ray showed small metallic fragments

in the "soft tissues" of the back to the right of the midline. R. at 61. In a June 1975 rating decision,

the RO continued the 10% disability rating for the appellant's scar. R. at 64. A January 1983 rating

decision confirmed the 10% disability rating for a tender scar under DC 7804. R. at 66.

The claims here on appeal began in September 2001. At that time, the appellant sought an

increased rating for residuals of the SFW of the back and sought service connection for residuals of

an SFW of the right upper arm. R. at 68. At a December 2001 VA examination, the physical

examination of the appellant's right flank revealed a barely visible scar that was "mildly tender on

palpation." R. at 82. X-rays of his thoracic spine showed the presence of at least three small metallic

foreign bodies within the "soft tissues" of the right lower thoracic back area. R. at 86-87.

Examination of the right shoulder revealed no visible scar or evidence of residual shrapnel. There

was no muscle loss, tissue loss, or muscle atrophy. R. at 82. X-rays revealed several small metallic

fragments in the soft tissues surrounding the right humerus. R. at 83; Supplemental R. at 1.

In February 2002, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, RO granted the appellant service connection

for an SFW of the right upper arm and assigned a 0% disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.73, DC

5303 for MG III. R. at 94-99. The RO denied an increased rating for the SFW of the back with

retained metallic fragments. R. at 96-99. That decision indicated that the appellant's previous 10%

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disability rating for this condition was assigned under DC "7804-5320" (the DC for scars and the DC

for muscle injury, respectively). R. at 99. The appellant appealed to the Board. R. at 101.

On July 1, 2003, the Board issued the decision here on appeal. As to the residuals of the

SFW to the appellant's back, the Board concluded that the DC 5320 criteria for a 20% disability

rating were not met. R. at 9-12. As to the residuals of the SFW to the appellant's arm, the Board

found that the appellant's current level of disability was not compensable. R. at 12.

II. THE PARTIES' ARGUMENTS

The appellant argues for reversal of the Board's decision on his disability ratings for the

residuals of his arm and back injuries. First, he argues that the Board erred as a matter of law in

failing to assign a separate disability rating of at least 10% for a "moderate" injury to his back under

DC 5320, in addition to the 10% disability rating for a painful scar granted under DC 7804.

Appellant's Brief (Br.) at 12-15. He asserts that the RO's use of a hyphenated DC to assign a single

10% disability rating for two separate residuals was not authorized by law and that he is entitled to

two separate 10% disability ratings. Id.

The appellant also argues that the Board erred as a matter of law by failing to assign a 20%

rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.56 (2005), DC 5303, for a moderate injury of his arm. Appellant's Br. at

15-18. He asserts that, because his arm injury has retained metallic fragments, he is entitled to a

20% disability rating for a "moderate" muscle injury, rather than the 0% assigned for a "slight"

injury. Appellant's Br. at 16-18. He also argues that the Board is required to assign like evaluations

for like injuries and that the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment requires the Board to treat

the injury to his arm similarly to the injury to his back. Appellant's Br. at 15-16.

In his brief, the Secretary does not defend the use of the hyphenated DC to rate the appellant's

back injury. Secretary's Br. at 5. However, he asserts that the matter should be remanded because

it is not clear that the Board made the necessary factual findings. Secretary's Br. at 5-6. Regarding

the appellant's arm injury, he maintains that a remand is also necessary because there has been no

clear finding of fact that the fragments–which have been described by the medical reports as located

in the "soft tissue"–are in the muscle as purportedly required under the applicable regulations.

Secretary's Br. at 6-7.

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In his reply brief, the appellant argues that the Board made the factual findings necessary to

enable the Court to reverse the Board's decision on his back injury and that 38 C.F.R. § 4.56(d) does

not explicitly require the fragments to be retained in the muscle tissue of his arm. Appellant's Reply

Br. at 5-6.

III. ANALYSIS

A. Standard of Review

Both of the appellant's arguments on appeal require us to review the Board's interpretation

of regulations implementing title 38 regarding those claims considered by the Board. We review the

interpretation of regulations de novo. Hatch v. Principi, 18 Vet.App. 527, 531 (2004). On review,

if the meaning of the regulation is clear from its language, then that is "the end of the matter."

Brown v. Gardner, 513 U.S. 115, 120 (1994).

B. 38 C.F.R. § 4.27 and the Appellant's Back Injury

Although the Secretary contests only the remedy, a brief discussion of the applicable

regulation is warranted because the Court has never analyzed the portion of 38 C.F.R. § 4.27 (2005)

quoted below. As to the appellant's back injury, VA's use of hyphenated ratings is directed in 38

C.F.R. § 4.27, which reads in pertinent part:

With diseases, preference is to be given to the number assigned to the disease

itself; if the rating is determined on the basis of residual conditions, the

number appropriate to the residual condition will be added, preceded by a

hyphen. Thus, rheumatoid (atrophic) arthritis rated as ankylosis of the

lumbar spine should be coded "5002-5289." In this way, the exact source of

each rating can be easily identified.

(emphasis added).

On its face, the regulation allows hyphenated ratings only for "diseases," not for injuries.

Furthermore, the clear purpose of a hyphenated rating is to add information to help describe the

origins of a single disability when the disability is not one listed under the DC for the appropriate

disease. Contrary to the plain language of the statute and the unsupported interpretation and

application by the Board (R. at 9), the use of the hyphenated rating in this case did not relate to the

residuals of a disease and was not strictly informational in that the MG XX injury was not an unusual

residual of the scarring but rather a separate disability. In this regard, this Court has held that if an

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injury or disease manifests with two different disabilities, then two separate ratings should be

awarded. Smith v. Nicholson, 19 Vet.App. 63, 75 (2005); Esteban v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 259, 261

(1994). Hence, the hyphenated rating was improper here because it was used for an injury, not a

disease, and because it was used in violation of precedent that requires two different disabling

conditions (a scar and a muscle injury) to be rated separately. See Smith and Esteban, both supra;

38 C.F.R. § 4.27.

We must now address the appropriate remedy. The appellant argues that the facts necessary

to support separate disability ratings have been found and that the Court should assign a 10%

disability rating for the MG XX injury and continue the 10% disability rating for his scar.

Appellant's Br. at 14-15. The Secretary contends that a remand is necessary for appropriate

factfinding. Secretary's Br. at 6-7. We agree with the Secretary. While the Board found that the

qualifications for a 20% disability rating for MG XX had not been met (R. at 12), a fair reading of

the Board decision indicates that the Board did not notice or consider the implications of the

improper hyphenated rating or make a factual finding on whether the appellant's MG XX injury

qualifies for a separate 10% disability rating. The Board concluded: "In essence, there is no evidence

of a moderately severe disability . . . . Therefore, the Board finds that a rating in excess of the

currently assigned 10[%] injury to Muscle Group XX is not warranted." R. at 12. From this

statement, the Board evidently believed that the appellant's preexisting 10% disability rating was for

a muscle injury, when in fact it was for his scar. We decline to read purposeful factfinding into the

Board's evident confusion. Accordingly, the 10% disability rating for his scar remains under DC

7804, and the Board must determine whether a separate disability rating is warranted under DC 5320

for the MG XX injury.

On remand, the appellant is free to submit additional evidence and argument, and the Board

must consider any such evidence or argument submitted. See Kay v. Principi, 16 Vet.App. 529, 534

(2002); Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet.App. 369, 372-73 (1999) (per curiam order). The Board shall

proceed expeditiously, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West Supp. 2005) (requiring

Secretary to provide for "expeditious treatment" of claims remanded by Board or Court).

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C. 38 C.F.R. § 4.56 and the Appellant's Arm Injury

As to the appellant's right, upper arm injury, he argues that he is entitled to a higher rating

"as a matter of law" because the Board misapplied 38 C.F.R. § 4.56 in failing to acknowledge the

retained metallic fragments in his muscle. Appellant's Br. at 15. In making this argument, he

explicitly states that the error occurred "under the facts found by the Board." Id. We observe that

the third enumerated finding of fact in the Board decision is: "The [appellant]'s [SFW] of the right

upper arm results in no significant residuals and is essentially asymptomatic." R. at 3. This

enumerated finding was based on the Board's finding, during a December 2001 examination, that

"the [appellant] himself admitted that his right arm presented no restrictions and movements and

clinical findings did not demonstrate otherwise." R. at 11. Accordingly, the question is whether an

appellant who has retained metallic fragments in the muscle but is essentially asymptomatic is

entitled to a compensable disability under the applicable regulation as a matter of law.

The appellant bases his argument on the language of 38 C.F.R. § 4.56, which reads in

pertinent part:

(d) Under diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323, disabilities resulting from

muscle injuries shall be classified as slight, moderate, moderately severe or

severe, as follows:

(1) Slight disability of muscles—(i) Type of injury. Simple wound of muscle

without debridement or infection.

(ii) History and complaint. Service department record of superficial wound

with brief treatment and return to duty. Healing with good functional results.

No cardinal signs or symptoms of muscle disability as defined in paragraph

(c) of this section.

(iii) Objective findings. Minimal scar. No evidence of fascial defect,

atrophy, or impaired tonus. No impairment of function or metallic

fragments retained in muscle tissue.

(2) Moderate disability of muscles—(i) Type of injury. Through and through or

deep penetrating wound of short track from a single shell, small shell or shrapnel

fragment, without explosive effect of high velocity missile, residuals of

debridement, or prolonged infection.

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(ii) History and complaint. Service department record or other evidence of

in-service treatment for the wound. Record of consistent complaint on record

from first examination forward, of one or more of the cardinal signs and

symptoms of muscle disability as defined in paragraph (c) of this section,

particularly lowered threshold of fatigue after average use, affecting the

particular functions controlled by the injured muscles.

(iii) Objective Findings. Entrance and (if present) exit scars, small or linear,

indicating short track of missile through muscle tissue. Some loss of deep

fascia or muscle substance or impairment of muscle tonus and loss of power

or lowered threshold of fatigue when compared to the sound side.

(boldface emphasis added). The essence of the appellant's argument is that this emphasized language

in § 4.56(d) is a per se bar to rating a muscle injury as "slight" (noncompensable under 38 C.F.R.

§ 4.73, DC 5303(2005)) where there are retained metallic fragments. The Secretary responds that

it is not clear whether the fragments noted are in the muscle or the surrounding soft tissue.

Secretary's Br. at 6.

Both parties base their arguments exclusively on the plain language of the regulation.

However, even though the parties ignore our prior caselaw in this area, we are not free to do so. See

Harrison v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 438 (1991) (en banc order) (noting that this Court's published

opinions are binding precedent and must be respected under principle of stare decisis). The meaning

of the language at issue has previously been considered by this Court in Robertson v. Brown, 5

Vet.App. 70 (1993). Absent some basis for concluding that Robertson is no longer valid, we are

obligated to apply it to the extent that it controls the outcome of this case.

Robertson considered the same regulatory provisions now contained in § 4.56(d) when they

were previously contained in 38 C.F.R. § 4.56(c) (1995). In Robertson, the Court addressed the

meaning of the provisions in a functionally identical context when the appellant argued

that–regardless of actual disability–he was entitled to a "moderately severe" disability rating "simply

because [his] wound included debridement." 5 Vet.App. at 73. The Court rejected this interpretation

of the regulation, held that the criteria mentioned in 38 C.F.R. § 4.56(c) (1995) were merely "factors

to be considered," and further held that no specific fact established entitlement to any particular

rating. Robertson, 5 Vet.App. at 74. The Court concluded that "[t]he adjudicator must consider all

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the factors set forth in the regulations and make determinations based on the facts of the particular

case." Id.

On its face, the appellant's argument that retained metal fragments in the muscle would entitle

him to a particular rating as a matter of law is not functionally different from the argument in

Robertson that the existence of debridement mandates a specific rating regardless of other facts.

However, Robertson's validity is not beyond question. Our decision in Robertson was based in part

on the then-extant heading of § 4.56, which read: "Factors to be considered in the evaluation of

disabilities residual to healed wounds involving muscle groups due to gunshot or other

trauma." 38 C.F.R. § 4.56 (1995) (italic emphasis added). After Robertson was decided, the

regulation was reorganized; a portion of 38 C.F.R. § 4.72 (1995) was merged into § 4.56; and the

factors listed in paragraph (c) were moved to the newly created paragraph (d). 62 Fed.Reg. 30,235-

40 (July 3, 1997). At that time, the Secretary dropped the "factors to be considered" language from

the § 4.56 heading. The Secretary also added a new paragraph (c), which is referred to in the revised

language that was moved to paragraph (d). Id. The new paragraph (c) states: "For VA rating

purposes, the cardinal signs and symptoms of muscle disability are loss of power, weakness, lowered

threshold of fatigue, fatigue-pain, impairment of coordination and uncertainty of movement." 38

C.F.R. § 4.56(c). Significantly however, VA's commentary accompanying the reorganization

explicitly states "we d[o] not intend to propose a substantive change." 62 Fed.Reg. at 30,236. Since

the reorganization, neither of our published decisions touching on § 4.56 has suggested that the

change is substantive or that Robertson is no longer good law. See Jones v. Principi, 18 Vet.App.

248 (2004); Mariano v. Principi, 17 Vet.App. 305 (2003).

In the absence of any basis for finding that Robertson has been superceded, we must conclude

that it remains valid. In this regard, we note that the addition of the current paragraph (c) is

consistent with Robertson and the Secretary's comment that no substantive change was intended.

Robertson interpreted the prior version of the regulation as creating what is, in essence, a totality-of-

the-circumstances test. While the test was not explicit in the prior version or in Robertson, the new

paragraph (c) merely had the effect of memorializing the practice of giving the commonly detectable

manifestations of muscle disability priority in evaluating all the factors to be considered. As we held

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in Robertson and reaffirm here, 38 C.F.R. § 4.56(d) is essentially a totality-of-the-circumstances test

and no single factor is per se controlling.

Thus contrary to the appellant's argument in this case, because no single fact is controlling,

Robertson contradicts his contention that he was entitled to a compensable rating as a matter of law

based on retained metallic fragments in the muscle. Accordingly, the Board's decision to assign a

"slight" (noncompensable) rating for his arm injury based upon the uncontested finding that the

appellant is "essentially asymptomatic" was not a misapplication of the regulation as a matter of law.

The only other argument the appellant asserts to challenge Board's decision as to his arm

injury is that the Board acted unconstitutionally in applying the muscle-injury rating criteria

differently to two similar injuries. We need not address that argument here. As we are vacating the

Board's decision as to the rating of the muscle injury to appellant's back and remanding that matter

for readjudication, there is no final decision as to that muscle injury and it cannot be said at this time

that these two muscle injuries have been treated differently. See Cromer v. Nicholson, 19 Vet.App.

215, 219 (2005) (indicating there is no basis for deciding an issue that is not supported by a factual

predicate).

III. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the Board's decision denying the appellant's claim for an increased rating for

residuals of an SFW to the back is VACATED and that matter is REMANDED for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion; the decision is otherwise AFFIRMED.

GREENE, Chief Judge, concurring: I concur with the holdings in this case. I write separately,

however, because I would hold additionally that Mr. Tropf's constitutional argument is without merit

and should be disposed of accordingly. The Equal Protection Clause "is essentially a direction that

all persons similarly situated should be treated alike." Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., Inc., 473

U.S. 432, 439 (1985). Mr. Tropf argues that treating his arm and back disabilities differently in the

rating schedule is a violation of due process; he asserts that he should be awarded a compensable

rating for his arm because it is essentially the same injury as his back injury. That argument is

without merit because treating a veteran's own injuries differently is not unequal treatment of

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"persons similarly situated." Cleburne, supra (emphasis added); Reeves v. West, 11 Vet.App. 255

(1998); Clarke v. Brown, 10 Vet.App. 20 (1997).

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