Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-19-50351/USCOURTS-ca5-19-50351-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Bruce Becker
Appellant
Thomas J. Murphy
Appellee
Marlan P. Waldrop
Appellee
Robert Wilkie, Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-50351

Summary Calendar

BRUCE BECKER, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant

v.

ROBERT WILKIE, SECRETARY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS; THOMAS J. MURPHY, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for 

Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs; MARLAN P. WALDROP, Regional 

Director, VA Houston Regional Office, 

 Defendants - Appellees

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 5:16-CV-842

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, HO, and ENGELHARDT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Bruce Becker, a disabled veteran, proceeding pro se, filed suit in district 

court, challenging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ adjudication of his 

benefits determination. Asserting claims under the Constitution and the 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

February 13, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

Case: 19-50351 Document: 00515310270 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/13/2020
No. 19-50351

2

Administrative Procedure Act, he sought damages and equitable relief, 

including a higher disability rating. The district court granted the 

Government’s motion to dismiss. It held that, at bottom, Becker seeks review 

of his benefits determination. Because the Veterans’ Judicial Review Act 

precludes federal district courts from reviewing such claims, the district court 

dismissed the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.1 Becker appeals. 

We have carefully reviewed the briefs, the record excerpts, and relevant 

portions of the record itself. For the reasons stated by the district court in its 

order of March 25, 2019, we affirm its dismissal of Plaintiff's case with 

prejudice.

1 38 U.S.C. § 511.

Case: 19-50351 Document: 00515310270 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/13/2020