Source: https://veteranclaims.net/tag/no-17-2390argued-march-6/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:32:30+00:00

Document:
United States”); see also Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 47 (2011) (“‘[W]e do not lightly assume that Congress has intended to depart from established principles’ such as the scope of a court’s inherent power.” (quoting Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 305, 313 (1982))); Califano v. Yamasaki, 442 U.S. 682, 705 (1979) (“Absent the clearest command to the contrary from Congress, federal courts retain their equitable power . . .”).
10 See also, e.g., Hayburn’s Case, 2 U.S. 408, 2 Dall. 409, 1 L. Ed. 436 (1792) (describing the attempts of circuit courts to circumvent the unconstitutionality of the Invalid Pensioners Act of 1792); U.S. ex. rel. Miller v. Raum, 135 U.S. 200, 204 (1890) (finding that, although “the courts will not interfere with the executive officers of the government in the exercise of their ordinary official duties,” the Supreme Court could compel the payment of a veteran’s disability pension by mandamus); Boone v. Lightner, 319 U.S. 561, 575 (1943) (noting that Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, 50 U.S.C. § 501 et seq., was “always to be liberally construed to protect those who have been obliged to drop their own affairs to take up the burdens of the nation”); Feres v. United States, 340 U.S. 135 (1950) (considering, but ultimately denying, applicability of the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), to service-related injuries); Johnson v. Robison, 415 U.S. 361 (1974) (holding that judicial review of constitutional challenges to veterans benefits legislation was available even though Congress had foreclosed judicial review of individual benefits determinations); Conroy v. Aniskoff, 507 U.S. 511, 514 (1993) (holding that the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940 was “unambiguous, unequivocal, and 514 (1993) (holding that the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940 was “unambiguous, unequivocal, and unlimited,” without contextual conditions for its protections).
It is universally recognized that equity will not suffer a wrong without a remedy.
comprehensive legal maxim that wherever a legal right has been infringed a remedy will be given. The equitable maxim is the source of the entire equitable jurisdiction, whether it be exclusive, concurrent or auxiliary. See 2 Pomeroy Equity Jurisprudence (5th ed., Symons), § 423. Gazaille v. McDonald, 27 Vet.App. 205, 212 (2014) (Greenberg J. concurring), quoting Cona v. Gower, 89 NJ. Super 510, 516-17 (N.J. Super Ct. Ch. Div 1965) (Matthews, J.S.C.).
Mark B. Jones, of Sandpoint, Idaho, for the appellant.
Before GREENBERG, MEREDITH, and FALVEY, Judges.
in Edgewood, Maryland (Edgewood Program), see R. at 2692 (describing the study), nor is there any dispute that he signed an oath vowing not to disclose his participation in or any information about the study, under penalty of court martial or prosecution, see R. at 10-11.
by Edgewood Program veterans. See R. at 2649-90, 2691-94.
worker who noted that the appellant was experiencing symptoms of PTSD. R. at 2574-84.
effective date. R. at 2247-59; see R. at 2274.
until he received VA’s letter advising him that he could file a claim for benefits. R. at 2233-34.
He requested an effective date of September 7, 1971, the day after his discharge from service. Id.
secrecy issues related to the Edg[e]wood Arsenal experiments.” R. at 2211.
the appellant retained his eligibility to file for benefits while the oath was active.” R. at 705-06.
such a claim by the VA’s official process.” Id. at 17.
he filed his claim and, therefore, there could have been no due process violation in this case. Id.
Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 541 (1985). The Court reviews constitutional questions de novo.
Buzinski v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 360, 365 (1994).
have not yet been adjudicated as entitled to them, possess a property interest in those benefits.” Id.
845 (9th Cir. 2011), vacated on rehearing en banc, 678 F.3d 1013 (9th Cir. 2012), are inapposite.
678 F.3d 1013 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc), but quoting VCS, 644 F.3d at 873).
232 F.3d 908 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (table).
relief on an equitable basis).
38 U.S.C. § 503(b) but had not conferred on this Court a similar statutory grant of equitable power.
Edgewood Program, the Court cannot provide the relief the appellant seeks.
found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of application therefor.
entitlement arose, whichever is later. 38 C.F.R. § 3.400 (2018).
precludes the appellant from seeking equitable relief from the Secretary under section 503, if he wishes.
committed.” United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948); see Gilbert v.
The Board determined that section 5110 was controlling and dispositive. R. at 11.
of benefits. R. at 11-12.
cannot use equitable estoppel to authorize payment outside of the requirements set out in section 5110. See McCay v.
public funds. In this context there can be no estoppel, for courts cannot estop the Constitution.”).
appellant thus has not demonstrated error in the Board’s conclusion.
April 14, 2017, decision is AFFIRMED.
5 The appellant voluntarily joined the Army after his brother was killed in Vietnam. See R. at 2305.
cholinesterase levels.” R. at 2666.
dizziness, impaired coordination, and difficulty concentrating.8 R. at 2305-06.
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
to medical benefits and compensation from the United States.
the record contains less information about this test. See R. at 2306.
8 The appellant remembers a fellow soldier, who was a terrified test subject, covered in excrement and vomit.
his oath of secrecy in not applying for compensation.
stated that the “legal necessity for a notification program is not open to dispute.” Id.
volunteers signing “secrecy oaths” to preclude disclosure of research information.
result of those tests . . . speak to a VA representative about filing a disability claim.” R. at 2703.
remained true to his oath.
the Edgewood experiments.” R. at 11.
Veteran cannot now claim it prevented him filing a claim for benefits.” R. at 11.
benefits in this matter.” R. at 12.
contributed to his current disability including nightmares and flashbacks. R. at 2308.
the Edgewood experiments felt constrained to file for VA benefits because of the secrecy oaths.
See Vietnam Veterans of America, 288 F.R.D. at 199-200.
contends that Congress intended for him to have filed a claim in futility.
omitted). Where Congress has chosen to limit earlier effective dates, it has done so expressly.
veterans who felt prohibited from filing a claim for benefits.
Absent an express statutory command addressing the appellant’s circumstances, 38 U.S.C.
construed in the beneficiaries’ favor.” Id. at 1206 (quoting King v. St. Vincent’s Hospital, 502 U.S.
215, 220-21 N. 9, 112 S.Ct. 570, 116 L. Ed. 2d 578 (1991)). See United States v. Oregon, 366 U.S.
have been obliged to drop their own affairs to take up the burdens of the nation”); Feres v. United States, 340 U.S.
adaptability to circumstances, and the natural rules which govern their use,” Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Jurisprudence (5th ed., Symons), § 423.
Gazaille v. McDonald, 27 Vet.App. 205, 212 (2014) (Greenberg J. concurring), quoting Cona v.
Gower, 89 NJ. Super 510, 516-17 (N.J. Super Ct. Ch. Div 1965) (Matthews, J.S.C.).
claimant to obtain relief where the statute on its face would bar recovery.
long-standing scheme to ensure care and compensation? This is why we have courts.
enforcement by an award of money damages for the consequences of its violation.
Id. at 396 (quoting Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 684 (1946)).
wrongly treat this as a matter of equitable tolling of 38 U.S.C. § 5110, instead of equitable estoppel.
suing in time, as by promising not to plead the statute of limitations.
requirement that a claimant file a futile claim.
Gordon, 222 N.Y. 88, 118 N.E. 214 (1917) (Cardozo, J.). The Government has violated this duty.
acknowledged that the Edgewood Arsenal veterans felt inhibited to pursue claims for benefits.
an application of equitable estoppel.
equitable relief from VA ignores congressional intent and the reason this Court was created.
VJRA, 102 Stat. 4105 (codified, as amended, in various sections of 38 U.S.C. (2006 ed. and Supp.
III)) §§ 7251, 7252(a) (2006 ed.).
effective date of 1971. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.
claim that VA participated in the experiments has never been debunked. See id.

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