Opinion ID: 4705685
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Assuming the right exists, and applying the

Text: proper test, was the right of access violated here? (i) Taken together, did the required promise of military secrecy, the threat of court mar- tial, and the failure to provide a VA mecha- nism for the timely filing or adjudication of an adequate claim, as Mr. Taylor alleges, constitute an affirmative interference with a right of access? (ii) Did the VA lack a sufficient justification for not providing a mechanism for the timely filing or adjudication of an adequate claim if it could have provided such a mechanism while protecting classified information? Has the VA done so in some circumstances? See U.S. Dep’t of Veterans Affs., Adjudication Procedures Manual M21-1, pt. IV, subpt. ii, ch. 1, sec. I (Developing Claims Related to Special Operations Incidents). Did the VA lack a sufficient justification for not even communicating to Mr. Taylor that he could file a minimal claim that would have to await adjudication indefinitely, until secrecy pro- tections were lifted?