Court Opinion

ID: 8167144
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 21:01:35.757963+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:39.396146
License: Public Domain

HOLDAWAY, Judge,
dissenting:
I do not believe that Dr. Faleao’s 1992 opinion was either new or material. It was merely cumulative of a previous opinion rendered by Dr. Permanente in 1983 and considered by the Board in a 1985 adjudication denying reopening. Both opinions were based on a history furnished by the appellant. Dr. Permanente said that the 1945 injury “possibly” predisposed him to an earlier onset of osteoarthritis than would be expected ordinarily. Presumably, in using the word possibly, he equally meant “possibly not.” Dr. Falcao merely stated that the injury “could” be a contributing factor. If anything, it seems to me, the only addition Dr. Falcao makes to this case is to highlight and reinforce the ambivalence of Dr. Perma-nente’s opinion. Compare with Paller v. Principi, 3 Vet.App. 535 (1992); see also Tirpak v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 609 (1992). For much the same reason Dr. Falcao’s opinion is not new, it is also not material. By underlining the equivocal nature of the weak opinion furnished by Dr. Permanente, Dr. Falcao’s opinion actually decreases any reasonable possibility of changing the result of the previous adjudication. I, therefore, respectfully dissent.