MILITARY-VETERANS ADVOCACY v. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, No. 2019-1600 ( Decided: July 30, 2021 ); We hold that all three regulations [38 C.F.R. § 14.636(c)(1)(i); 38 C.F.R. § 3.2500(b); 38 C.F.R. § 3.155] are invalid for contravening the unambiguous meaning of their governing statutory provisions; four separate petitions raising thirteen rulemaking challenges to these regulations under 38 U.S.C. § 502.1; AMA’s three procedural lanes to obtain review; 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1); claimants may use only one lane at a time. § 5104C(a)(2)(A); first lane is the filing of a supplemental claim, which allows a claimant to submit additional evidence to an AOJ for “readjudication” of the claim. §§ 5104C(a)(1)(B), 5108; second lane is a request for “higher-level review” made within one year of the AOJ’s decision. §§ 5104B(b)(1)(B), 5104C(a)(1)(A); third lane is a direct appeal to the Board;

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

MILITARY-VETERANS ADVOCACY,
Petitioner
v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
Respondent

2019-1600

Petition for review pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Section 502.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VETERANS’
ADVOCATES, INC.,
Petitioner
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA,
Intervenor
v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
Respondent

2019-1680

Case: 19-1600 Document: 67 Page: 1 Filed: 07/30/2021
MILITARY-VETERANS ADVOCACY v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
2

Petition for review pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Section 502.

CARPENTER CHARTERED,
Petitioner
v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
Respondent

2019-1685

Petition for review pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Section 502.

PHILLIP BOYD HAISLEY, NATIONAL VETERANS
LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM,
Petitioners
v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
Respondent

2019-1687

Petition for review pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Section 502.

Case: 19-1600 Document: 67 Page: 2 Filed: 07/30/2021
MILITARY-VETERANS ADVOCACY v.
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
3
Decided: July 30, 2021

ROBBIE MANHAS, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP,
Washington, DC, argued for petitioner Military-Veterans
Advocacy. Also represented by MELANIE L. BOSTWICK;
JOHN B. WELLS, Law Office of John B. Wells, Slidell, LA.
MICHAEL BERN, Latham & Watkins LLP, Washington,
DC, argued for petitioner National Organization of Veterans’
Advocates, Inc. and intervenor Paralyzed Veterans of
America. National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates,
Inc. also represented by GENEVIEVE PATRICIA HOFFMAN,
ROMAN MARTINEZ, BARRETT TENBARGE.
LINDA E. BLAUHUT, Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Washington, DC, for intervenor Paralyzed Veterans of
America.
KENNETH M. CARPENTER, Law Offices of Carpenter
Chartered, Topeka, KS, argued for petitioner Carpenter
Chartered.
ALEX SCHULMAN, Paul Hastings LLP, Washington, DC,
argued for petitioners Phillip Boyd Haisley, National Veterans
Legal Services Program. Also represented by
STEPHEN BLAKE KINNAIRD; BARTON F. STICHMAN, National
Veterans Legal Services Program, Washington, DC.
SOSUN BAE, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
United States Department of Justice, Washington,
DC, argued for respondent in