15 Vet. App. 22 | Vet. App. | 2001
Before HOLDAWAY, STEINBERG, and GREENE, Judges .
O R D E R The appellant, through counsel, seeks review of an August 24, 1998, Board of Veterans' Appeals decision that denied his claim, by virtue of his receiving compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) financial assistance in the purchase of special adaptive housing or a special home-adaptation grant, and financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive automobile equipment or adaptive automobile equipment only. Record at 3. On March 21, 2000, the Court ordered the Secretary to file a supplemental brief and authorized the appellant to file a supplemental reply brief. The Secretary responded on October 13, 2000, and the appellant filed a supplemental reply brief on October 30, 2000.
In their responses to the Court's March 2000 order, both parties present arguments as to whether VA Gen. Coun. Prec. 24-97 (July 3, 1997) contains a reasonable interpretation of section 1151. Yet, neither party discusses (1) the legislative history of that statutory provision or of any other statutory provision relating to the appellant's claims for ancillary benefits under chapters 21, 23, and 39 of title 38, U.S. Code, in terms of any connection between section 1151 and such potential ancillary benefits as provided for in those other statutory provisions, or (2) any pertinent regulatory history regarding those statutory provisions and any such connection. Similarly, VA Gen. Coun. Prec. 24-97 also contains no such discussion.
Upon consideration of the foregoing, it is ORDERED that, not later than 30 days after the date of this order, the Secretary file, and
serve on the appellant, a supplemental brief that addresses the legislative and regulatory history matters described above. It is further
ORDERED that, not later than 30 days after service of the Secretary's supplemental brief, the appellant file a supplemental brief in response to the Secretary's supplemental brief and to this order. DATED: May 25, 2001 PER CURIAM.