NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ______________________

JAMES P. MULLINS, Claimant-Appellant

v.

ROBERT WILKIE, ACTING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Respondent-Appellee ______________________

2017-1325 ______________________

Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 15-440, Senior Judge Lawrence B. Hagel. ______________________

JUDGMENT ______________________

KENNETH M. CARPENTER, Law Offices of Carpenter Chartered, Topeka, KS, argued for claimant-appellant.

RETA EMMA BEZAK, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, argued for respondent-appellee. Also represented by CHAD A. READLER, ROBERT E. KIRSCHMAN, JR., MARTIN F. HOCKEY, JR.; BRIAN D. GRIFFIN, DEREK SCADDEN, Office of General Counsel, United States De- partment of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC. ______________________

THIS CAUSE having been heard and considered, it is

ORDERED and ADJUDGED:

PER CURIAM (DYK, O’MALLEY, and WALLACH, Circuit Judges). AFFIRMED. See Fed. Cir. R. 36.

ENTERED BY ORDER OF THE COURT

May 4, 2018 /s/ Peter R. Marksteiner Date Peter R. Marksteiner Clerk of Court