Case: 22-2179 Document: 40 Page: 1 Filed: 03/08/2024

NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ______________________

LESTER L. DEAN, JR., Claimant-Appellant

v.

DENIS MCDONOUGH, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Respondent-Appellee ______________________

2022-2179 ______________________

Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 21-2920, Judge Amanda L. Mere- dith. ______________________

JUDGMENT ______________________

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

MEREDYTH COHEN HAVASY, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Jus- tice, Washington, DC, argued for respondent-appellee. Also represented by BRIAN M. BOYNTON, WILLIAM JAMES GRIMALDI, PATRICIA M. MCCARTHY, EVAN WISSER; BRIAN D. GRIFFIN, SAMANTHA ANN SYVERSON, Office of General Case: 22-2179 Document: 40 Page: 2 Filed: 03/08/2024

Counsel, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC. ______________________

THIS CAUSE having been heard and considered, it is

ORDERED and ADJUDGED:

PER CURIAM (PROST, STOLL, and STARK, Circuit Judges). AFFIRMED. See Fed. Cir. R. 36.

ENTERED BY ORDER OF THE COURT

March 8, 2024 Date