Case: 22-2282 Document: 33 Page: 1 Filed: 04/05/2024

NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ______________________

KEVIN STEELE, Claimant-Appellant

v.

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

2022-2282 ______________________

Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 21-1633, Chief Judge Margaret C. Bartley. ______________________

JUDGMENT ______________________

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

DANIEL FALKNOR, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washing- ton, DC, argued for respondent-appellee. Also represented by BRIAN M. BOYNTON, ELIZABETH MARIE HOSFORD, PATRICIA M. MCCARTHY; JONATHAN KRISCH, Y. KEN LEE, Case: 22-2282 Document: 33 Page: 2 Filed: 04/05/2024

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

THIS CAUSE having been heard and considered, it is

ORDERED and ADJUDGED:

PER CURIAM (REYNA, CUNNINGHAM, Circuit Judges, and ALBRIGHT, District Judge 1). AFFIRMED. See Fed. Cir. R. 36.

ENTERED BY ORDER OF THE COURT

April 5, 2024 Date

1 Honorable Alan D Albright, District Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, sit- ting by designation.