Mark R. Lippman v. Eric K. Shinseki

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS
NO . 07-1617
MARK R. LIPPMAN , APPELLANT ,
V.
ERIC K. SHINSEKI,
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, APPELLEE.
SAMMIE C. SWINGER , INTERVENOR.
On Appeal from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
(Argued May 14, 2009 Decided July 23, 2009)
Mark R. Lippman, pro se.
Kenneth A. Walsh, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, with whom Paul J. Hutter, General
Counsel; and R. Randall Campbell, Assistant General Counsel, were on the brief, all of Washington,
D.C., for the appellee.
Jennifer A. Zajac, of Oceanside, California, was on the brief for Sammie C. Swinger as
intervenor.
Before KASOLD, HAGEL, and LANCE, Judges.
HAGEL, Judge: Attorney Mark R. Lippman, who is self-represented, appeals a June 11,
2007, Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) decision in which the Board granted entitlement to
attorney fees for past-due benefits in the amount of $9,123.28, but denied entitlement to attorney fees
for past-due benefits in the amount of $7,525.40. Record (R.) at 1-7. The Court has jurisdiction
pursuant to 38 U.S.C. §§ 7252(a) and 7266(a) to review the Board decision. For the reasons that
follow, the Court will vacate that portion of the June 2007 Board decision that denied entitlement
to attorney fees in the amount of $7,525.40 and remand the matter for readjudication consistent with
this decision. The remainder of the Board decision will be affirmed.
I. FACTS
This case presents a matter of first impression to the Court: When an attorney is discharged
by a claimant prior to the conclusion of an appeal taken from the initial disability rating assigned,
what is the proper framework for determining reasonable attorney fees under a qualifying fee
agreement?
The facts in this matter are not in dispute. U.S. Army veteran Sammy C. Swinger applied
for VA benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder in December 1992. His claim was initially denied
by a VA regional office in April 1994, and the denial was ultimately confirmed by the Board in
October 1999. The Board decision also denied several other claims as not well-grounded.1
In May 2000, Mr. Lippman and Mr. Swinger entered into an "attorney-client fee contract"
that provided, relevant to the matter on appeal:
2. SCOPE AND DUTIES. Client hires Attorney to provide pro bono legal services
in connection with appeal or petition to U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals2 under
the terms and conditions set forth in the Equal Access to Justice Act [28 U.S.C.
§ 2412 (EAJA)]. Attorney shall provide the following services: All services
necessary to prosecute appeal or petition to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims. . . . In the event of a court-ordered remand, this agreement shall
include representation of the veteran by the Attorney at both the Board of Veterans'
Appeals as well as any Regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, based
upon the contingent fee arrangement contained herein. . . .
3. CONTINGENT FEE (VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CASES).
Client agrees to pay a fee equal to twenty percent (20%) of the total amount of any
past-due benefits awarded to Client . . . on the basis of Client's claim following a
remand order from the United States Court of Veterans Appeals [sic], and not in
connection with the pro bono appeal to the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals [sic]. It
is understood that this Contingent Fee is to be withheld by the VA and paid directly
to the attorney.
1
The law in effect in October 1999 provided that claims must be “well grounded” in order to invoke VA's duty
to assist in their development and proceed to adjudication. See 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (amended 2000). The Veteran's Claims
Assistance Act of 2000, Pub.L. No. 106-475, 114 Stat.2096 (Nov. 9, 2000), amended § 5107 to eliminate the
well-grounded requirement. See Luyster v. Gober, 14 Vet.App. 186 (2000) (per curiam order).
2
The name of the Court was changed from "United States Court of Veterans Appeals" to "United States Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims" in 1998 by Pub. L. 105-368, codified at 38 U.S.C. § 7251, effective March 1, 1999.
2
R. at 436-37.3 In November 2000, the Veterans Claims Assistance Act went into effect, requiring
VA to provide particular types of notice to claimants seeking disability benefits.
Mr. Lippman represented Mr. Swinger before this Court in the matter of Swinger v. Principi,
No. 99-1917. On Mr. Swinger's behalf, Mr. Lippman argued for vacatur and remand of the Board's
October 1999 decision regarding his post-traumatic stress disorder claim because VA had failed to
discharge its duty to assist, failed to request or advise Mr. Swinger to obtain documents relevant to
his claim, and failed to properly apply the legal standard for verification of in-service stressors.
Swinger v. Principi, 17 Vet.App. 508 (table), 2001 WL 218866 at *1 (Feb. 26, 2001). Mr. Lippman
also argued that the Board's decision on Mr. Swinger's other claims should be vacated and remanded
for compliance with the then-newly enacted Veterans Claims Assistance Act. In January 2001, the
Secretary filed a motion to vacate the Board's decision and remand the matters for readjudication in
light of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act. Mr. Swinger filed a response opposing the Secretary's
motion, arguing that it was a "preemptive maneuver" to cut off Mr. Swinger's potential right to fees
and expenses under the EAJA. Id. In February 2001, the Court granted the Secretary's motion,
vacated the Board's October 1999 decision, and remanded Mr. Swinger's claim for benefits for post-
traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Lippman subsequently filed an EAJA application on behalf of Mr.
Swinger that was denied by the Court because the Court's February 2001 remand was not predicated
on administrative error. Swinger v. Principi, 18 Vet.App. 20 (table), 2001 WL 1743139 (Nov. 28,
2001).
In February 2002, the Board remanded the claim to the regional office for development and
readjudication. In June 2002, VA received notice from Mr. Swinger stating that he had discharged
Mr. Lippman as his attorney and that he would proceed pro se.
In January 2005, the regional office issued a rating decision granting Mr. Swinger VA
benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder and assigning a 30% disability rating from December 10,
1992 (the date of the initial claim for benefits), a 100% disability rating from February 22, 1995, to
3
The Court notes that Mr. Lippman's description of the fee agreement in his brief simply states that he and Mr.
Swinger "entered into an attorney fee agreement, allowing for twenty (20) percent contingent fee of all past-due benefits
awarded on the basis of the claim." Appellant's Brief (Br.) at 2.
3
June 1, 1995, and a 30% disability rating thereafter.4 In February 2005, the regional office
determined that Mr. Lippman met the requirements of 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 C.F.R. § 20.609,5
and was therefore entitled to $9,123.28 in attorney fees, 20% of the total past-due benefits awarded.6
Later that month, Mr. Swinger notified VA of his objection to the award of attorney fees to Mr.
Lippman. R. at 848. In March 2005, the regional office issued a Statement of the Case confirming
the entitlement of Mr. Lippman to payment of attorney fees in the amount of $9,123.28. In April
2005, Mr. Swinger appealed that decision to the Board.
In March 2005, Mr. Swinger, acting pro se, filed a Notice of Disagreement with the initial
disability rating assigned for post-traumatic stress disorder.7 R. at 842 ("[The] regional office . . .
failed to grant full or maximum benefits."). In September 2005, the regional office awarded an
increased disability rating of 50%, effective June 1, 1995. As a result of this award, the regional
office notified Mr. Swinger in November 2005 that Mr. Lippman was entitled to a supplemental
payment of $7,525.40 in attorney fees, representing 20% of the past-due benefits awarded to Mr.
Swinger as a result of the September 2005 regional office decision, and that the amount would be
paid directly to Mr. Lippman. In February 2006, VA notified Mr. Swinger that it had received his
Notice of Disagreement regarding the award of supplemental attorney fees to Mr. Lippman. Later
that month, the regional office issued a Statement of the Case confirming the entitlement of Mr.
Lippman to payment of attorney fees in the amount of $7,525.40. The regional office acknowledged
that Mr. Swinger had dismissed Mr. Lippman in June 2002, but found that Mr. Lippman "did assist
[Mr. Swinger] in his appeal," and was therefore entitled to payment. R. at 956. Mr. Swinger
appealed to the Board.
4
The Court notes that this rating decision lists Mr. Lippman as Mr. Swinger's representative. R. at 823.
5
This regulation has been recodified at 38 C.F.R. § 14.636 (2008), and the portion of the regulation at issue
in this matter appears, substantively unchanged, at § 14.636(h)(3)(i). The Court will therefore refer to the regulation
under its new designation except when discussing VA decisions that pre-date the recodification.
6
The notification to M r. Lippman and M r. Swinger of the attorney fee payment indicated that VA had received
Mr. Swinger's June 2002 "request to revoke" Mr. Lippman's representation. R. at 830, 832.
7
The Court notes that VA's response to M r. Swinger's Notice of Disagreement indicates that he had "designated
Mark R. Lippman, Attorney-at-Law, to represent" him in presenting his claim to VA. R. at 855.
4
In June 2007, the Board issued the decision on appeal granting entitlement to attorney fees
for past-due benefits in the amount of $9,123.28, but denying entitlement to attorney fees for past-
due benefits in the amount of $7,525.40. The Board determined that Mr. Lippman "had no
involvement in and provided no representative assistance to [Mr. Swinger] in connection with [his]
appeal from the initial evaluations assigned" in the January 2005 regional office decision, and that,
therefore, the requirements of 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 C.F.R. § 20.609 had not been met and Mr.
Lippman was not entitled to fees resulting from the September 2005 regional office decision that
increased Mr. Swinger's disability rating from 30% to 50%. R. at 3. The Board reached this
conclusion by applying 38 C.F.R. § 20.609(h)(3)(i) (2006), which specifically provided that where
a higher disability rating is granted as the result of an appeal of an initial disability rating, an attorney
is entitled to supplemental payment so long as the attorney "represents the claimant or appellant in
that phase of the claim." 38 C.F.R. § 20.609(h)(3)(i) (2006); R. at 6.
On June 14, 2007, Mr. Lippman filed a Notice of Appeal in this matter. The proof of service
submitted with the Notice of Appeal indicated that notice was served only on the Secretary, not on
Mr. Swinger, who was a party to the June 2007 Board decision. On June 20, 2007, Notice of
Docketing was issued only to Mr. Lippman and the Secretary. In September 2007, the Secretary
submitted a copy of a September 20, 2007, letter from counsel for the Secretary to Mr. Swinger,
advising Mr. Swinger that Mr. Lippman had appealed the June 2007 Board decision. The letter
included copies of Mr. Lippman's Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Docketing issued by the Clerk
of the Court (Clerk). The letter informed Mr. Swinger that he had the right to intervene in this matter
by serving on all parties and filing with the Court notice to intervene. The letter noted that Mr.
Swinger's right to intervene required the service and filing of notice to intervene within 60 days of
the Notice of Docketing, and that the notice to intervene should have been filed by August 20, 2007.
The letter continued: "Although you are unable to meet the August 20, 2007, deadline, the Court may
accept your Notice of Intent to Intervene if it is filed reasonably soon." Sept. 20, 2007,
Correspondence at 1. On October 1, 2007, the Court received notice to intervene from Mr. Swinger.
On October 25, 2007, the Clerk issued an order directing that the caption of this case be changed to
reflect Mr. Swinger's status as intervenor. On March 4, 2009, the single judge to whom this matter
was initially assigned found that Mr. Swinger's motion to intervene should have been referred to
5
chambers due to the timing of the request, found that extraordinary circumstances warranted granting
Mr. Swinger's request to intervene, and directed him to file a brief within 60 days.
In February 2009, the Court solicited supplemental memoranda of law from the parties
regarding the applicability of Scates v. Principi, 282 F.3d 1362 (Fed. Cir. 2002), to the matter on
appeal. Scates held:
[A]n attorney with a contingent fee contract for payment of twenty percent of accrued
veterans benefits awarded, discharged by the client before the case is completed, is
not automatically entitled to the full twenty percent fee. He may receive only a fee
that fairly and accurately reflects his contribution to and responsibility for the
benefits awarded.
282 F.3d at 1366. Both Mr. Lippman and the Secretary responded, and their arguments are
summarized below. On March 13, 2009, this matter was referred to the panel, and on May 14, 2009,
the Court heard oral argument. Counsel for Mr. Swinger filed her appearance on his behalf on May
1, 2009, and filed a brief on May 4, 2009.
On appeal, in his brief, Mr. Lippman argued that 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(3)(i) is inconsistent
with 38 U.S.C. § 5904(d)(1) to the extent that it requires continued representation of a claimant
following a decision granting an initial disability rating. In particular, Mr. Lippman contended that
the Secretary exceeded his rulemaking authority when he "engraft[ed] a continued attorney
representation requirement onto" section 5904(d)(1). Appellant's Br. at 8. In his supplemental
memorandum, Mr. Lippman argued that Scates is applicable in this case and that the Board
committed remandable error by not considering the rule of that case. In particular, Mr. Lippman
asserted that Scates sets forth a framework for assessing the contributions of an attorney and his
entitlement to fees in cases where he was discharged prior to the completion of the case, and that
Scates cannot be reconciled with § 14.636(h)(3)(i). Appellant's Supplemental (Supp.) Memorandum
(Mem.) at 4-5. Mr. Lippman argued that he was entitled to recover fees under the Scates framework
due to the amount of time he expended on the matter and due to the fact that it was his work on "the
most difficult and important issue" of Mr. Swinger's claim for benefits for post-traumatic stress
disorder, the question of corroboration of in-service stressors, that resulted in the increased disability
rating assigned. Appellant's Supp. Mem. at 5-6.
6
In response, in his brief, the Secretary argued that § 14.636(h)(3)(i) permissibly fills a gap
left by Congress when it enacted section 5904. Specifically, the Secretary contended that Congress
did not address the distinct situation presented by the facts of this case, namely, whether an attorney
is entitled to payment of supplemental fees where the claimant has terminated the attorney-client
relationship and has obtained additional benefits while acting pro se. Secretary's Br. at 4-5. The
Secretary asserted that his interpretation of section 5904, as expressed in § 14.636, is reasonable and
based on a permissible construction of the statute. See generally Secretary's Br. at 4-7; Chevron
U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Counsel, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-43 (1984). In his supplemental
memorandum, the Secretary argued that the Board did not need to engage in a Scates analysis
because Mr. Lippman provided no representation at the regional office in the successful appeal of
the disability rating assigned. Secretary's Supp. Mem. at 4-7. In other words, according to the
Secretary, Scates is applicable only where an attorney provided some representation in the appeal
but was discharged prior to benefits actually being awarded. At oral argument, the Secretary's
argument remained consistent with his brief and supplemental memorandum.
For his part, Mr. Swinger, through counsel, argued in a brief that the Secretary's interpretation
of section 5904(d), as embodied in § 14.636(h)(3)(i), was a reasonable interpretation of the statutory
language and congressional intent, and therefore the Board had not erred in denying Mr. Lippman
entitlement to attorney fees based on the past-due benefits paid as a result of the higher initial
disability rating awarded. Intervenor's Br. at 4-9. With respect to Scates, Mr. Swinger argued that
the decision is distinguishable because in that case, the claimant fired his attorney prior to the
regional office issuing an initial decision on his claim, rather than prior to an appeal of the initial
disability rating assigned. Intervenor's Br. at 10-11. In the alternative, Mr. Swinger contends that,
if Scates applies, the Board's failure to consider it is harmless error because under the Scates criteria,
Mr. Lippman would not be entitled to attorney fees. Intervenor's Br. at 11-12.
In response to a June 24, 2009, order of the Court requesting further information, Mr.
Swinger stated that he is not claiming entitlement to the $9,123.28 awarded by the Board to Mr.
Lippman, and that he believes that amount is "fair for the amount of time provided for [Mr.
Lippman's] services." Intervenor's Response at 2.
7
II. RELEVANT LAW
The Court finds it useful in this instance to first set forth the statutory and regulatory
provisions, as well as the caselaw, relevant to the issues on appeal.
A. 38 U.S.C. § 5904Section 5904(a)(5) provides that the Secretary "may prescribe in regulations reasonable
restrictions on the amount of fees that an agent or attorney may charge a claimant" for work done
before VA, and that a fee that does not exceed 20% of the past-due benefits "awarded on a claim"
is presumptively reasonable. Section 5904(c)(3)(A) permits the Secretary, of his own volition or
upon a request by a party, to review a fee agreement filed with the Secretary and to reduce the fee
called for in the agreement if the Secretary finds that the fee is "excessive or unreasonable."8 Section
5904(d)(1) provides that, when a claimant and an attorney have entered into a fee agreement that is
filed with the Secretary, the total fee payable to the attorney may not exceed 20% of the total amount
of "any past-due benefits awarded on the basis of the claim." Such a fee agreement must be one
under which the total amount of the fee payable to the attorney is (1) to be paid to the attorney
directly from "any past-due benefits awarded on the basis of the claim," and (2) "is contingent on
whether or not the matter is resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant." 38 U.S.C.
§ 5904(d)(2)(A). A claim is considered to have been "resolved in a manner favorable to the
claimant" if "all or any part of the relief sought is granted." 38 U.S.C. § 5904(d)(2)(B).
B. 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)
Subsection (h) of § 14.636 is entitled "Payment of fees by [VA] directly to an agent or
attorney from past-due benefits," and permits a claimant to enter into a fee agreement with an
attorney that provides that payment for the attorney's services will be made to the attorney directly
by VA out of any past-due benefits "awarded in any proceeding" before VA or this Court. 38 C.F.R.
8
A decision by the Secretary to reduce the fee is reviewable by the Board. 38 U.S.C. § 5904( c)(3)(B). At the
time of the September 2005 regional office decision that led to the disputed award of $7,525.40 in attorney fees to Mr.
Lippman, section 5904(c)(2) provided that the Board could, on its own motion or the request of either party, review the
fee agreement and reduce the fee if the Board found it to be excessive or unreasonable. 38 U.S.C. § 5904(c)(2) (2005).
A decision by the Board reducing the fee was, as now, reviewable by this Court. Id.8
§ 14.636(h)(1) (2008).9 The fee agreement will be honored by VA only if (1) the total fee payable,
excluding expenses, does not exceed 20% of the past-due benefits awarded, (2) the amount of the
fee is contingent on whether or not the claim is resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant, and
(3) the award of past-due benefits results in a cash payment to the claimant from which the fee may
be deducted. 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(1)(i), (ii), (iii). Past-due benefits, for the purposes of this case,
means "a nonrecurring payment resulting from a benefit, or benefits, granted on appeal." 38 C.F.R.
§ 14.636(h)(3). "When the benefit granted on appeal . . . is service connection for a disability, the
'past-due benefits' will be based on the initial disability rating assigned by the agency of original
jurisdiction following the award of service connection." 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(3)(i). Where the
initial disability rating assigned is appealed and a higher initial disability rating is assigned, the
regulation provides that an attorney is entitled to a supplemental payment based upon the increase
granted on appeal, "if the . . . attorney represents the claimant . . . in that phase of the claim." Id.C. Scates v. Principi
In Scates, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit)
considered the case of a discharged attorney (Mason) who sought fees for the representation of his
former client before VA. Mason had filed a qualifying fee agreement with VA, but had been
discharged by Mr. Scates, who subsequently retained new counsel, prior to VA making an initial
decision on the claim. Once VA granted the claimant benefits, the regional office withheld 20% of
the past-due benefits awarded while the Board considered Mason's right to a fee. The Board
concluded that Mr. Scates's revocation of Mason's authority to represent him did not preclude
payment to Mason of otherwise due attorney fees. Scates, 282 F.3d at 1364. On appeal to this
Court, after a petition for rehearing en banc, the full Court determined that the proper reading of
38 U.S.C. § 5904(c)(2) compelled the conclusion that the Board did not have original jurisdiction
to consider any issues pertaining to entitlement to, as opposed to the excessiveness or reasonableness
of, attorney fees in direct-payment cases. See Scates v. Gober, 14 Vet.App. 62, 64 (2000). The
9
The 2007 version of this regulation, § 20.609(h)(1), provided that payment pursuant to a fee agreement of this
kind would be made out of any past-due benefits "awarded as a result of a successful appeal to the [Board] or an
appellate court or as a result of a reopened claim before [VA] following a prior denial of such benefits by the [Board]
or an appellate court." 38 C.F.R. § 20.609(h)(1) (2007).
9
Court therefore vacated and remanded the Board's decision for the matter of entitlement to be
considered by the regional office in the first instance.
Mason appealed to the Federal Circuit, arguing that remand was not warranted because only
the "'ministerial' act of paying him the withheld money" remained to be done to resolve the fee
dispute. Scates, 282 F.3d at 1365. The Federal Circuit determined that, when read "in context and
in the light of the statutory provisions governing the payment of attorney fees," the fee agreement
between Mason and Mr. Scates included an implicit understanding that Mason's right to receive the
full 20% of any past-due benefits awarded would only arise if he continued to represent Mr. Scates
until the claim was successfully completed. Id. Where the attorney-client relationship was
terminated prior to the resolution of the claim and Mr. Scates retained substitute counsel, however,
the Federal Circuit found that the agreement implied that the original attorney's fees "would be based
upon and fairly reflect that lawyer's contribution to the case." Id.In reaching this conclusion, the Federal Circuit stated that 38 U.S.C. § 5904(d)(1) and (2)
limit the "total fee payable" to 20% of the past-due benefits awarded, and concluded that each of Mr.
Scates' attorneys should be paid a portion of the 20% based on their contributions to his case. Id.
at 1365-66. As noted above, the Federal Circuit stated:
[A]n attorney with a contingent fee contract for payment of twenty percent of accrued
veterans benefits awarded, discharged by the client before the case is completed, is
not automatically entitled to the full twenty percent fee. He may receive only a fee
that fairly and accurately reflects his contribution to and responsibility for the
benefits awarded.
Id. at 1366. In its discussion of jurisdiction, the Federal Circuit stated that "[t]he line between
(1) entitlement to and (2) reasonableness and excessiveness of attorney fees may not be as clear and
bright as the Veterans Court believed." Id. at 1367. However, the Federal Circuit did determine that,
on the facts of the case before it, the regional office was the appropriate agency to decide Mason's
fee claim, due to the factual matters to be resolved, including the reasons for which Mr. Scates
discharged Mason; how Mason's share, if any, of the 20% of past-due benefits awarded should be
calculated; and whether substitute counsel was seeking any legal fees for work performed on the
claim. Id. at 1368-69.
10
III. ANALYSIS
A. Statutory Interpretation
The question before the Court is whether 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(3)(i) is consistent with
38 U.S.C. § 5904. As the United States Supreme Court has held, the Court must first determine
"whether Congress has directly spoken to the precise question at issue. If the intent of Congress is
clear, that is the end of the matter; for the court, as well as the agency, must give effect to the
unambiguously expressed intent of Congress." Chevron, 467 U.S. at 842-43. In evaluating whether
Congress has directly spoken to the question at issue, we begin, as always, with the language of the
statute itself. Good Samaritan Hosp. v. Shalala, 508 U.S. 402, 409 (1993).
Mr. Lippman appeared to argue in his brief that, based on the use of the word "claim" in the
phrase "past-due benefits awarded on the basis of the claim" in section 5904(d)(1), section 5904 is
textually unambiguous, such that § 14.636(h)(3)(i) is necessarily an inappropriate exercise of the
Secretary's ability to promulgate regulations interpreting that statute. The Court disagrees. Even if
we assume, as Mr. Lippman argues, that Congress used the word "claim" in section 5904 as it is
defined by VA in 38 C.F.R. § 3.1(p) (2009), that is, "a formal or informal communication in writing
requesting a determination of entitlement or evidencing a belief in entitlement, to a benefit," that
does not address the particular question at issue here. Here, we are concerned with the right of a
discharged attorney to fees from past-due benefits paid to a claimant who discharged the attorney
and, while self-represented, successfully appealed the initial disability rating assigned. Mr. Lippman
points to, and the Court can find, no language in section 5904 that speaks to this precise question.
Accordingly, there is a gap in the statute, and VA may promulgate regulations to fill that gap.
Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843.
Having determined that Congress left gaps in the statute for VA to fill through regulations,
the Court may not
simply impose its own construction on the statute, as would be necessary in the
absence of an administrative interpretation. Rather, if the statute is silent or
ambiguous with respect to the specific issue, the question for the court is whether the
agency's answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute.
Id. (footnotes omitted). Where, as here, "the legislative delegation to [the] agency on a particular
question is implicit rather than explicit," the Court "may not substitute its own construction of a
11
statutory provision for a reasonable interpretation made by the administrator of an agency." Id. at
844 (footnote omitted).
The Court is troubled by the portion of § 14.636(h)(3)(i) that requires continued
representation of a claimant during the appeal of the initial disability rating assigned to entitle an
attorney to supplemental payment from past-due benefits awarded as a result of that appeal.
Separating a claim into distinct phases for the purpose of compensation, while a good idea in theory,
in practice will, in certain circumstances, result in unfairly depriving an attorney of rightful fees for
work done that led to a favorable result for a claimant, a fact the Secretary conceded at oral
argument. As Mr. Lippman put it, "An attorney's contribution to the overall recovery in a claim
cannot always be measured by what past-due benefits are awarded during distinct phases of a claim."
Appellant's Supp. Mem. at 5. The Court agrees.
For example: A claimant hires an attorney whose assistance results in a finding of service
connection, but at a noncompensable level (and therefore no past-due benefits are paid from which
the attorney can draw a fee). The claimant discharges the attorney and files, pro se, a Notice of
Disagreement with the disability rating assigned, but does little or no additional work on the claim
(i.e., does not secure or submit additional evidence or make additional argument to the Board,
beyond stating that he believes he is entitled to a higher rating).10 On appeal, the Board determines
that the regional office erred and that the claimant is, in fact, entitled to a compensable disability
rating (and therefore past-due benefits are paid). Under the current regulation, the attorney would
not be paid any fee at all, despite having done all of the work, save filing the Notice of
Disagreement, that resulted in a favorable resolution: an ultimately compensable disability rating.
It is certainly a claimant's right to discharge his attorney, but termination of representation
does not terminate an attorney's right under a valid contract to collect fees for work performed prior
10
A Notice of Disagreement is defined as follows:
A written communication from a claimant or his or her representative expressing dissatisfaction or
disagreement with an adjudicative determination by the agency of original jurisdiction and a desire
to contest the result will constitute a Notice of Disagreement. W hile special wording is not required,
the Notice of Disagreement must be in terms which can be reasonably construed as disagreement with
that determination and a desire for appellate review.
38 C.F.R. § 20.201 (2009).
12
to the termination that resulted in the claim being resolved "in a manner favorable to the claimant."
38 U.S.C. § 5904(d)(2)(B). Because the Secretary's continued representation requirement does not
guard against improper deprivation of payment to attorneys for work actually performed, the
regulation is unduly restrictive. Accordingly, the Court finds that the continuing representation
portion of the regulation is unreasonable and therefore finds it invalid. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 844.
To be clear, the portion of the regulation to be struck reads, "and if the agent or attorney represents
the claimant or appellant in that phase of the claim." 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(3)(i). The Court now
turns to the proper framework for determining what fee is reasonably paid by VA where, as here, an
attorney is discharged by the claimant after the initial decision on a claim is made, but prior to the
appeal of the initial disability rating assigned.11
B. Framework for Supplemental Payments to Discharged Attorneys
As an initial matter, we reject out of hand Mr. Lippman's suggestion that the framework
should be different for claimants who opt to retain substitute counsel to continue their appeals and
claimants who opt to represent themselves on appeal. Mr. Lippman conceded at oral argument that,
had Mr. Swinger obtained substitute counsel to file his Notice of Disagreement and continue his
appeal after discharging him, Mr. Lippman would not be entitled to the $7,525.40 awarded by the
regional office as a result of the September 2005 regional office decision.12 Mr. Lippman contends,
however, that simply because there is no other attorney with a stake in Mr. Swinger's past-due
benefits, he is entitled to payment of 20% of the total past-due benefits awarded, despite having done
nothing to assist Mr. Swinger with his appeal of the initial disability rating assigned, as he readily
admitted at oral argument. This position is simply unfair to claimants who choose to act on their
own behalf after discharging an attorney, and the Court will not entertain it.
Instead, we find that the question here is one of reasonableness, and that the proper analysis
where an attorney is discharged after the initial decision on a claim but prior to the appeal of that
11
Scates clearly governs the situation where an attorney is discharged by a claimant prior to the initial decision
on a claim. Scates, 262 F.3d at 1365.
12
This, of course, is one of the underlying principles of Scates: it would be unjust for a discharged attorney to
take the full 20% of the total past-due benefits awarded if another attorney has been retained, because such a rule would
make it nearly impossible for claimants to retain substitute counsel. Scates, 262 F.3d at 1365-66.
13
decision is the same as the analysis in Scates–that is, quantum meruit13–informed by the factors listed
in 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(e), which governs the reasonableness of fees charged generally. See Scates,
282 F.3d at 1366, 1368-69; 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(e) (2009). We believe the reasoning underlying the
Federal Circuit's decision in Scates is equally applicable here: The statutory history of the law
governing payment of attorney fees reflects "congressional intent to protect veterans benefits from
improper diminution by excessive legal fees." Scates, 282 F.3d at 1366 (noting that the 20%
contingent fee provided by section 5904 is lower than in other areas of practice, but is offset by the
guarantee of collection upon favorable resolution of the claim). Were we to allow discharged
attorneys to collect 20% of all past-due benefits awarded as a result of an appeal of the initial
disability rating without regard to the fact that they had been discharged prior to the appeal, many
veterans might be deprived of benefits that may be rightfully theirs to keep, depending on the
contribution of the discharged attorney to the ultimate disability rating awarded. This we will not
risk. The analysis set forth here reflects a reasoned compromise between the Secretary's bright line
rule precluding payment to discharged attorneys who did not represent a claimant on appeal of the
initial disability rating assigned and allowing discharged attorneys to collect 20% of the total past-
due benefits awarded without regard for whether they represented the claimant at that particular
phase of the claim.
C. Application in Present Case
1. Entitlement
VA regulations provide that VA will honor a fee agreement–that is, an attorney is entitled
to direct payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded on the basis of the claim–when
three conditions are met: (1) the fee agreement provides that the total fee payable to the attorney is
20% or less of the total past-due benefits awarded; (2) the fee agreement provides that the amount
of the fee to be paid is contingent upon the claim being resolved in a manner favorable to the
claimant; and (3) the award of past-due benefits results in a cash payment to the claimant from which
the fee may be deducted. 38 C.F.R. § 14.636(h)(1); see also Cox v. Gober, 14 Vet.App. 148, 152
(2000) (holding that § 20.609(h) [now § 14.636(h)] creates entitlement on the part of an attorney to
13
From Latin, meaning "as much as he has deserved." B LACK 'S L AW D ICTIO N ARY 1255 (7th ed. 1999).
14
fees under qualifying fee agreements); Aronson v. Derwinski, 3 Vet.App. 162, 163 (1993) (holding
that the Secretary has no discretion to deny payment where the fee agreement meets the regulatory
requirements). There is no dispute that Mr. Lippman's fee agreement meets these qualifications and
that Mr. Swinger's claim has resulted in cash payments from which attorney fees may be deducted.
Therefore, Mr. Lippman is entitled to receive, and the Secretary is obligated to make, direct payment
from the past-due benefits awarded to Mr. Swinger "on the basis of the claim." 38 U.S.C.
§ 5904(d)(1). The Court must now consider what the phrase "on the basis of the claim"
encompasses.
2. Basis of the Claim
There are, generally speaking, three types of claims for VA disability benefits: (1) an original
claim for benefits; (2) a claim for an increased disability rating for an already service-connected
condition; and (3) a claim to reopen a previously and finally disallowed claim for benefits. See 38
U.S.C. § 5110(a); Fenderson v. West, 12 Vet.App. 119, 125-26 (1999); 38 C.F.R. § 3.400 (2009).
Mr. Swinger's claim was first denied by the regional office in April 1994. He pursued his appeal,
retaining Mr. Lippman in 2000, and in February 2001, this Court granted the Secretary's joint motion
for remand. Following the Board's February 2002 remand to the regional office, Mr. Swinger
discharged Mr. Lippman. Mr. Swinger, now self-represented, was first awarded benefits for post-
traumatic stress disorder in January 2005, when the regional office assigned a 30% disability rating
from December 10, 1992 (the date of the initial claim for benefits); a 100% disability rating from
February 22, 1995, to June 1, 1995; and a 30% disability rating thereafter. Mr. Swinger immediately
appealed the disability ratings assigned by submitting a Notice of Disagreement, and in September
2005, the regional office awarded an increased disability rating of 50%, effective June 1, 1995. Mr.
Swinger again appealed the disability ratings assigned in a Notice of Disagreement, and in June
2007, the Board granted a total disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder, effective June 1,
1995. Supp. R. at 12. An original claim placed in appellate status by the filing of a Notice of
Disagreement remains an original claim; it does not become a new claim for benefits. Fenderson,
12 Vet.App. at 125-26. There is no question, then, that Mr. Swinger's long-standing claim for
benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder was an original claim.
15
In a case similar to this one, In re Mason, an attorney represented a claimant in a successful
appeal to the Court; the Court vacated the Board's decision denying entitlement to VA benefits and
remanded the matter for readjudication. On remand, the claimant was assigned a 20% disability
rating for his condition, which he promptly appealed. In the meantime, his attorney was awarded
direct payment of 20% of the past-due benefits paid as a result of the initial disability rating assigned.
The regional office ultimately awarded a 40% disability rating, effective as of the date of the claim,
and withheld 20% of the additional past-due benefits for attorney fees, pending a Board decision on
the propriety of payment of those fees. The Board determined that the 40% disability rating was not
a continuation of the decision granting initial service connection, and therefore the attorney was not
entitled to charge fees for his services in connection with that claim. On appeal, this Court held that
where an attorney successfully represents a VA claimant before this Court and has
filed a qualifying attorney-client fee agreement which directs payment by the
Secretary from an award of past-due benefits awarded on the basis of the claim filed
with VA, the Secretary is obligated to pay directly to the attorney 20% of the past-due
benefits awarded on the basis of the claim or application for benefits underlying the
issues successfully appealed to this Court.
...
By regulation, the [attorney-]appellant was entitled to a payment of 20% of past-due
benefits based on the initial rating of the veteran's claim. The initial rating includes
the ultimate rating granted by VA after a remand by this Court and prior to the time
when a decision on the issue by VA or the [Board] becomes final.
In re Mason, 13 Vet.App. 79, 86 (1999) (second emphasis added). Although Mason is not directly
on point, given the procedural posture of this case (i.e., the Court's remand in this matter was
predicated not on administrative error but on intervening change in law), it is nevertheless
instructive. Mason held that the 20% contingent fee to be paid to the attorney is based on the
ultimate disability rating assigned, and therefore determined that the attorney's 20% fee was to be
paid out of the total past-due benefits paid based on the 40% disability rating assigned. That is, the
Court held that a successful claim for benefits, from initial claim to ultimate disability rating, results
in a pool of money from which an attorney may draw his fee. Id.; cf. Scates, 282 F.3d at 1365-66(holding that each attorney representing a claimant before VA is entitled to a share of the 20% of
past-due benefits awarded).
16
Because an appeal of the initial disability rating assigned does not result in a new claim for
benefits, we see no reason to deviate from the reasoning of Mason, and we now expressly hold that
"on the basis of the claim," within the meaning of section 5904, means a complete claim, from the
initial rating assigned to the resolution of any appeal taken regarding matters that affect the amount
of benefits awarded (i.e., disability rating and effective date). In this case, then, the pool of money
from which Mr. Lippman's fee may be drawn includes all past-due benefits paid based on the 100%
disability rating ultimately assigned by the Board in June 2007 for post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. Reasonableness and Excessiveness
Although the Court has determined that Mr. Lippman is entitled to fees for his work on Mr.
Swinger's claim, and that his fee may be based on the total past-due benefits paid as a result of the
ultimate disability rating assigned on appeal, this is not the end of the matter. Because Mr. Swinger
objected, based on his having discharged Mr. Lippman in 2002, to the payment of the supplemental
attorney fee based on the increased initial disability rating awarded by the regional office in
September 2005, VA was obligated to review the fee agreement and reduce the fee to be paid if it
was excessive or unreasonable. 38 U.S.C. § 5904(c)(3)(A). Both the regional office and the Board
reviewed the fee agreement, reaching different conclusions. However, because the Board relied on
the now invalid portion of § 14.636(h)(3)(i) to find that Mr. Lippman was not entitled to the
supplemental payment, the Court must vacate that portion of the Board's June 2007 decision and
remand the matter for readjudication applying the framework outlined in this decision. On remand,
in addition to the factors listed in § 14.636(e), the Board should consider the following in conducting
its quantum meruit analysis:
1. The amount and nature of work Mr. Lippman performed on Mr. Swinger's claim
for benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder prior to being discharged;
2. the fact that Mr. Lippman has already received $9,123.28 for work done on Mr.
Swinger's claim that led to the initial disability rating assigned in January 2005;14
3. the timing of Mr. Lippman's discharge;
14
Because Mr. Swinger does not object to the Board's award of $9,123.28 in fees to Mr. Lippman, the Court
will not disturb that portion of the Board's decision.
17
4. the fact that Mr. Lippman has conceded that he did no work on Mr. Swinger's
claim after discharge;
5. Mr. Lippman's statement in his supplemental memorandum that "the most difficult
and important issue" in Mr. Swinger's claim was corroborating Mr. Swinger's in-
service stressors to establish initial entitlement to service connection (Appellant's
Supp. Mem. at 5-6);
6. the amount and nature of work Mr. Swinger did on his own behalf, if any, after
discharging Mr. Lippman, and to what extent it was that work, rather than work
performed by Mr. Lippman prior to his discharge, that led to the ultimate disability
rating of 100% assigned by the Board in June 2007; and
7. any other factors the Board considers relevant to the particular facts of this case.
On remand, Mr. Lippman and Mr. Swinger are free to submit additional evidence and argument in
accordance with Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet.App. 369, 372-73 (1999) (per curiam order). See
Kay v. Principi, 16 Vet.App. 529, 534 (2002). The Court reminds the Board that "[a] remand is
meant to entail a critical examination of the justification for the decision." Fletcher v. Derwinski,
1 Vet.App. 394, 397 (1991). In addition, the Board shall proceed expeditiously, in accordance with
38 U.S.C. § 7112 (expedited treatment of remanded claims).
D. Final Matter
In a separate but related matter, the Court expresses its serious concern regarding Mr.
Lippman's failure to serve on Mr. Swinger–who was a party to the June 2007 Board decision on
appeal–a copy of the Notice of Appeal filed in this matter as required under Rule 3(b) of the Court's
Rules of Practice and Procedure. See U.S. VET . APP . R. 3(b) ("The appellant must serve a copy of
the Notice of Appeal on any party (other than the [Secretary]) to the proceedings before the
[Board]."). Mr. Lippman's failure to notify Mr. Swinger of the appeal comes perilously close to
running afoul of the Court's Rules of Admission and Practice. Mr. Lippman is a frequent practitioner
before this Court, and, as such, he is well aware that his conduct is generally governed by the Model
Rules of Professional Conduct. See U.S. VET . APP . R. ADM . & PRAC. R. 4(a); see also Barela v.
Peake, 22 Vet.App. 155, 159 (2008) (attorney appearing before this Court is expected to comply with
Model Rules of Professional Conduct). Those rules prohibit a practitioner from "knowingly
disobey[ing] an obligation under the rules of a tribunal." MODEL RULES OF PROF'L CONDUCT R.
18
3.4(c) (2008). Moreover, Mr. Lippman's dismissive response and nonchalant shoulder shrug at oral
argument when the Court inquired as to the reason for the failure to notify Mr. Swinger was
disrespectful to the Court. Mr. Lippman would do well to refamiliarize himself with the Court's
Rules, as well as with proper courtroom decorum.
IV. CONCLUSION
Upon consideration of the foregoing, that portion of the June 11, 2007, Board decision that
denied entitlement to attorney fees in the amount of $7,525.40 is VACATED and the matter is
REMANDED for readjudication consistent with this decision. The remainder of the Board decision
is AFFIRMED.
19