Authorities Cited: United States Code 38 U.S.C. § 101(3) 38 U.S.C. § 103(a) 38 U.S.C. § 103(c) 38 U.S.C. § 103(d)(3) 38 U.S.C. § 1304 38 U.S.C. § 5108 38 U.S.C. § 7104(c) 38 U.S.C. § 7292(a) Code of Federal Regulations 38 C.F.R. § 3.1(j) 38 C.F.R. § 3.205(c) 38 C.F.R. § 3.52 38 C.F.R. § 3.53(b) 38 C.F.R. § 3.54 Circuit Courts 284 F.3d 1335, 1351 327 F.3d 1357, 1361 357 F.3d 1370, 1375 391 F.3d 1203, 1209 476 F.3d 1379, 1382 477 F.3d 1368, 1371 490 F.3d 1352, 1358