Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit September 8, 2003, 03-7001 (Garry J. Augustine, Claimant-Appellant v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs)

LINN, Circuit Judge.

Garry J. Augustine (“Augustine”) appeals from the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“Veterans’ Court”) affirming a Board of Veterans’ Appeals (“Board”) determination that a 1972 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (“DVA”) relating to the award of special monthly compensation (“SMC”) did not contain clear and unmistakable