Oceanside

A U.S. district judge this week dismissed the case of an Oceanside man who is suing the Veterans Administration for more disability pay, citing a federal statute prohibiting courts from reviewing VA decisions granting such benefits.

Judge Judith N. Keep said Monday that the courts have no jurisdiction in the case of the Rev. Clyde Shideler, 53, a 16-year veteran of the Air Force. Shideler, who says he is blind and suffers from seizures and other maladies, claims he is 100% disabled and entitled to $1,465 a month, the full amount provided under VA disability retirement.

The VA, however, says Shideler is only 30% disabled and therefore ineligible for the pension.

Limited by a Civil War-era federal law that prohibits an attorney from accepting more than $10 to represent a veteran in a case against the VA, Shideler has been unable to recruit an attorney to back him. But he and his wife, Loretta, who is representing Shideler in the case, said they will appeal the decision within 10 days.