[NOT FOR PUBLICATION]



                            UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

                                 ____________________





        No. 96-2119 



                                ALVARO T. CASTANHEIRA,



                                Plaintiff, Appellant,



                                          v.



                       DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, ET AL.,



                                Defendants, Appellees.



                                 ____________________





                     APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT



                          FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS



                      [Hon. Patti B. Saris, U.S. District Judge]
                                            ___________________



                                 ____________________



                                        Before



                        Selya, Cyr and Boudin, Circuit Judges.
                                               ______________



                                 ____________________





            Alvaro T. Castanheira on brief pro se.
            _____________________

            Donald K. Stern,  United States  Attorney, and  Sara Miron  Bloom,
            _______________                                 _________________

        Assistant United  States Attorney,  on Motion for  Summary Disposition

        for appellees.





                                 ____________________



                                  February 12, 1997

                                 ____________________





































                 Per  Curiam.  We have reviewed the briefs of the parties
                 ___________



            and  the record  on appeal.   We  affirm essentially  for the



            reasons stated  in the district court's  memorandum and order



            of September 6, 1996.



                 Affirmed.
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