Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00648/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00648-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Department of Veteran Administration Affair
Defendant
John Ray Gholar
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN RAY GHOLAR,

Plaintiff,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN 

ADMINISTRATION AFFAIR, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:16-cv-648 LJO-BAM

ORDER RE REQUEST THAT THIS COURT 

ORDER THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 

APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS TO 

ANSWER PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM 

(Doc 7)

On June 2, 2016, Plaintiff John Gholar filed a complaint challenging the Department of 

Veteran Affairs’ management of his veteran disability benefits. On July 26, 2016, this court 

adopted in full the Findings and Recommendations (“F&Rs”) of the assigned magistrate judge, 

and Plaintiff’s Complaint was dismissed without prejudice and without leave to amend for lack of 

subject matter jurisdiction. (Docs. 4 & 5.) Judgment was entered and the case was closed. (Doc. 

6.) 

On December 14, 2016, Plaintiff filed a request for an Order directing the United States 

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to answer Plaintiff’s claim(s). (Doc. 7.) Plaintiff indicates 

that this Court instructed Plaintiff to “first file in the United States Court of Appeals for Veteran 

Claims.” (Id. at 1.) Plaintiff claims to have filed a document with that court on September 6, 

2016, and followed up with a letter on October 2, 2016. (Id. at 2.) Having received no response, 

Plaintiff now asks this Court to “ask the Veteran Claim Court to answer plaintiff[’s] 42 U.S.C. 

1983 or please take the claim.” Id. 

Case 1:16-cv-00648-LJO-BAM Document 8 Filed 12/30/16 Page 1 of 2
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As indicated in the F&Rs, even if this case were not already closed, this Court has no 

authority to review or otherwise take action related to Plaintiff’s underlying dispute with the 

Department of Veterans Affairs:

Plaintiff’s claims arise under the laws administered by the 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 38 U.S.C. 301, et seq. The 

Veterans’ Judicial Review Act of 1988 provides the exclusive 

means for appealing benefit decisions made by the Department of 

Veterans Affairs. The claimantmust first appeal to the Board of 

Veterans’ Appeals. 38 U.S.C. § 7104(a). An adverse decision by 

the Board may be appealed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims. 38 U.S.C. § 7252(a) (“The Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims shall have exclusive jurisdiction to review decisions of the 

Board of Veterans’ Appeals.”). In the limited circumstances 

specified by statute, the claimant may seek review by the United 

States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 38 U.S.C. § 7292. 

Federal district courts are not included in the congressional scheme 

for judicial review of veterans’ benefit determinations.

(F&Rs, Doc. 4, at 3.) 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 30, 2016 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ 

UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-00648-LJO-BAM Document 8 Filed 12/30/16 Page 2 of 2