Source: https://veteranclaims.net/2009/03/21/fedcir-roberson-v-principi-no-00-7009-cue-duty-to-assist-is-separate-from-mandate-to-develop-claim/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:23:40+00:00

Document:
Division, Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, argued for respondent-appellee.
occupationâ€ for entitlement to TDIU does not require proving 100 percent unemployability.
Because the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims erred in holding that Roberson failed to make a claim for TDIU, and erred in applying an incorrect standard for TDIU, we reverse and remand.
spondylolysis and high frequency hearing impairment.
worked in almost a year. He also included a statement from his wife describing his behavior and his inability to remain employed. One year later, in 1983, Roberson was admitted to a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital to receive treatment to get his life together again.
between 1972 and 1978, lasting for periods ranging from two weeks to seven months.
November 30, 1982, and his ten percent disability rating for scars was reduced to zero.
100 percent disability rating to be effective as of September 1982.
Board hearing including evidence of receipt of Social Security benefits.
except where specifically prescribed by the schedule.
decision to reasonably conclude that the veteran was not 100% unemployable.â€ Roberson v.
West, No. 97-1971, slip op. at 6.
eligible for TDIU because he was capable of maintaining substantially gainful employment.
provisions, to the extent presented and necessary to a decision.â€ 38 U.S.C. Â§ 7292(c) (1994).
determinations or the application of law to a particular set of facts. Id.Â§ 7292(d)(2).
claim must identify the benefit sought.
38 C.F.R. Â§ 3.155(a) (1994) (emphasis added).
to its optimum before decision on its merits.â€™â€ Norris, 12 Vet. App. at 420 (citing Hodge v.
West, 155 F.3d 1356, 1362-63 (Fed. Cir. 1998)). Although Norris does not bind this court as precedent, it is both on-point and informative.
such a position â€œloses sight of VAâ€™s congressional mandate that VA is to â€˜fully and sympathetically develop the veteransâ€™ claim to its optimum before deciding it on its merits.â€™â€ Id. at 420 (citing Hodge v. West, 155 F.3d 1356, 1362-63 (Fed. Cir. 1998)). In addition, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims stated that developing a claim â€œto its optimumâ€ must include determining all potential claims raised by the evidence and applying all relevant law and regulation raised by that evidence regardless of how the claim is identified. Id.
distinction. In Norris, it was the subsequent informal claims that were found to raise TDIU. Id.
there is evidence of current service-connected unemployability . . .
at the time the [DVA] issues written notification of the decision.” 38 C.F.R. Â§ 3104(a) (1994).
finally decided by the RO.
breached the duty to assist. As we held in Hayre v. West, 188 F.3d 1327, 1332-33 (Fed. Cir.
Am. Veterans v. Gober, 234 F.3d 682, 697 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (citing Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet.
DVA is thus required to consider a CUE claim using the standard of Hodge.
of evidence regarding his unemployability. We disagree.
benefit soughtâ€ requirement of 38 C.F.R. Â§ 3.155(a) is met and the VA must consider TDIU.
a claim for TDIU before the RO at the time of its 1984 decision.
reasonably conclude that the veteran was not 100% unemployable.â€ Roberson v. West, No.
substantially gainful occupation.â€ We agree.

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