Case Name: Taniela F. KIVALU, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David J. SHULKIN, Secretary, Veterans Administration; et al., Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-10-30
Citations: 700 F. App'x 694
Docket Number: No. 16-17359
Parties: Taniela F. KIVALU, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David J. SHULKIN, Secretary, Veterans Administration; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before: LEAVY, WATFORD, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges,
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 700
Pages: 694–695

Head Matter:
Taniela F. KIVALU, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David J. SHULKIN, Secretary, Veterans Administration; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 16-17359
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted October 23, 2017
Filed October 30, 2017
Taniela F. Kivalu, Pro Se
Before: LEAVY, WATFORD, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges,
David J. Shulkin has been substituted for his predecessor, Eric Shinseki, as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R, App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Taniela F. Kivalu appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his claims related to the Veterans Administration's denial of his benefits. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Scholastic Entm't, Inc. v. Fox Entm't Grp., Inc., 336 F.3d 982, 985 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.
The district court properly dismissed Ki-valu's action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the United States Courts of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Federal Circuit have exclusive jurisdiction over questions that relate to benefits administered by the Veterans Administration. See Veterans for Common Sense v. Shinseki, 678 F.3d 1013, 1022-25 (9th Cir. 2012) (the Veterans' Judicial Review Act precludes district court jurisdiction over claims relating to or affecting veterans' benefits decisions). However, we vacate the judgment to the extent that it dismissed Kivalu's action with prejudice, and remand for entry of dismissal without prejudice. See Missouri ex rel. Koster v. Harris, 847 F.3d 646, 656 (9th Cir. 2017) ("In general, dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is without prejudice.").
We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
We treat Kivalu's contention regarding the denial of his motion for official transcripts as a motion for reconsideration, and deny the motion.
AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.