Court Opinion

ID: 4287415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-22 17:01:55.681115+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:15.725394
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

                                                   NO. 17-0697

                                           JOE L. ROWE, APPELLANT,

                                                         V.

                                        PETER O'ROURKE,
                         ACTING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, APPELLEE.

                 Before DAVIS, Chief Judge, and SCHOELEN and ALLEN, Judges.

                                                   ORDER

        On March 9, 2017, appellant Joe L. Rowe appealed a December 6, 2016, Board of Veterans'
Appeals decision that denied entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, as well as
an extraschedular rating greater than 10% for service-connected lumbar strain.1 The appeal was
submitted to a panel of the Court for decision on February 20, 2018. On May 23, 2018, the panel
issued an order directing the parties to submit supplemental briefing addressing the issue of
entitlement to a higher extraschedular rating for lumbar strain. Thereafter, on June 4, 2018, the
parties filed a joint motion for partial remand (JMPR).

        In the JMPR, the parties seek to vacate the portions of the Board's decision that denied
entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and an extraschedular rating greater than
10% for lumbar strain. Regarding erectile dysfunction, they now "agree that the Board and
examiners did not adequately account for evidence that demonstrates that [a]ppellant has taken
medication (Oxycodone/Percocet) for his service-connected low back strain, which may
potentially have an effect on [erectile dysfunction]." JMPR at 4. With regard to a higher
extraschedular rating for lumbar spine strain, the parties also now agree that "the Board did not
ensure that the duty to assist was met," as a June 2015 VA examination "did not adequately address
[a]ppellant's flare-ups." JMPR at 6. The parties contend that remand is warranted for VA to obtain
new medical opinions addressing the above issues.

       Finally, as part of their JMPR, the parties have affirmatively waived any right to appeal
this matter. JMPR at 8. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Court's Rules of Practice and
Procedure, this order will serve as the mandate of the Court, and any application pursuant to the
Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d), for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses
must be submitted no later than 30 days from the date of this order. Cf. Bly v. Shulkin, 883 F.3d
1374 (Fed. Cir. 2018).

         1
            The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric
disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, service connection for a disability manifested by memory loss,
separate compensable rating for any neurologic abnormalities associated with his lumbar spine disability, and a total
disability rating based on individual unemployability. These non-final issues are not before the Court. See Breeden v.
Principi, 17 Vet.App. 475, 478 (2004) (per curiam order).
      Upon consideration of the foregoing, it is

       ORDERED that the Court's May 23, 2018, order directing supplemental briefing is
revoked. It is further

      ORDERED that the parties' JMPR is granted. Pursuant to Rule 41(b), this order is the
mandate of the Court.

DATED: June 21, 2018                                          PER CURIAM.

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