Court Opinion

ID: 816766
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-02-01 01:45:59.824632+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:14.074466
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

                                           N O . 97-786

                                P ATRICK F. D'A MICO , A PPELLANT ,

                                                V.

                                    ANTHONY J. PRINCIPI,
                          S ECRETARY OF V ETERANS A FFAIRS, A PPELLEE.

                     Before HOLDAWAY, IVERS, and GREENE, Judges.

                                           ORDER

        On April 7, 2000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit)
vacated this Court's March 23, 1999, opinion, which affirmed the Board of Veterans' Appeals'
(Board) February 27, 1997, decision that determined that Mr. D'Amico had not submitted new
and material evidence to reopen a previously disallowed claim for VA benefits, and remanded
the case. See 209 F.3d at 1327-28. In its decision, the Federal Circuit noted that on remand
the following questions would be before this Court:
       [W]hether it was proper for the Board to apply the new and material standard of
       section 5108 to [the appellant]'s 1992 application for service-connected disability
       benefits when the claim that was denied in 1979 sought only loan guarantee
       benefits; whether the 1979 decision ever became final; whether [the appellant] is
       entitled to some medical benefits under the 1979 decision; whether the Agency
       failed to comply with its duty to assist [the appellant] when it processed his claim
       for loan guarantee benefits; and whether the Agency failed to comply with its duty
       to assist [the appellant] when it processed his claim for disability benefits.
D'Amico v. West, 209 F.3d 1322, 1327 n.4 (2000). On remand, this Court instructed the parties
to submit additional briefing addressing the issues presented by the Federal Circuit, and how
those questions presented by the Federal Circuit affected the claims on appeal. The appellant
responded, arguing that a remand to the Board was required in order to determine whether or
not a claim was ever filed in 1977 or 1978, and if so, whether that claim was final if he never
received notice of the 1979 administrative hearing. Whether or not the appellant actually
applied for benefits at that time is uncertain from the record. While there is an administrative
decision which references both a request from a VA hospital for verification of service and
character of discharge, and a request from a VA loan guarantee department as to the appellant's
eligibility, there is no evidence that the appellant actually applied for either of these benefits.
This question is critical to the resolution of the appellant's claim and to a resolution of the
questions asked by the Federal Circuit, for if there was no previous claim filed, the Board could
not have made a determination under the new and material standard of 38 U.S.C. § 5108.
That standard of review presupposes a claim which is final. Whether a claim was filed and
finally decided requires a factual determination which this Court is barred from making. See
Hensley v. West, 212 F.3d 1255 (Fed. Cir. 2000). For this Court to infer that the appellant had
in fact made such applications, without any evidence clearly demonstrating such, is
impermissible. Id. Clearly a remand is appropriate under these circumstances.

        In addition, the Secretary correctly argues that a remand is also required under the
recently enacted Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-475, 114 Stat. 2096
(Nov. 9, 2000) (VCAA). The VCAA revised and amended 38 U.S.C. § 5107 to eliminate the
requirement that a claimant present a "well-grounded" claim, changed the definition of who
constituted a "claimant,"and amended § 5103 and added § 5103A to reaffirm and further
expound upon the Secretary's duties to inform and assist a claimant. These VCAA
amendments are retroactive and "potentially applicable to claims pending on the date of the
VCAA's enactment." Holliday v. Principi, __ Vet.App. __, No. 99-1788, slip op. at 9 (Feb. 22,
2001). On March 2, 2001, the Secretary finally submitted a response to this Court's June 28,
2000, briefing order, conceding that a remand was required under the VCAA and this Court's
holding in Karnas v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 308 (1991) (holding that where a statute or regulation
changes during the appellate process, the version more favorable to the claim shall apply unless
Congress provides otherwise or authorizes the Secretary to do so and he does so). Therefore,
in view of the fact that both parties' position is that a remand for readjudication is necessary,
albeit for different reasons, the Court will grant remand.

        On remand, the appellant is free to submit additional evidence and argument necessary
to the resolution of his claim. See Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet.App. 369 (1999) (per curiam
order). The Board shall proceed expeditiously. See Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act, Pub.
L. No. 103-446, § 302, 108 Stat. 4645, 4658 (1994) (found at 38 U.S.C. § 5101 note)
(requiring the Secretary to provide for "expeditious treatment" of claims remanded by the Board
or Court); Drosky v. Brown, 10 Vet.App. 251 (1997). If the circumstances warrant, the Board is
authorized and obligated to remand the claim to the VA regional office for further development.
See 38 C.F.R. § 19.9 (a) (2000) Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 90, (1990).

       Upon consideration of the foregoing, it is

    ORDERED that the Board's February 27, 1997, decision is VACATED, and the matter
REMANDED to the Board for readjudication.

DATED: April 16, 2001                                              PER CURIAM.

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