Citation Nr: 0810841 Decision Date: 04/02/08 Archive Date: 04/14/08 DOCKET NO. 06-01 222 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville, Tennessee THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to service connection for bronchitis. 2. Entitlement to service connection for psychogenic weakness and dysthymia, claimed as a mental condition. 3. Entitlement to service connection for a rash on the hands and chest. 4. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinea pedis. 5. Entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches. 6. Entitlement to service connection for generalized arthritis, to include the left knee, hands, and neck. 7. Evaluation of degenerative joint disease of the right knee, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: The American Legion WITNESSES AT HEARINGS ON APPEAL Appellant and his wife ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J. Barone, Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran had active service from August 1975 to August 1979. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from rating decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Nashville, Tennessee. The veteran testified before a Decision Review Officer (DRO) at the RO in September 2006. He also testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at the RO in December 2007. Transcripts of both hearings have been associated with the record. The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC. VA will notify the appellant if further action is required. REMAND In February 2008, the Board received from the veteran a July 2007 Social Security Administration (SSA) Notice of Decision, in which the veteran was granted SSA disability benefits. As records supportive of the veteran's claims might be in the possession of the SSA, the AOJ should obtain any records pertaining to the veteran's receipt of SSA disability benefits, to include the medical records upon which the SSA's disability determination was made. The veteran is notified that if he has any evidence pertaining to his claims which was not previously submitted to VA, he should submit such evidence. In light of these circumstances, the Board has concluded that further development is required. Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action: The AOJ should obtain a copy of the SSA's decision awarding the veteran disability benefits and copies of the records on which SSA based the initial award of benefits. Any subsequent disability determinations, as well as the records upon which those determinations were made, should also be requested. If upon completion of the above action the claim remains denied, the case should be returned to the Board for further appellate review. The appellant has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matter or matters the Board has remanded. Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999). This claim must be afforded expeditious treatment. The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner. See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West Supp. 2007). _________________________________________________ H. N. SCHWARTZ Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 2002), only a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. This remand is in the nature of a preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board on the merits of your appeal. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (2007).