Citation Nr: 0812041	
Decision Date: 04/11/08    Archive Date: 04/23/08

DOCKET NO.  04-39 353	)	DATE
	)
	)

Received from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-
Salem, North Carolina


THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for depression.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot 
disorder.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle 
disorder.

4.  Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

5.  Whether new and material evidence has been received to 
reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a 
right shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to the 
service-connected left knee disability.


REPRESENTATION

Veteran represented by:	California Department of 
Veterans Affairs


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. W. Kim, Associate Counsel


INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from August 1983 to May 
1987.

This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) 
on appeal of July 2004 and July 2005 rating decisions by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in 
Oakland, California.  Jurisdiction over the case was later 
transferred to the RO in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The appeal is REMANDED to the agency of original jurisdiction 
(AOJ) via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, 
DC.  VA will notify you if further action is required on your 
part.


REMAND

During the course of appeal, the veteran requested a 
videoconference Board hearing and a Board hearing in 
Washington, DC.  After clarification, the record shows that 
the veteran desires a Board hearing at the RO.  

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the veteran for a Board hearing 
at the RO.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in 
order.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate 
outcome of this case.  The veteran need take no action unless 
otherwise notified.

The veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and 
argument on the 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).



_________________________________________________
CHERYL L. MASON
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).