Citation Nr: 0812594 Decision Date: 04/16/08 Archive Date: 05/01/08 DOCKET NO. 05-39 447 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Los Angeles, California THE ISSUE Whether new and material evidence has been obtained to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis. REPRESENTATION Veteran represented by: California Department of Veterans Affairs WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL The veteran and a friend ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Helena M. Walker, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran served on active duty from June 1972 to June 1976. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2004 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in San Diego, California, which declined to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis. 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 As reflected in a communication received by VA in April 2008, the veteran requested a Travel Board hearing at the Regional Office. Of note, the veteran initially requested a Central Office hearing, but then advised he would be unable to attend. Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action: Pursuant to his request, schedule the veteran for a Travel Board hearing. Notice should be sent to the veteran and his representative, as required. The purpose of this REMAND is to cure procedural defects and the Board does not intimate any opinion as to the merits of the case, either favorable or unfavorable, at this time. The veteran is free to submit any additional evidence and/or argument he desires to have considered in connection with his current appeal. No action is required of the veteran until he is notified. 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). _________________________________________________ James L. March 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).