Citation Nr: 1318929	
Decision Date: 06/11/13    Archive Date: 06/21/13

DOCKET NO.  11-25 539	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Columbia, South Carolina


THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 


REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:	Rebecca C. Patrick, Attorney


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Rutkin, Joshua M.






INTRODUCTION

The Veteran served on active duty from August 1965 to November 1966. 

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2010 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Columbia, South Carolina. 

The appeal is REMANDED to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.  VA will notify the appellant if further action is required.


REMAND

In letters dated in July 2012 and April 2013, the Veteran, through his representative, requested to testify at a videoconference hearing before the Board.  

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following actions:

1. The Veteran should be scheduled for a videoconference hearing before the Board, and provided proper and timely notice of the hearing date.  

2.  After the hearing is conducted, or if the Veteran withdraws his hearing request or fails to report for the scheduled hearing, the case should be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran 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. 2012).



_________________________________________________
P.M. DILORENZO 
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) (2012).