Citation Nr: 1319108	
Decision Date: 06/12/13    Archive Date: 06/21/13

DOCKET NO.  13-09 746	)	DATE
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On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines


THE ISSUE

Entitlement to a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund.


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

D. Orfanoudis, Counsel









INTRODUCTION

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2009 decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Regional Office (RO), in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines.

In addition to the paper claims file, there is a Virtual VA paperless claims file associated with the appellant claim.  A review of the documents in such file reveals that they are either duplicative of the evidence in the paper claims file or are irrelevant to the issue on appeal.

This appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c) (2012).  38 U.S.C.A. § 7107(a)(2) (West 2002).

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 his March 2013 Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals (VA Form 9), the appellant indicated that he wished to be scheduled for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board at the RO.  As of this date, while the appellant has a right to the requested hearing, he has not been provided with such hearing.  38 C.F.R. § 20.700(a) (2012).  As such, a remand is warranted so that he may be afforded the requested Travel Board hearing. 

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

(Please note, this appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c) (2012).  Expedited handling is requested.)

Schedule the appellant for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

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. 2012).



_________________________________________________
THOMAS J. DANNAHER
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).