Citation Nr: 1319115	
Decision Date: 06/12/13    Archive Date: 06/21/13

DOCKET NO.  13-01 148	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Reno, Nevada


THE ISSUE

Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.  


REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:	Disabled American Veterans


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. Davitian, Counsel


INTRODUCTION

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1946 to May 1948.

This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2012 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Reno, Nevada, which denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. 

Please note 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 correspondence received in April 2013, the appellant related that he wanted to appear before the Board and give testimony concerning his appeal.  May 2013 correspondence from the Veteran's representative clarified that the Veteran wants to testify at a video conference hearing at the Las Vegas RO.  

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 Veteran for a videoconference hearing before a VLJ.  Notify the Veteran in writing of the date, time and location of the hearing.  After the hearing is conducted, or if the appellant withdraws the hearing request, or if he fails to report for the scheduled hearing without good cause, the claims file should be returned to the Board, in accordance with appellate procedures.

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).



_________________________________________________
MILO H. HAWLEY
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).