Citation Nr: 1320521	
Decision Date: 06/26/13    Archive Date: 07/05/13

DOCKET NO.  09-26 266	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville, Tennessee


THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

2.  Entitlement to service connection for high blood pressure.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

4.  Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

5.  Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure.


REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:	Karen Vessell, Agent



ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

D. Orfanoudis, Counsel


INTRODUCTION

The Veteran had active service from January 1970 to November 1970.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2008 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Regional Office (RO), in Nashville, Tennessee, that denied the above claims.

In addition to the paper claims file, there is a Virtual VA paperless claims file associated with the Veteran's claim which has been reviewed in conjunction with adjudicating this claim.

The appeal is REMANDED to the RO.  VA will notify the appellant if further action is required.


REMAND

In correspondence received in June 2013, the Veteran's representative indicated that he wished to be scheduled for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board either by video conference or at a local VA office (Travel Board hearing).  As the Veteran has a right to such a hearing, a remand is warranted so that he may be afforded the requested Board hearing.  See 38 C.F.R. § 20.700(a) (2012).

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

The RO shall schedule the Veteran for hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board either by video conference or at a local VA office.
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).



_________________________________________________
J.A. MARKEY
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).