Citation Nr: 1646573	
Decision Date: 12/13/16    Archive Date: 12/21/16

DOCKET NO.  14-36 701	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Baltimore, Maryland 


THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.


REPRESENTATION

Veteran represented by:	Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. J. Tang, Associate Counsel







INTRODUCTION

The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from November 2006 to December 2009. 

This case is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2010 rating decision by a Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  

Records in the Virtual VA paperless claims processing system and Veterans Benefits Management System have been reviewed.

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).  VA will notify the appellant if further action is required.


REMAND

In a July 2016 statement, the Veteran requested a videoconference hearing at the Portland RO.  Thus, the case must be returned to the AOJ so that a videoconference hearing before the Board may be scheduled regarding the issue on appeal accordingly.  

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing before the Board at the Portland RO, per the Veteran's July 2016 request, for the issue on appeal.  Thereafter, process the appeal in accordance with established appellate procedure.

The appellant has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matter 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 2014).



_________________________________________________
K. J. Alibrando
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals

Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 2014), 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) (2015).