Opinion
2013-7147
12-20-2013
NATHANIEL JAMES, Claimant-Appellant, v. ERIC K. SHINSEKI, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Respondent-Appellee.
NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.
Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 12-1574, Judge Alan G. Lance, Sr.
ON MOTION
Before MOORE, LINN and O'MALLEY, Circuit Judges.
LINN, Circuit Judge.
ORDER
Nathaniel James appeals from a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ("Veterans Court") denying his entitlement to an increased disability rating. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs ("Secretary") moves without opposition to remand the case for additional proceedings consistent with Nat'l Org. of Veterans' Advocates, Inc. v. Sec'y of Veterans Affairs, 725 F.3d 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2013) ("NOVA").
In NOVA, this court approved a remedial plan offered by the Secretary to correct the application of an invalid rule eliminating veterans' procedural due process and appellate rights provided under 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(c)(2). As part of that plan, the Secretary agreed to identify and offer to remand cases affected by the invalid rule, such as the instant appeal, for purposes of providing claimants with a new hearing and an opportunity to submit new evidence followed by a new decision. In accordance with NOVA, this court grants the Secretary's unopposed motion for remand. Upon remand from this court and then from the Veterans Court to the Board of Veterans' Appeals ("Board"), the Secretary will provide James with the requisite notice and available remedies provided in the approved remedial plan.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
(1) The motion is granted. The case is remanded to the Veterans Court with direction to remand the case to the Board for additional proceedings consistent with NOVA and this order.
(2) Each side shall bear its own costs.
FOR THE COURT
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Daniel E. O'Toole
Clerk of Court
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