Opinion

Heerdt v. Derwinski

  • 1 Vet. App. 551
  • 1991 U.S. Vet. App. LEXIS 118
  • 1991 WL 230463
Court
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Filed
Nov 12, 1991
Status
Published
Author
Mankin
On the bench
Mankin
Cited by
2 cases
Authority
More cited than 84.8%

The opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

MANKIN, Associate Judge:

Appellant seeks review of a July 31, 1990, Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) decision which discontinued appellant’s total rating based on individual unemployability for a service-connected back condition and for service-connected hypertension. The Court has jurisdiction of the case pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 7252 (a) (formerly § 4052(a)).

Both parties agree that the Regional Office (RO) failed to take into account 38 C.F.R. § 3.343 (a), (c) and 3.344(a) (1991) in rendering its decision. Appellant further contends that the failure by the RO to take into account the aforementioned regulations renders its decision, as well as the Board’s decision, void ab initio as not in accordance with the law, thus requiring retroactive reinstatement of appellant’s 100 percent rating to June 1, 1989. Upon consideration of the Secretary’s motion for remand based on various grounds, the appellant’s opposition to that motion, and the appellant’s brief addressing this issue, the Court agrees with the appellant. Summary reversal is appropriate. See Swan v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 386 (1991); 38 U.S.C. § 7261 (a)(3)(D) (formerly § 4061); 38 C.F.R. § 3.105 (a) (1990).

Therefore, the Secretary’s motion for remand is GRANTED on a different basis *552 than those asserted. The March 10, 1989, rating decision of the Regional Office and the July 31,1990, decision by the Board are REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED with instructions that the appellant’s former disability rating of 100 percent and the corresponding benefits for his back and hypertension shall be retroactively reinstated to June 1,1989, the effective date of the unlawful reduction.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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