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   Š E ‹  Œ E   Ž Ê  E  Ê ‘ Ê ’  “ D ÍKn)§˜ü(d d d d d d 3| x    “   
      Ñ    Ñ  H                       6 T i m e s   N e w   R o m a n   R e g u l a r           
   1   Ø      ØÑ# €     Xÿÿ         d  # Ñ  È¿       Àt“)×                  ÿU‹ÿ  ÀÀÀÝ
 ƒ   ! ÝÝ    ÝÔ_        ÔØ       ØÓ     ÓÓ<  ( °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð °   œX< ÓòòÑ8 €  ] X  X       dð                  dÈ  8 ÑÑ €  uX  ÑÑ €  P¸  ÑÑ     ÑÓ= €        XÐ   X       d     Ð            d= ÓUNITED€STATES€COURT€OF€APPEALS€FOR€VETERANS€CLAIMSÐ   	 °      ÐÓ    ÓÌÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àóóòòNoóó.€98-2095Ð   	 tÄ   ÐÓ    ÓÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòJerry€L.€Woods,€Appellantóó,Ð   	 L	œ   ÐÓ    ÓÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòv.Ð   	 $t   ÐÓ    ÓÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àHershel€W.€Gober,Ìà @    . .    àActing€Secretary€of€Veterans€Affairs,€Appellee.ÌÓ    ÓÌÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àóóOn€Appeal€from€the€Board€of€Veterans'€AppealsÐ   	 ¬ü   Ðà @    . .    àÌÓ    ÓÌÓ    Ó(Decided€€€€ñ’ñDecember€15,€Ô_        Ô2000ñ’ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        ÔÔ_        Ôñ “ñ€ñ“ñÔ_        Ô€€)ÌÓ    ÓÌÌÌà     àòòKeith€D.€Snyderóó,€of€Ô_        ÔOlneyÔ_        Ô,€Maryland,€was€on€the€pleadings€for€the€appellant.Ð   	  p   Ðà     àÌà     àòòLeigh€A.€Bradleyóó,€General€Counsel;€òòRon€Ô_        ÔGarvinÔ_        Ôóó,€Assistant€General€Counsel;€and€òòMary€AnnÐ   	 øH   ÐFlynnóó,€Deputy€Assistant€General€Counsel,€all€of€Washington,€D.C.,òò€óówere€on€the€pleadings€for€theÐ   	 ä4   Ðappellee.ÌÌà     àBefore€KRAMER,€IVERS,€and€STEINBERG,€òòJudgesóó.Ð   	 ¨ø   ÐÌà     àSTEINBERG,€òòJudgeóó,€filed€the€opinion€of€the€Court.€€IVERS,€òòJudgeóó,€filed€an€opinionÐ   	 €Ð   Ðconcurring€in€part€and€dissenting€in€part.ÌÌà     àÓ    €     ÓSTEINBERG,€òòJudgeóó:€The€appellant,€Vietnam€veteran€Jerry€L.€Woods,€appeals,€throughÐ   	 D!”   Ðcounsel,€a€July21,€1998,€decision€of€the€Board€of€Veterans'€Appeals€(BVA€or€Board)€that€determinedÏthat€an€effective€date€earlier€than€August10,€1989,€for€an€award€of€Department€of€Veterans€AffairsÏ(VA)€service€connection€for€post-traumatic€stress€disorder€(PTSD)€was€not€warranted€and€that€deniedÏa€claim€of€clear€and€unmistakable€error€(CUE)€in€a€February€1985€VA€regional€office€(RO)€decisionÏthat€had€denied€service€connection€for€PTSD.€€Record€(R.)at€4,€14.€€The€appellant€has€filed€a€briefÏand€a€reply€brief€and€the€Secretary€has€filed€a€brief.€€The€appellant€appeals€only€the€question€of€anÏearlier€effective€date€for€the€award€of€service€connection€for€PTSD.€€Brief€(Br.)€at€1.€€This€appeal€isÏâ
    
 âtimely,€and€the€Court€has€jurisdiction€pursuant€to€38U.S.C.€ðððð7252(a)€and€7266(a).€€For€the€reasonsÐ   	 T,¤'/   ÐÑ   uX  Ñâ
       âØ       ØÑ8 €  ] X X       dð  X  X       dð  8 Ñâ
       âÑ
   
 ÑÔ_       Ôthat€follow,€the€Court€will€vacate€in€part€the€BVA€decision€and€remand€the€earlier„effective-date€matter.Ð   	 °      Ðâ
    
 âÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòI.€Relevant€BackgroundÐ   	 »   ÐÓ    Óà     àóóThe€veteran€served€in€the€U.S.€Army€from€January€1966€to€October€1968,€with€service€inÐ   	 
d   ÐVietnam.€€R.€at€18.€€In€December€1984,€he€applied€for€service€connection€for,€inter€alia,€PTSD.€€R.atÏ75-78.€€On€his€application,€he€listed€his€address€as€the€VA€Medical€Center€(VAMC),€Unit€8,ÏSheridan,€Wyoming,€82801.€€R.€at€77.€€He€also€listed€his€ex-wife€as€having€custody€of€his€childrenÏand€gave€her€address€and€included€his€sister€as€his€nearest€living€relative,€showing€her€address€as€Ï"Havre,€Mont."€€òòIdóó.€€On€two€statements€that€the€veteran€sent€to€the€VARO€in€early€February,€theÐ   	 Ñ!   Ðveteran€used€the€same€Sheridan€VAMC€address.€€R.€at€90,€93.€€In€January€1985,€the€RO€requestedÏfrom€the€Sheridan€VAMC€examination€and€treatment€reports€regarding,€inter€alia,€the€veteran'sÏPTSD€claim.€€R.€at€87.€€The€record€on€appeal€(ROA)€contains€a€copy€of€one€clinical€record,€receivedÏat€the€RO€on€January25,€1985,€that€provided,€apparently,€a€narrative€summary€of€the€veteran'sÏhospitalization,€but€that€VAMC€report€copy€does€not€clearly€indicate€the€veteran's€name€or€address.€ÏR.€at€83-84.Ìà     àOn€February6,€1985,€the€Sheridan€VAMC€notified€the€RO€that€the€veteran€had€been€releasedÏfrom€that€facility€for€"outpatient€treatment".€€R.€at€98.€€There€is€no€indication€in€the€ROA€that€theÏveteran€provided€the€RO€with€a€change€of€address€at€that€time.€€Before€he€was€discharged,€theÏveteran€reported€to€a€VA€physician€that€he€had€been€accepted€in€a€30-day€program€in€Fort€Harrison,ÏMontana,€apparently€at€the€VAMC€there,€provided€that€he€could€arrive€by€February€7,€1985.€€R.€atÏ127,€464.€€On€February11,€1985,€the€RO€denied€his€PTSD€claim€and€mailed€notice€of€that€decisionÏto€the€veteran€at€the€Sheridan€VAMC€address.€€R.€at€104.€€The€Sheridan€VAMC€apparentlyÏforwarded€that€notice€to€the€Fort€Harrison€VAMC,€but€that€notice€was€ultimately€returned€to€the€ROÏas€undeliverable.€€R.€at€105-06.€€There€is€no€evidence€in€the€ROA€that€the€veteran€participated€at€thatÏtime€in€any€program€at€the€Fort€Harrison€VAMC,€but€it€does€appear€that€he€voluntarily€checkedÏhimself€into€the€Montana€State€Hospital€on€February€15,€1985,€and€was€discharged€on€March14,Ï1985€(R.at€263-66).Ìà     àIn€August€1989,€the€veteran€filed€a€claim€to€reopen€his€previously€and€finally€disallowedÏPTSD€claim.€€R.€at€108.€€In€October€1989,€the€RO€again€requested€from€the€Sheridan€VAMCÐ   	 Å+':   Ðhospital€reports€for€the€veteran€for€the€period€of€December€1985€to€February€1986.€€R.€at€116,€133.€ÏIn€December€1989,€the€RO€received€copies€of€two€reports€from€the€Sheridan€VAMC€(R.at€127-31),Ïincluding€a€copy€of€the€clinical€record€that€the€RO€had€previously€received€from€that€VAMC€inÏJanuary€1985€(R.€at€129-30).€€That€December€1989€copy€of€the€January€1985€VAMC€clinical€recordÏincluded€at€the€bottom€the€veteran's€name€and€a€Havre,€Montana,€address€as€follows:€"WOODS,ÏJERRY€L.[,]€451€5th€St,€N[,]€Havre,€MT€€59501"€(Havre,€Montana,€address).€€R.€at€127.Ìà     àIn€January€1990,€the€RO€denied€the€veteran's€PTSD€claim€(R.€at€137),€but€in€September€1990Ïthe€RO€granted€the€PTSD€claim€and€assigned€a€50%€rating,€effective€August10,€1989,€the€date€thatÏthe€veteran€had€filed€his€claim€to€reopen€(R.€at€202-03).€€He€filed€a€Notice€of€Disagreement€(NOD)Ïas€to€the€September€1990€RO€decision.€€R.€at€208.€€In€September€1991,€the€RO€confirmed€the€50%Ïrating€for€PTSD.€€R.€at€296.€€In€October€1991,€he€submitted€a€letter€from€the€Social€SecurityÏAdministration€(SSA)€that€indicated€that€he€had€qualified€for€disability€benefits€as€of€October€1987.€ÏR.€at€342-45.€€In€a€December€1992€decision,€the€Board€denied€a€rating€above€50%€for€PTSD.€€R.€atÏ367-76.€€In€that€decision,€the€Board€noted€that,€although€it€appeared€that€the€veteran€had€neverÏreceived€notice€of€the€February€1985€RO€decision,€he€had€not,€before€that€decision,€provided€VAÏwith€an€updated€address€nor€had€he€contacted€VA€concerning€disability€benefits€for€several€yearsÏafter€that€1985€RO€decision.€€R.€at€374.€€The€veteran€appealed€that€BVA€decision€to€this€Court,€andÏthe€Court€in€March€1995€issued€an€order€remanding€the€claim€pursuant€to€the€parties'€joint€motionÏfor€remand,€which€required€the€Board€to€"obtain€all€pertinent€service,€VA,€and€private€medicalÏrecords,€including€Social€Security€records",€in€order€to€determine€if€the€veteran€satisfied€theÏrequirements€for€a€70%€or€100%€rating.€€R.€at€378,€379-85.€€In€June€1995,€the€Board€remanded€theÏclaim€with€instructions€that€the€RO€"contact€the€[SSA]€and€request€copies€of€a€decision€and€allÏrecords,€including€medical€records,€regarding€their€determination€of€the€veteran's€employability€forÏSocial€Security€disability€purposes".€€R.€at€389.€€There€is€no€evidence€in€the€ROA€that€the€RO€madeÏsuch€a€request.Ìà     àIn€a€March€1997€administrative€decision,€the€RO€determined€that€it€had€fulfilled€its€duty€toÏnotify€the€veteran€of€the€1985€RO€decision€by€sending€a€copy€of€that€decision€to€the€veteran's€lastÏknown€address,€the€Sheridan€VAMC.€€R.€at€498-99.€€Also€in€March€1997,€the€RO€granted€the€veteranÏa€70%€rating€for€PTSD€and€a€rating€of€total€disability€due€to€individual€unemployability,€bothÏeffective€August10,€1989.€€R.at€501.€€The€RO€found€no€error€in€its€1985€mailing€because€it€hadÐ   	 Å+':   Ðbeen€sent€to€the€address€provided€by€the€veteran€and€he€had€not€informed€VA€of€any€other€address.€ÏR.€at€503.€€The€veteran€filed€an€NOD€as€to€the€effective€date,€arguing€that€the€RO€should€have€usedÏthe€information€on€his€December€1984€application€to€locate€him€after€he€was€discharged€from€theÏSheridan€VAMC.€€R.€at€496,€536-37.Ìà     àIn€the€July€1998€BVA€decision€here€on€appeal,€the€Board€determined,€inter€alia,€that€theÏveteran€was€not€entitled€to€an€earlier€effective€date€for€the€award€of€service€connection€for€PTSDÏbecause€it€found€that€the€1985€RO€decision€was€final€in€that€the€RO€had€mailed€notice€of€thatÏdecision€to€the€veteran's€"last€known€address"€as€it€was€required€to€do€by€VA€regulation.€€R.€at6.ÌÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòII.€AnalysisÐ   	 Ñ!   ÐÓ    Óà     àóóThe€determination€of€the€effective€date€for€an€original€claim€is€governed€by€38U.S.C.Ð   	 *z   Ððð5110(a),€which€provides:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   ÓÓ?  + ° °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° ‹X? ÓÓ       €  ÓUnless€specifically€provided€otherwise€in€this€chapter,€the€effective€date€of€an€awardÏbased€on€an€original€claim,€a€claim€reopened€after€final€adjudication,€or€a€claim€forÏincrease,€of€compensation,€dependency€and€indemnity€compensation,€or€pension,Ïshall€be€fixed€in€accordance€with€the€facts€found,€but€shall€not€be€earlier€than€the€dateÏof€receipt€of€application€therefor.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38U.S.C.€ðð5110(a).€€The€implementing€regulation€for€original€claims€provides€that€the€effectiveÏdate€shall€be€the€date€of€receipt€of€the€claim€or€the€date€entitlement€arose,€whichever€is€later,€unlessÏthe€claim€is€received€within€one€year€after€separation€from€service.€€38C.F.R.€ðð3.400(b)(2)€(1999);Ð   	 òB"   Ðòòsee€alsoóó€òòTucker€v.Westóó,€11Vet.App.€369,€372€(1998)€(concerning€effective€date€of€original€claimÐ   	 K›$   Ðfor€service€connection);€òòDinsay€v.Brownóó,€9Vet.App.€79,€87€(1996).€€The€regulation€for€claims€toÐ   	 ¤ô&   Ðreopen€provides€that€the€effective€date€is€the€"[d]ate€of€the€receipt€of€claim€or€[the]€date€entitlementÏarose,€whichever€is€later".€€38C.F.R.€ðð3.400(r)€(1999);€òòsee€also€Link€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€39,€46Ð   	 V"¦*   Ð(1998)€(effective€date€of€reopened€claim€is€the€date€of€the€application€to€reopen€or€facts€found,Ïwhichever€is€later).Ìà     àÓ<  ( °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° °ŒX< ÓA€Board€determination€of€the€proper€effective€date€is€a€finding€of€fact.€€òòSee€ibid.€óó(citingÐ   	 a&±!0   ÐòòHanson€v.Brownóó,€9Vet.App.€29,€32€(1996)).€€The€Court€reviews€BVA€findings€of€fact€using€theÐ   	 º'
#2   Ð"clearly€erroneous"€standard€of€review€set€forth€in€38U.S.C.€ðð7261(a)(4).€€In€determining€whetherÏa€finding€is€clearly€erroneous,€"this€Court€is€not€permitted€to€substitute€its€judgment€for€that€of€theÏBVA€on€issues€of€material€fact;€if€there€is€a€'plausible€basis'€in€the€record€for€the€factualÐ   	 Å+'8   Ðdeterminations€of€the€BVA,€.€.€.€[the€Court]€cannot€overturn€them."€€òòGilbert€v.Derwinskióó,€1Vet.App.Ð   	 °      Ð49,€53€(1990);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòElkins€(Joe)€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€209,€216€(1999)€(en€banc)€("[u]nder€thisÐ   	 	Y   Ðstandard,€we€cannot€reverse€a€finding€simply€because€we€would€have€reached€a€different€conclusionÏbased€upon€the€same€record"€(citing€òòGilbertóó,òò€supraóó)).Ð   	 »   ÐÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòòòA.€Date€of€Receipt€of€ClaimÐ   	 
d   ÐÓ    Óà     à1.€€Secretary's€Duty€to€Send€to€Veteran€Notice€of€RO€Decision.óóóó€€The€appellant€argues€thatÐ   	 m½
   Ðthe€PTSD€claim,€which€the€RO€denied€in€February€1985,€is€still€pending€before€VA€because€theÏSecretary€has€failed€to€demonstrate€that€he€fulfilled€his€obligation€to€mail€notice€of€the€FebruaryÏ1985€RO€decision€to€the€veteran.€€Br.€at€1.€€That€argument,€in€essence,€is€that€the€January€1985€ROÏdecision€has€not€become€final€because€the€RO€failed€to€notify€the€veteran€of€that€decision€and€of€hisÏright€to€appeal€it€to€the€Board€and€that,€therefore,€the€date€of€the€RO's€receipt€of€his€PTSD€claim€is€Ïthat€of€his€original€December€1984€application,€not€that€of€his€August€1989€claim€to€reopen.Ìà     à"Under€the€Court's€current€caselaw,€it€is€well€established,€under€38U.S.C.€ðð5104(a)€andÏ38C.F.R.€ðððð3.103€and€19.25€(199[9]),€that€the€RO€'must€provide€notice€of€the€right€to€appeal€inÏregular€and€in€simultaneously€contested€claims.'"€€òòParham€v.Westóó,€13Vet.App.€59,€59€(1999)Ð   	 ŽÞ   Ð(quoting€òòThurber€v.Brownóó,€5Vet.App.€119,€123€(1993)).€€However,€the€current€statutory€andÐ   	 ç7   Ðregulatory€provisions€cited€in€òòParhamóó€were€not€in€existence€at€the€time€of€the€1985€RO€decision.€Ð   	 @    ÐThe€current€statutory€provision,€enacted€in€1989€by€the€Veterans'€Benefits€Amendments€of€1989,ÏPub.€L.€No.€101-237,€ðð115(a)(1),€103Stat.€2062,€2065€(1989),€provides€that,€where€the€SecretaryÏhas€made€a€decision€"affecting€the€provision€of€benefits€to€a€claimant,€the€Secretary€shall,€on€a€timelyÏbasis,€provide€to€the€claimant€...€notice€of€such€decision."€€38U.S.C.€ðð5104(a).€€The€current€versionÏof€38C.F.R.€ðð3.103€was€promulgated€in€1990,€òòseeóó€55Fed.€Reg.€13,522,€13,527€(1990),€andÐ   	 ý M*   Ðprovides:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   ÓÓ?  + ° °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° ‹X? Óà    `	 àÓ       €  Ó(a)€òòStatement€of€policyóó.€€Every€claimant€has€the€right€to€written€notice€of€theÐ   	 ¯#ÿ.   Ðdecision€made€on€his€or€her€claim€....€€ÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 à(b)€òòThe€right€to€notice--óó(1)òòGeneralóó.€€Claimants€and€their€representatives€areÐ   	 a&±!1   Ðentitled€to€notice€of€any€decision€made€by€VA€affecting€the€payment€of€benefits€orÏthe€granting€or€relief.€€Such€notice€shall€clearly€set€forth€the€decision€made,€andÏapplicable€effective€date,€the€reason(s)€for€the€decision,€...€and€the€right,€as€well€asÏthe€necessary€procedures€and€time€limits,€to€initiate€an€appeal€of€the€decision.ÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÌà     àà    `	 à....Ð   	 Å+'7   Ð‡Ó   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 à(f)€òòNotification€of€decisionsóó.€€The€claimant€or€beneficiary€and€his€or€herÐ   	 °      Ðrepresentative€will€be€notified€in€writing€of€decisions€affecting€the€payment€ofÏbenefits€or€granting€relief.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38C.F.R.€ðð3.103(a),€(b),€(f).€€The€version€applicable€in€January€1985€provided€only:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 àÓ       €  Ó(e)€òòNotification€of€decisionsóó.€€The€claimant€will€be€notified€of€any€decisionÐ   	 ¡	ñ   Ðaffecting€the€payment€of€benefits€or€granting€relief.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38C.F.R.€ðð3.103(e)€(1985).)Ìà     àAs€to€VA€"notification€of€rights",€38U.S.C.€ðð4005€(now€38U.S.C.€ðð7105(b)(1))€providedÏin€pertinent€part:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 àÓ       €  ÓExcept€in€the€case€of€simultaneously€contested€claims,€notice€of€disagreementÏshall€be€filed€within€one€year€from€the€date€of€mailing€of€notice€of€the€result€of€initialÏreview€or€determination.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38U.S.C.€ðð4005(b)(1)€(1985).€€In€addition,€part€19€of€title€38€of€the€C.F.R.€was€revised€in€1992,€òòseeóóÐ   	 öF   Ð57Fed.€Reg.€4,088,€4,106€(1992),€and€the€regulation€applicable€in€1985,€38C.F.R.€ðð19.114€(1985),Ïwas€renumbered€and€somewhat€modified€to€create€38C.F.R.€ðð19.25,€which€provides:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 àÓ       €  ÓThe€claimant€and€his€or€her€representative,€if€any,€will€be€informed€ofÏappellate€rights€provided€by€38U.S.C.€chapters€71€and€72€....€The€agency€ofÏoriginal€jurisdiction€will€provide€this€information€in€each€notification€of€aÏdetermination€of€entitlement€or€nonentitlement€to€[VA]€benefits.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38C.F.R.€ðð19.25.€€The€regulation€applicable€at€the€time€of€the€February€1985€RO€decision€provided,Ïto€essentially€the€same€effect,€in€terms€of€the€right€to€appeal€to€the€BVA:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   Óà    `	 àÓ       €  ÓThe€claimant€and€the€representative,€if€any,€will€be€informed€of€the€right€toÏinitiate€an€appeal€and€the€time€within€which€to€do€so€....€This€information€will€beÏincluded€in€each€notification€of€a€determination€of€entitlement€or€nonentitlement€toÏ[VA]€benefits€by€the€agency€of€original€jurisdiction.ÌÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓÓ    €     Ó38C.F.R.€ðð19.114€(1985).Ìà     àThe€Court€notes€that€the€Board€and€both€parties€here€have€assumed€that€the€RO€had€a€dutyÏin€1985€to€send€to€the€veteran€notice€of€the€1985€RO€decision€and€of€his€right€to€appeal€it€to€theÏBoard.€€The€Court€agrees.€€Based€on€the€language€of€ðð19.114€(1985)€in€force€at€the€time€of€the€1985ÏRO€decision,€the€Court€holds€that€the€RO€had€a€regulatory€duty€to€inform€the€veteran€of€his€right€toÏâ
    
 âappeal€the€1985€RO€decision.Ð   	 l*¼%1   ÐÑ   P¸  ÑÑ    ÑÑ
   
 Ñà     àThe€regulation€in€effect€in€1985€did€not€address€the€place€to€which€notice€was€to€be€sent€toÏâ
    
 âa€claimant€and€any€representative€"of€the€right€to€initiate€an€appeal".€€38C.F.R.€ðð19.114€(1985).€ÏIn€his€brief,€the€Secretary€seems€to€assume€that€notice€of€the€decision€and€the€claimant's€appellateÏrights€would€have€to€be€"sent€to€the€appellate's€'latest€address€of€record'".€€Br.at€12€(quoting€òòHysonÐ   	 »   Ðv.Brownóó,€5Vet.App.€262,€265€(1993)),€15€(referring€to€"viable€mailing€addresses€for€the€appellant"),Ð   	 
d   Ð19€(referring€to€VA€duty€to€mail€notice€to€appellant's€"last€known€address€of€record").€€Also,€theÏBoard,€quoting€and€applying€òòHysonóó,€òòsupraóó,€stated€that€"the€Board€must€demonstrate€that€notice€wasÐ   	 Æ   Ðsent€to€the€veteran's€latest€address€of€record€in€the€case€currently€on€appeal"€and€that€"it€is€only€whereÏa€file€discloses€other€possible€and€plausible€addressees€that€an€attempt€should€be€made€to€locate€theÏveteran€at€an€alternate€known€address".€€R.€at€8-9.€€The€Board€then€concluded€that€"VA€carried€theÏburden€of€demonstrating€that€notice€of€the€February€1985€[RO]€decision€...€was€sent€to€the€veteran'sÏlatest€address€of€record."€€R.at€10.Ìà     àThe€Court€has€been€unable€to€find€any€statutory€or€regulatory€provision€in€effect€in€1985€thatÏspecifies€anything€about€the€place€where€the€notice€to€the€claimant€should€be€mailed€or€delivered.€Ï(The€first€reference€in€the€statute€as€to€the€mailing€of€notice€of€a€decision€came€in€the€1988€enactmentÏof€38U.S.C.€ðð7104(e)€(then€38U.S.C.€ðð4004(e))€by€the€Veterans'€Judicial€Review€Act,€Pub.€L.€No.Ï100„687,€ðð205,€102€Stat.€4105,€4111€(1988),€which€required€notice€of€a€BVA€decision€to€be€mailedÏ"to€the€claimant€at€the€last€known€address€of€the€claimant."€€38U.S.C.€ðð7104(e)(1).€€Furthermore,Ïas€noted€above,€the€section5104(a)€provision€as€to€notice€of€RO€decisions€was€enacted€in€1989.)€ÏNonetheless,€for€purposes€of€this€analysis,€the€Court€assumes€that€a€"last€known€address€of€record"Ïrequirement€or€practice€was€in€effect€at€the€time€of€the€February€1985€mailing€of€notice€of€the€ROÏdecision€to€the€claimant.€€Thus,€the€next€question€is€whether€the€RO,€in€fact,€fulfilled€itsÏresponsibilities€pursuant€to€38C.F.R.€ðð19.114€(1985)€to€provide€the€veteran€with€notice€of€the€1985ÏRO€decision€and€his€right€to€appeal€it.Ìà     àòòòò2.€€Presumption€of€Regularityóóóó.€€There€is€a€presumption€of€regularity€that€attaches€to€theÐ   	 %X 0   Ðactions€of€public€officials.€€òòSee€INS€v.€Mirandaóó,€459€U.S.€14,€18€(1982);òò€United€States€v.€ChemicalÐ   	 a&±!2   ÐFoundation,€Inc.óó,€272€U.S.€1,€14„15€(1926);€òòMorris€v.€Sullivanóó,€897€F.2d€553,€560€(D.C.€Cir.€1990).Ð   	 º'
#4   ÐThis€Court€has€applied€the€presumption€of€regularity€to€all€manner€of€VA€processes€and€procedures.€ÏòòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòRedding€v.Westóó,€13Vet.App.€512,€515€(2000)€(applying€presumption€of€regularity€as€toÐ   	 l*¼%8   Ðwhether€RO€received€veteran's€power€of€attorney€that€was€mailed€by€veteran€to€correct€RO€address);Ð   	 Å+':   ÐòòBaldwin€v.Westóó,€13Vet.App.€1,€5-6€(1999)€(applying€presumption€of€regularity€as€to€whether€ROÐ   	 °      Ðexamined€and€considered€service€medical€records);€òòSchoolman€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€307,€310€(1999)Ð   	 	Y   Ð(applying€presumption€as€to€whether€RO€sent€to€claimant€the€application€form€for€dependency€andÏindemnity€compensation).€€In€this€case,€that€presumption€attaches€to€two€actions:€(1)€The€Secretary'sÏmailing€of€notice€of€the€1985€RO€decision€and€his€right€to€appeal€it;€and€(2)€the€VAMC'sÏphotocopying€of€the€January€1985€VAMC€clinical€record.€€Ìà     àòòaóó.òòòò€€Presumption€as€applied€to€RO€notice€of€decision€to€veteran:óóóó€€The€Court€has€held€thatÐ   	 Æ   Ðthere€is€a€presumption€of€regularity€that€the€Secretary€properly€discharged€his€official€duties€byÏmailing€a€copy€of€a€VA€decision€to€the€last€known€address€of€the€appellant€and€the€appellant'sÏrepresentative,€if€any,€on€the€date€that€the€decision€was€issued.€€òòSee€Davis€(Desmond)€v.Brownóó,Ð   	 Ñ!   Ð7Vet.App.€298,€300€(1994);€òòAshley€v.Derwinskióó,€2Vet.App.€62,€64-65,€òòmotóó.òò€for€recons.€grantedóó,Ð   	 *z   Ðòòmotóó.òò€to€dismiss€deniedóó,€2Vet.App.€307€(1992);€òòChute€v.Derwinskióó,€1Vet.App.€352,€353€(1991).€Ð   	 ƒÓ   ÐThe€appellant€may€rebut€that€presumption€by€submitting€"clear€evidence€to€the€effect€that€[VA's]Ï'regular'€mailing€practices€are€not€regular€or€that€they€were€not€followed",€and€the€"burden€then€shiftsÏto€the€Secretary€to€establish€that€the€[VA]€decision€was€mailed€to€the€veteran".€€òòDavisóó,€òòsupraóóÐ   	 ŽÞ   Ð(quoting€òòAshleyóó,€2Vet.App.€at€309);€òòsee€also€Chuteóó,€òòsupraóó.Ð   	 ç7   Ðà     àÓ<  ( °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° °ŒX< ÓAbsent€evidence€that€the€veteran€notified€VA€of€a€change€of€address€and€absent€evidence€thatÏany€notice€sent€to€him€at€his€last€known€address€has€been€returned€as€undeliverable,€VA€is€entitledÏto€rely€on€that€address.€€òòSee€Cross€v.Brownóó,€9Vet.App.€18,€19€(1996);€òòThompson€(Charles)Ð   	 òB$   Ðv.Brownóó,€8Vet.App.€169,€178-79€(1995),€òòrecons.€on€other€groundsóó,€9Vet.App.€173€(1996);€òòsee€alsoÐ   	 K›&   ÐHysonóó,€5Vet.App.€at€264-65.€€"However,€where€a€mailing€is€returned€as€undeliverable€and€aÐ   	 ¤ô(   Ðclaimant's€file€discloses€other€possible€and€plausible€addresses,€[VA]€must€attempt€to€locate€theÏveteran€at€the€alternative€known€addresses."€€òòCrossóó,€òòsupraóó;€òòsee€also€Thompson€(Charles)óó€and€òòHysonóó,Ð   	 V"¦,   Ðboth€òòsupraóó.Ð   	 ¯#ÿ.   Ðà     àThe€Secretary€argues€that€"òòHysonóó€does€not€require€VA€to€reexamine€the€file€in€all€cases€toÐ   	 %X 0   Ðdetermine€'whether€another€address€is€available'"€because€"the€òòHysonóó€Court€specifically€limited€thatÐ   	 a&±!2   Ðdecision€to€the€'peculiar'€facts€of€that€case".€€Br.€at€14.€€However,€as€indicated€above,€this€Court€hasÏapplied€the€òòHysonóó€holding€in€both€òòCrossóó€and€òòThompson€(Charles)óó,€both€òòsupraóó,€where€VA€sent€noticeÐ   	 )c$6   Ðof€a€BVA€decision€to€a€veteran€at€the€"last€known€address"€and€that€notice€was€returned€asÏundeliverable.€€We€perceive€no€significant€difference€in€the€fact€that€the€òòCrossóó€and€òòThompsonóó€casesÐ   	 Å+':   Ðinvolved€BVA€decisions,€whereas€the€instant€case€involves€an€RO€decision.€€Thus,€where,€as€here,Ïan€RO€has€sent€to€a€veteran€notice€of€an€RO€decision€but€that€notice€was€returned€as€undeliverable,Ïthat€RO€has€the€obligation€to€ascertain€by€a€review€of€the€claims€file€whether€there€are€"otherÏpossible€and€plausible€addresses"€for€the€veteran.€€òòCrossóó,€9Vet.App.€at€19-20.€€Hence,€theÐ   	 »   Ðpresumption€of€regularity€as€here€applied€to€a€regular€mailing€is€rebutted€and€the€burden€has€shiftedÏto€the€Secretary€to€establish€that€that›€obligation€was€discharged.Ìà     àWe€hold€that€the€Secretary€has€failed€to€meet€his€burden.€€Although,€in€essence,€both€theÏBoard€(R.€at€8)€and€the€Secretary€(Brief€at€14-15)€state€that€there€was€no€other€"possible€andÏplausible"€address€to€which€the€RO€decision€could€have€been€mailed€to€the€veteran,€the€Court€notesÏthat€there€is€no€dispute€that€the€January€1985€VAMC€clinical€record€was€before€the€RO€at€the€timeÏof€its€1985€decision€and€that,€therefore,€it€also€was€before€the€RO€at€the€time€that€the€notice€of€theÏ1985€decision€mailed€to€the€veteran€at€the€Sheridan€VAMC€was€returned€to€the€RO€as€undeliverable.€ÏAlthough€the€1985€copy€of€that€clinical€record€in€the€ROA€does€not€reflect€any€address€of€theÏveteran,€what€appears€to€be€the€same€clinical€record,€received€by€the€RO€in€1989,€shows€the€Havre,ÏMontana,€address€as€the€current€address€of€the€veteran.€€Ìà     àòòòòbóóóó.€€òòòòPresumption€as€applied€to€VAMC€photocopying€of€its€recordóóóó:€The€presumption€ofÐ   	 ç7   Ðregularity€applies€here€with€equal€force€to€the€VAMC€transmittal€to€the€RO€of€a€complete€copy€ofÏthe€January€1985€VAMC€clinical€record€--€that€is,€a€copy€that€revealed€the€veteran's€name€and€hisÏHavre,€Montana,€address,€as€did€the€copy€of€that€record€that€was€sent€to€the€RO€by€the€VAMC€inÏ1989€(R.€at€129).€€TÔ% ‡    ÔÔ% †   ÿd   Ôhis€second€application€of€the€presumption€of€regularity€serves€to€show€that€theÏ1985€and€1989€copies€are€œcopies€of›€the€same€document€and€that€the€contents€of€each€are€the€same,Ïincluding€the€showing€of€the€1985€address.€€In€this€regard,€the€Court€notes€that€the€absence€of€thatÏaddress€in€the€1985€copy€would€appear€to€reflect€only€a€problem€in€copying€that€document€forÏpurposes€of€creating€the€ROA,€and€that€such€absence€certainly€is€not€sufficient€to€rebut€this€secondÏapplication€of€the€presumptionas€to€the€address€being€a€part€of€the€1985€copy.€€Moreover,€neitherÏthe€Board€nor€the€Secretary€in€any€way€dispute€that€the€1985€and€the€1989€copies€are€of€the€sameÏmedical€record.Ìà     àòòòòc.€€Effect€of€application€of€presumption€to€mailing€and€photocopyingóóóó:€Therefore,€the€CourtÐ   	 )c$6   Ðholds€that€œthe€claims›€file€œdid,€indeed,€contain€another›€address€for€the€veteran€to€which€the€ROÏdecision€could€have€been€mailed€and€that,€because€no€such€mailing€occurred,€the€Secretary€has€failedÐ   	 Å+':   Ðto€overcome€his€burden€and€the€presumption€of€regular€mailing€remains€rebutted.€€Accordingly,€theÏCourt€also€holds€that€the€RO€did€not€properly€notify€the€veteran€of€its€February€1985€decision€andÏthat,€consequently,€the€veteran's€December€1984€claim€for€PTSD€is€still€pending.€€Because€theÏpendency€of€that€December€1984€claim€will€affect€any€determination€of€the€effective€date€of€theÏveteran's€PTSD€claim,€the€Court€will€remand€the€matter€to€the€Board€to€readjudicate€this€earlier„¼effective„date€issue€in€accordance€with€this€opinion.ÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòòòB.€Social€Security€Records€and€Date€Entitlement€AroseÐ   	 Æ   ÐÓ    Óà     àóóóóThe€appellant€argues,€citing€òòStegall€v.Westóó,€11Vet.App.€268€(1998),€that€the€RO€erred€inÐ   	 o	   Ðfailing€to€comply€with€the€Court's€March€1995€order€granting€the€parties'€joint€remand€motion€thatÏrequired€VA€to€obtain,€inter€alia,€Social€Security€records€(R.€at€378,€383),€and€to€comply€with€theÏBoard's€June€1995€remand€order€that€the€RO€contact€the€SSA€and€request€a€copy€of€the€SSA€decisionÏand€of€all€records€it€had€as€to€the€veteran's€unemployability€(R.€at€398).€€The€Secretary€confesses€inÏhis€brief€that€it€does€not€appear€that€the€RO€made€any€request€for€the€veteran's€Social€SecurityÏrecords.€€Br.€at€7,€19.Ìà     àThe€Secretary€argues,€nonetheless,€that€the€appellant's€argument€should€be€rejected€becauseÏit€is€not€pertinent€to€the€earlier-effective-date€issue,€which€is€the€only€issue€before€the€Court.€€Br.atÏ20.€€The€Court€holds,€however,€that€there€is€evidence€in€the€record€that€the€veteran€was€receivingÏSSA€disability€benefits€as€early€as€October€1987€(R.€at€342),€and€that€any€such€evidence€that€mightÏsupport€an€earlier-effective€date€for€PTSD€pursuant€to€38U.S.C.€ðð5110(a),€(b)(2)€and€38C.F.R.Ïðð3.400(b)(2),€would€be€relevant€to€the€instant€matter.€€The€Court€notes€that€the€earlier-effective-dateÏmatter€is€on€direct€appeal€from€the€veteran's€service-connection€claim€as€to€PTSD,€which€wasÏeffective€in€August€1989,€and€there€is,€therefore,€no€question€but€that€the€claim€œwas›€well€grounded.€ÏPursuant€to€38U.S.C.€ððœ5107(a)›€as€in€effect€during€the€pendency€of€this€œclaim,›€once€a€claimant€œÏsubmitted€a€well-grounded€claim,€the€Secretary€was€required€to€assist€that€claimant€"in€developingÏthe€facts€pertinent€to€the€claim",€òòseeóó€38C.F.R.€ðð3.159€(1999);€òòEpps€v.€Goberóó,€126F.3d€1464,€1469Ð   	 %X 0   Ð(Fed.€Cir.€1997);€òò€Grivois€v.Brownóó,€6Vet.App.€136,€139€(1994),€and€that€duty€involved€requestingÐ   	 a&±!2   Ðinformation€from€other€Federal€departments€or€agencies,€òòseeóó€38U.S.C.€ðð5106,€5107(a).€€The€SSAÐ   	 º'
#4   Ðrecords€would€be€"pertinent"€to€the€effective€date€for€the€award€of€PTSD€service€connection,€becauseÏthey€may€provide€€medical€evidence€of€whether€he€had€a€diagnosis€of€PTSD€earlier€than€the€AugustÏ1989€date€assigned€to€that€award€in€the€September€1990€RO€decision.€€The€following€quote€(adjustedÐ   	 Å+':   Ðto€reflect€the€facts€of€the€instant€case)€from€the€Court's€recent€opinion€in€òòMcGrath€v.Goberóó€illustratesÐ   	 °      Ðthe€posture€of€this€case:ÌÓ   X   ÓÓ   X   ÓÓ?  + ° °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° ‹X? Óà    `	 àÓ       €  ÓIn€sum,€the€Court€finds€that€this€issue€must€be€remanded€to€the€Board€forÏreadjudication€of€the€effective€date€of€the€appellant's€PTSD€claim€and€to€assign€theÏappropriate€disability€ratings€if€necessary.€€First,€the€Board€must€determine€when€theÏappellant's€service-connected€disability€manifested€itself€under€...€all€of€the€"factsÏfound,"€including€the€[SSA€records]€in€question,€and€assign€an€effective€date€noÏearlier€than€[December€1984].€€Of€course,€whether€or€not€that€evidence€submitted€isÏcredible€and€sufficient€to€support€a€determination€that€an€earlier€effective€date€isÏwarranted€is€a€finding€of€fact€for€the€Board€to€determine€in€the€first€instance.€€òòSeeÐ   	 ¬ü   ÐHensley€v.Westóó,€212€F.3d1255€(Fed.€Cir.€2000).€€Second,€if€the€Board€has€assignedÐ   	 ’â	   Ðan€earlier€effective€date€of€an€award,€the€Board€must€assign€the€appropriate€disabilityÏrating€or€ratings.€€Dependent€on€the€"facts€found,"€this€rating€may€be€a€constant€ratingÏif€the€disability€has€been€consistent€in€severity€or€a€"staged"€rating€if€the€disabilityÏhas€fluctuated€in€severity.€€òòSee€Fenderson€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€119€(1999).Ð   	 *z   ÐÌÓ     X ÓÓ     X ÓòòÓ    €     ÓMcGrathóó,€14€Vet.App.€28,€35€(2000).€€Accordingly,€in€light€of€evidence€indicating€that€the€appellantÐ   	 öF   Ðwas€receiving€Social€Security€disability€benefits€(R.€at€342),€VA€was€obligated€to€have€attemptedÏto€obtain€the€appellant's€SSA€records€pursuant€to€its€duty€to€assist€under€section€5107(a)€as€in€effectÏduring€the€pendency€of€this€case,€and€a€remand€would€be€necessary€in€order€for€VA€to€make€thatÏrequest.€€òòSee€Voerth€v.€Westóó,€13Vet.App.€117,€121€(1999)€(once€claim€is€well€grounded,€VA€hasÐ   	 Zª   Ðduty€to€assist€that€includes€responsibility€to€obtain€any€relevant€records€from€SSA);€òòBaker€v.€Westóó,Ð   	 ³   Ð11€Vet.App.€163,€169€(1998)€(when€VA€is€put€on€notice€of€SSA€records€prior€to€issuance€of€finalÏdecision,€Board€must€seek€to€obtain€records€pursuant€to€section5107(a)€duty€to€assist);€òòMurincsakÐ   	 eµ    Ðv.€Derwinskióó,€2Vet.App.€363,€370›€(1992)€(VA€has€statutory€duty€to€acquire€both€SSA€decision€andÐ   	 ¾"   Ðsupporting€medical€records€pertinent€to€well-grounded€œclaim);€òòsee€also€óó38U.S.C.€ðð5103A(b)(c)(3)Ð   	  g$   Ð(as€added€by€the€Veterans€Claims€Assistance€Act€of€2000,€Pub.€L.€No.€106„475,€ðð€3,€114€Stat.€2096Ï(Nov.€9,€2000)€and€relating€to€VA€obtaining€any€relevant€records€of€any€Federal€department€orÏagency€in€all€disability€compensation€claims).›€€€Ìà     àÓ<  ( °  `	 ¸  h À  p È   x Ð ° °ŒX< ÓMoreover,€in€òòStegallóó,€this€Court€held€that€"a€remand€by€this€Court€or€the€Board€confers€onÐ   	 {%Ë ,   Ðthe€veteran€or€other€claimant,€as€a€matter€of€law,€the€right€to€compliance€with€the€remand€orders"€andÏthat€"the€Secretary€...€[had]€a€concomitant€duty€to€ensure€compliance€with€the€terms€of€the€remand"Ïand€that€thus€"the€Board€itself€errs€in€failing€to€insure€compliance."€€òòStegallóó,€11Vet.App.€at€271;€òòseeÐ   	 †)Ö$2   Ðalsoóó€òòRoberts€(Melvyn)€v.Westóó,€13Vet.App.€185,€189€(1999)€(no€òòStegallóó€duty€absent€submission€ofÐ   	 ß*/&4   Ðwell-grounded€claim).€€As€to€this€€claim,€both€the€Court,€by€virtue€of€its€March€1995€order€grantingÐ   	 8,ˆ'6   Ðthe€joint€remand€motion€(R.€at€378),€and€the€Board,€in€its€June€1995€remand€order€(R.at€387),Ïrequired€the€RO€to€contact€the€SSA€and€obtain€any€Social€Security€records€that€would€be€pertinentÏto€the€veteran's€PTSD€claim.€€Because,€as€noted€by€the€Secretary,€there€is€no€evidence€that€the€ROÏcomplied€with€those€remand€instructions,€œa›€remand€is€also€required€by€òòStegallóó€in€order€for€theÐ   	 »   ÐSecretary€to€obtain€any€pertinent€records€from€the€SSA.ÌÌÓ    Óà @    . .    àòòIII.€ConclusionÐ   	 Æ   ÐÓ    Óà     àóóUpon€consideration€of€the€foregoing€analysis,€the€ROA,€and€the€submissions€of€the€parties,Ð   	 o	   Ðthe€Court€vacates€in€part€the€July21,€1998,€BVA€decision€and€remands€the€earlier-effective-dateÏmatter€for€expeditious€further€development€and€issuance€of€a€readjudicated€decision€supported€byÏan€adequate€statement€of€reasons€or€bases,€òòsee€óó38U.S.C.€ðððð1110,€5107,€5110,€7104(a),€(d)(1);Ð   	 *z   Ð38C.F.R.€ðð3.400;€òòFletcher€v.Derwinskióó€,€1Vet.App.€394,€397€œ(1991),›€œall›€consistent€with€thisÐ   	 ƒÓ   Ðopinion€and€in€accordance€with€œall›€applicable€law€œand€regulation›€and€with€œsection›€302€of€theÏVeterans'€Benefits€Improvements€Act,€Pub.€L.€No.€103-446,€ðð302,€108€Stat.€4645,€4658€(1994)Ï(found€at€38U.S.C.€ðð5101€note)€(requiring€Secretary€to€provide€for€"expeditious€treatment"€forÏclaims€remanded€by€BVA€or€the€Court).€€òòSee€Allday€v.€œBrownóó,›€7Vet.App.€517,€533„34€(1995).€€OnÐ   	 ç7   Ðremand,€the€appellant€will€be€free€to€submit€additional€evidence€and€argument€on€the€remandedÏclaim€in€accordance€with€òòKutscherousky€v.Westóó,€12Vet.App.€369,€372-73€(1999)€(per€curiam€œorder),Ð   	 ™é"   Ðand€all€applicable€law€and€regulation.›€€As€noted€in€part€II.,€above,€a€remand€by€this€Court€and€by€theÏBoard€confers€on€an€appellant€the€right€to€VA€compliance€with€the€terms€of€the€remand€order€andÏimposes€on€the€Secretary€a€concomitant€duty€to€ensure€compliance€with€those€terms.€€òòSee€Stegallóó,Ð   	 ¤ô(   Ðòòsupraóó.€€A€final€decision€by€the€Board€following€the€remand€herein€ordered€will€constitute€a€newÐ   	 ý M*   Ðdecision€that,€if€adverse,€may€be€appealed€to€this€Court€only€upon€the€filing€of€a€new€Notice€ofÏAppeal€with€the€Court€not€later€than€120€days€after€the€date€on€which€notice€of€the€new€Board€finalÏdecision€is€mailed€to€the€appellant.€€òòSee€Marsh€v.Westóó,€11Vet.App.€468,€472€(1998).Ð   	 %X 0   Ðà     àIn€light€of€the€Court's€March€1995€remand€order€that€was€not€complied€with,€the€SecretaryÏâ
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 âis€directed€to€seek€the€Social€Security€records€at€issue€here€not€later€than€œ30›€days€after€the€date€ofÐ   	 º'
#4   Ðissuance€of€this€opinion€and€to€report€to€the€Court€not€later€than€œ90›€days€after€the€date€of€œsuch›ÏÔ&  ½ Ôâ
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 âopinion€issuance€œas›€to€whether€those€SSA€records€have€been€œobtained.›€€òòSee€Friscia€v.Brownóó,Ð   	 	Y   Ð7Vet.App.€294,€297-98€œ(1994);€òòcf.€Dambach€v.€Goberóó,€223€F.3d€1376,€1381€(Fed.€Cir.€2000)€("ñ…ñ[ñ…ññ †ññ…ñeñ…ññ†ññ ˆññ‡ñw[eÐ   	 b²   Ðñ‡ññˆññ‰ñw]eÐ   	 b²   Ðbelieve€it€would€be€appropriate€for€theñ‰ññ Šññ‰ñ€Veterans€Court€ñ‰ññŠññ‹ñ€.€.€.€Court€to€set€a€deadline€ñ‹ññ Œññ‹ñfñ‹ññŒñññby€which€this€veteran's€case€willÏbe€concludedññ").€€›Ìà     àVACATED€IN€PART€AND€œREMANDED.Ô'  ½	ˆŽ   ÔÌÌÔ ‡  Xš&  X  X X   Ôà     àIVERS,€òòJudgeóó,€concurring€in€part€and€dissenting€in€partÔ# †  Xš&  X  X Xš&ð  # Ô:€I€concur€in€the€majority's€conclusionÐ   	 o	   Ðthat€the€veterñŽñÔ% €    ÔñŽñan's€December€1984€claim€is€still€pending€and€its€decision€to€remand€his€case€on€thatÏbasis.€€However,€I€must€dissent€as€to€the€Court's€order€directing€the€Secretary€to€obtain€the€veteran'sÏSocial€Security€Administration€(SSA)€records.€€It€is€an€action€that€is€at€best€superfluous.Ìà     àThe€Court€has€correctly€concluded€that€the€RO€did€not€properly€notify€the€veteran€of€itsÏFebruary€1985€decision€denying€his€claim.€€Based€upon€this€procedural€failure,€the€Court€found€thatÏthe€veteran's€1984€claim€is€still€open€and€pending€before€the€RO.€€òòSee€Matter€of€the€Fee€AgreementÐ   	 5…   Ðof€Coxóó,€10€Vet.App.€361,€374„75€(1997)òò;€see€alsoóó€òòTablazon€v.€Brownóó,€8€Vet.App.€359,€361€(1995)Ð   	 ŽÞ   Ð(failing€to€procedurally€comply€with€the€statutorily€mandated€requirements€prevents€a€claim€fromÏbecoming€final€for€purposes€of€an€appeal€to€the€Court).€€Section€3.160(c)€of€the€Code€of€FederalÏRegulations€(C.F.R.)€defines€a€"pending€claim"€as€"[a]n€application,€formal€or€informal,€which€hasÏnot€been€finally€adjudicated."€€Since€the€veteran's€claim€is€pending,€it€is€subject€to€furtherÏdevelopment€by€the€RO.€€òòSee€Price€v.€Brownóó,€8€Vet.App.€527€(1995).€€"Further€development"€wouldÐ   	 K›&   Ðrequire€that€the€RO€obtain€the€veteran's€SSA€records€because€evidence€contained€in€the€record€andÏthe€veteran's€appeal€have€served€to€put€VA€on€notice€of€the€existence€of€SSA€records€and€theirÏrelevance€to€the€veteran's€claim.€€òòSeeóó€òòHayes€v.€Brownóó,€9€Vet.App.€67,€73„74€(1996)€("VA€is€requiredÐ   	 V"¦,   Ðto€obtain€evidence€from€the€[SSA]);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòMcCormick€v.Goberóó,€14Vet.App.€39€(2000);òò€CollierÐ   	 ¯#ÿ.   Ðv.€Derwinskióó,€1€Vet.App.€413,€417€(1991).€€Therefore,€ordering€the€Secretary€to€perform€an€actÐ   	 %X 0   Ðalready€required€by€law€seems€unnecessary.€€Ìà     àIt€is€clear€that€the€Secretary€did€not€fully€comply€with€the€remand€instructions€of€this€Court,Ïand€that€he€should€be€admonished€in€that€regard.€€ñ ñI€am€also€concerned€that€the€Court€might€be€overlooking€the€veteran's€burden€to€establish€his€claim.€€ñññ ‘ñññÔ% €    Ôñññ‘ññ‘ñÔ% €    Ôñ‘ñThe€veteran€had€access€to,€if€not€actual€possessionÏof€the€SSA€records€in€question.€€The€duty€to€assist€is€not€a€one„way€street,€and€the€veteran€could€haveÏsubmitted€the€SSA€records€to€the€RO.€€òòSee€Hurd€v.€Westóó,€13€Vet.App.€449,€452€(2000)€(veteranÐ   	 Å+':   Ðcannot€passively€wait€for€help€from€VA).Ìâ
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 ââ
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 âà     àAdditionally,€while€I€agree€that€the€veteran's€SSA€records€should€be€obtained,€I€believe€theÏmajority€has€inflated€the€importance€of€these€records€in€establishing€the€veteran's€entitlement€to€anÏearlier€effective€date.€€Section€5110€(a)€of€title€38€of€the€U.S.€Code€provides€that€"the€effective€date€Ïof€an€award€based€on€an€original€claim€.€.€.€shall€be€fixed€in€accordance€with€the€facts€found,€but€shallÏnot€be€earlier€than€the€date€of€receipt€of€application€therefor."€€The€regulation€provides€that€theÏeffective€date€shall€be€either€the€date€of€receipt€of€the€claim€or€the€date€entitlement€arose,€whichever€Ïis€the€later.€€38€C.F.R.€ðð€3.400(b)(2)€(1991).€€There€is€no€evidence€in€the€record,€nor€is€there€anÏallegation€by€the€veteran,€that€the€SSA€disability€benefits€he€was€receiving€in€October€1987€wereÏbased€on€his€suffering€from€PTSD.€€Therefore,€the€majority's€insistence€that€these€SSA€records€mightÏprovide€the€requisite€evidence€the€veteran€needs€to€establish€entitlement€to€an€earlier€effective€dateÏis€speculative,€at€best.ñ ñ›Ô% €    Ôññ›