Fred A. Mitchell v. Robert A. McDonald

The question before the Court involves the scope of 38 C.F.R, § 3.156(b) and Ber-aud, and whether the failure of the Secretary to render an essentially interlocutory,8 non-merits determination causes a claim to remain open — even after a final decision ultimately is rendered on the merits of the claim — until the Secretary renders the interlocutory determination.

In addition to Beraud, the majority cite Young, 22 Vet.App. 461 (2009), Charles, 587 F.3d 1318 (Fed.Cir.2009), and Bond, 659 F.3d 1362 (Fed.Cir.2011), in support of their holding today that a claim remains open — regardless of…