Mettle v. Peake

268 F. App'x 927

Opinion

ORDER

PER CURIAM.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs responds to the court’s November 20, 2007 order and requests that the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) in Mettle v. Nicholson, 05-0047 be summarily affirmed. Bonnie Mettle has not responded.

The Secretary appealed from the CAVC’s decision, challenging the court’s rejection of the Secretary’s argument that a 38 U.S.C. § 5103(a) notification error was not prejudicial. In Sanders v. Nicholson, 487 F.3d 881 (Fed.Cir.2007) this court held that any section 5103(a) error should be presumed prejudicial and the Secretary has the burden of rebutting this presumption. Id. at 891. Under these circumstances, summary affirmance is appropriate.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

(1) The judgment of the CAVC is summarily affirmed. The case is remanded for further proceedings.

(2) Each side shall bear its own costs.