ABEL v. PEAKE, 266 Fed.Appx. 927 (Fed. Cir. 2008)


Linda D. ABEL, Claimant-Appellee, v. James B. PEAKE, M.D., Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Respondent-Appellant.

No. 2005-7176.United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
February 8, 2008.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This case is unpublished as indicated by the issuing court.]

Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in 03-310, Judge Jonathan R. Steinberg.

Linda D. Abel, pro se.

Before RADER, Circuit Judge, CLEVENGER, Senior Circuit Judge, and BRYSON, Circuit Judge.

ORDER
PER CURIAM.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs responds to the court’s November 20, 2007 order and requests that the court summarily affirm the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) in Abel v. Nicholson, 03-310, 2005 WL 1175134 (May 4, 2005). Linda D. Abel has not responded.

This case was stayed pending the court’s disposition i Sanders v. Nicholson, 487 F.3d 881 (Fed. Cir. 2007) and its companion case Simmons v. Nicholson, 487 F.3d 892
(Fed. Cir. 2007). In Sanders, 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.

Page 928

The Secretary concedes that the only issue raised in this appeal is identical to the issue decided in Sanders an Simmons. 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.