United States Federal Circuit

38 U.S.C. section 5103A(a) does not always require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist a claimant in obtaining a medical opinion or examination.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/31/2008
• Published 01/31/2008

Judges

• MOORE, Circuit Judge., Before RADER, PROST, and MOORE, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Louis J. George, National Veterans Legal Services Program, of Washington, DC, argued for claimant-appellant.   With him on the brief were Barton F. Stichman and Christine M. Cote.


• For Appellees:
  
• Martin F. Hockey, Jr., Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, argued for respondent-appellee.   On the brief were Peter D. Keisler, Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, Mark A. Melnick, Assistant Director, and Marla T Conneely, Attorney.   Of counsel on the brief were David J. Barrans, Assistant General Counsel and Y. Ken Lee, Attorney, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, of Washington, DC.