Taniela Kivalu v. Eric Shinseki

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Taniela Kivalu v. Eric Shinseki, 700 F. App'x 694 (9th Cir. 2017)

Taniela Kivalu v. Eric Shinseki

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

Taniela F. Kivalu appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his claims related to the Veterans Administration’s denial of his benefits. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Scholastic Entm't, Inc. v. Fox Entm’t Grp., Inc., 336 F.3d 982, 985 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

The district court properly dismissed Ki-valu’s action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the United States Courts of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Federal Circuit have exclusive jurisdiction over questions that relate to benefits administered by the Veterans Administration. See Veterans for Common Sense v. Shinseki, 678 F.3d 1013, 1022-25 (9th Cir. 2012) (the Veterans’ Judicial Review Act precludes district court jurisdiction over claims relating to or affecting veterans’ benefits decisions). However, we vacate the judgment to the extent that it dismissed Kivalu’s action with prejudice, and remand for entry of dismissal without prejudice. See Missouri ex rel. Koster v. Harris, 847 F.3d 646, 656 (9th Cir. 2017) (“In general, dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is without prejudice.”).

We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

We treat Kivalu’s contention regarding the denial of his motion for official transcripts as a motion for reconsideration, and deny the motion.

AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.

***

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
Taniela F. KIVALU, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David J. SHULKIN, Secretary, Veterans Administration; Et Al., Defendants-Appellees
Status
Unpublished