SUBMIT YOUR INFORMAL BRIEF AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE RECORD BEFORE 

THE AGENCY (RBA) AND INSTRUCTIONS TO FILE YOUR BRIEF

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

Instructions for Submitting Your Informal Brief 

Using the Informal Brief Form

 Because you are self-represented, you may submit your brief on the informal brief form

attached to these instructions. If you decide not to use the informal brief form, you must

meet all of the requirements of Rules 28 and 31 of the Court's Rules of Practice and

Procedure (Rules). Those Rules may be found on the Court's website at uscourts.cavc.gov

or you may request a copy of the Rules by contacting the Public Office at 202-501-5970,

at extension 100X, where the "X" is the final digit of your docket number. (Ex. For docket

number 14-1234, use extension 1004.)

Preparing Your Brief

 Type your brief or print it neatly. A typed brief must be double-spaced in at least a 12-point

typeface; if handwritten, the letters must be of an equivalent size. If your brief is not legible,

it may be returned to you, which could delay proceedings in your case.

 You may attach extra pages of argument to explain your position. They must be typed

(double-spaced) or neatly printed in at least a 12-point typeface or equivalent size. Your

brief cannot exceed 30 pages total unless you receive permission from the Court.

 Support your arguments by referring to pages from the Record Before the Agency

(RBA), a copy of which you should have received. There is no need to attach a copy of

those pages, the Court will receive a copy in the Record of Proceedings (ROP).

Where and When to Send Your Brief

 MAKE and KEEP a copy of your brief for your own files.

 MAIL, FAX, or EMAIL your original brief to:

Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

625 Indiana Avenue NW, Suite 900 

Washington, DC 20004-2950 

Fax: 202-501-5848 

Email: self-rep@uscourts.cavc.gov (as an attachment)

Form 9A (Rev 3/2018)
• Please DO NOT include your Social Security number or your claims folder number and

DO NOT include medical records with your informal brief.

• The Court must receive your brief by the deadline in the Notice to File Brief or by an order

of the Court. If you do not submit a brief, the Court may dismiss your appeal without

further notice.

What Happens Next

• A VA attorney will submit a brief or motion arguing the Secretary's side of the case and

will send a copy to you. When you receive it, you may (but do not have to) submit a

response to that brief, known as a reply brief. If you do, the Court must receive your

reply brief no later than 19 days after the date listed on the Certificate of Service at the

end of the VA attorney's brief or motion.

• After you and the VA attorney have submitted your arguments, the VA attorney will submit

the Record of Proceedings (ROP) to the Court. The ROP includes copies of all documents

from the RBA that are referred to in your brief and in the VA attorney's brief. You may

(but do not have to) respond to the ROP if you think a document is missing from the ROP

that was referred to in your brief or the VA attorney's brief.

• After the ROP is filed, your case will be assigned to a Judge for a decision. One or more

Judges will review the file and will decide the case. As soon as the case is decided, we will

send a copy of the decision to you.

BE SURE TO INFORM THE COURT OF ANY ADDRESS CHANGES 

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SUBMIT YOUR INFORMAL BRIEF AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE RECORD BEFORE 

THE AGENCY (RBA) AND INSTRUCTIONS TO FILE YOUR BRIEF

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

625 Indiana Avenue, NW Suite 900

Washington, DC 20004-2950

APPELLANT'S INFORMAL BRIEF

Docket No: __________________ 

________________________________, Appellant,

v.

Denis McDonough, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Appellee.

Type or legibly write your answers to each question. If the Court cannot read your handwriting, 

your brief may be returned to you.

1. If there is more than one issue listed on the first page of the Board decision, which issue(s) 

are you appealing?

Please note that if you choose not to list an issue here, the Court might not review that

issue.

Questions 2-6 ask you for information regarding the issues you believe were incorrectly decided 

by the Board.

2. For each issue you listed in Question 1, did the Board incorrectly state any facts?

________________________________________________Yes ___ No ___

If yes, what are the correct facts? Please list the page number(s) from the Record Before the

Agency (RBA) that support your argument.

______________________________________ Page 1 of 3 ________________________ Form 9 (Rev 3/2018)
3. Are there any documents in the Record Before the Agency (RBA) that support your claim(s)?

________________________________________________Yes ___ No ___

If yes, what are those documents? Please list the page number(s) in the RBA where they can 

be found and explain why you think they support your claim.

4. Did VA fail to obtain any documents identified by you or your representative or mentioned 

in the Record Before the Agency (RBA) when it was gathering evidence for your case?

________________________________________________Yes ___ No ___

If yes, list the page number(s) of the RBA that show that these documents exist and explain:

·___ How each document relates to your claim(s)

·___ Why each document is important to your case

The Court cannot consider documents that were not before the Board. Also, please do not 

attach any pages from the RBA.

5. To your knowledge, did the Board fail to apply or misapply any law, case, or regulation?

________________________________________________Yes ___ No ___

If yes, what is that law, case, or regulation and how should the Board have applied it?

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6. Do you think that the Board decision is wrong for any other reason(s)?

________________________________________________Yes ___ No ___

If yes, what are those reason(s)? Please list the page number(s) from the RBA that support 

your argument.

Finally, Questions 7-8 ask you for information that will help the Court process your case.

7. What action do you want this Court to take? 

8. If you needed extra pages to answer the questions above, how many extra pages did you attach 

to this form? ______

Please remember that your brief cannot exceed 30 pages total (including this form). Do 

not attach any pages from the RBA.

On any attached pages, make sure to include your name and your Court docket number. 

Please sign and date this form after you have finished completing it. 

Appellant's Telephone Number: ________________________ 

Appellant's Address: __________________________________________________ 

Appellant's Signature: _______________________________ Date: __________

(*To be signed by Appellant ONLY. You may electronically sign by typing "/s/" and then your 

name in the signature block above: For example, /s/ John Doe)

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