[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20447-20453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11279]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Board of Veterans' Appeals

38 CFR Parts 19 and 20

RIN 2900-AH16


Appeals Regulations, Rules of Practice: Single Member and Panel 
Decisions; Reconsiderations; Order of Consideration

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Appeals Regulations and Rules of 
Practice of the Board of Veterans'' Appeals. The amendments incorporate 
recent statutory changes (including provisions to allow matters to be 
decided by individual Board members), set forth procedures regarding 
reconsideration of decisions, change office names and designations due 
to administrative changes within the Board, and make other 
nonsubstantive changes.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective May 7, 1996.
    Applicability Dates: The incorporation of statutory provisions and 
statutory interpretations contained in this final rule will be applied 
retroactively from the effective dates of the statutory provisions. For 
more information concerning the application of the provisions of this 
final rule, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven L. Keller, Chief Counsel, Board 
of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420 (202-565-5978).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document amends the Appeals 
Regulations, 38 CFR Part 19, and the Rules of Practice, 38 CFR Part 20, 
of the

[[Page 20448]]

Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board). The Board adjudicates appeals of 
denials of claims for veterans' benefits.

Public Law 103-271

    In large part, the amendments made by this document reflect 
statutory changes made by Public Law 103-271.
    Changes are made to Secs. 19.3, 19.9, 19.11, 19.12, 19.76, 20.3, 
20.102, 20.401, 20.606, 20.700, 20.702 through 20.705, 20.707 through 
20.708, 20.711, 20.714 through 20.717, 20.901, 20.1003, and 20.1100, to 
reflect that, under Public Law 103-271, the Board's Chairman may assign 
matters, including hearings, to individual Board members or to panels 
of three or more members.
    Changes are made to Secs. 19.3, 19.11, 20.102, 20.608, 20.707, 
20.711, 20.717, and 20.1304 to reflect that, under Public Law 103-271, 
a proceeding may not be assigned to the Chairman as an individual 
member but that the Chairman may participate in a proceeding assigned 
to a panel, or in a reconsideration assigned to a panel, and to reflect 
how a reconsideration panel is to be constituted.
    Changes are made to Secs. 19.11 and 20.707 to reflect that, under 
Public Law 103-271, reconsideration of a matter heard by a single 
member shall be referred to a panel of not less than three Board 
members, that reconsideration of a matter heard by a panel of members 
shall be referred to an enlarged panel, and that a reconsideration 
panel may not include any member who made the decision that is being 
reconsidered.
    Changes are made to Secs. 19.75 and 20.704 to reflect that, under 
Public Law 103-271, hearings at a facility within the area served by a 
VA regional office shall be scheduled to be held in the order in which 
requested, but may be scheduled earlier if the appellant is seriously 
ill or under severe financial hardship.
    Changes are made to Sec. 20.3 to reflect that, under Public Law 
103-271, in lieu of a personal hearing, an appellant may participate in 
a Board hearing through picture or through voice transmission, by 
electronic or other means, with the Board member or members at the 
Board's principal location.

Miscellaneous

    In addition, definitions of ``electronic hearing'' and ``presiding 
member'' have been added to Sec. 20.3 to reflect the Board's 
interpretation of Public Law 103-271 and, in Sec. 20.900, paragraph (b) 
has been revised and paragraph (d) added to reflect the Board's 
interpretation of the requirement, established by Public Law 103-446, 
Section 302, that cases remanded by the Court of Veterans Appeals be 
treated expeditiously.
    Further, Sec. 19.11(b) has been amended to provide that 
reconsideration panels are to be enlarged in increments of three as 
necessary to obtain a majority decision. This constitutes the policy 
for the Board to use in implementing the provisions of Public Law 103-
271.
    Finally, Parts 19 and 20 are amended to update current titles and 
designations within the Board, and to make other nonsubstantive 
changes.
    This final rule consists of incorporation of statutory provisions, 
interpretive rules, rules of agency procedure or practice, and 
nonsubstantive changes and, therefore, is not subject to the notice and 
comment and effective date provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553.
    The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 
601-602, since it does not contain any substantive provisions. This 
final rule would not cause a significant effect on any entities. 
Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this amendment is exempt from 
the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of 
sections 603 and 604.
    Incorporation of statutory provisions and statutory interpretations 
made by this final rule will be applied retroactively from the 
effective dates of the statutory provisions. The dates of application 
for such changes and for certain of the nonsubstantive changes made for 
clarity, to correct typographical errors, or to reflect statutory 
recodification changes are as follows:
    July 1, 1994: Secs. 19.3(a) and (b); 19.4; 19.9; 19.11; 19.12(b); 
19.75; 19.76; 20.3(h) and (n); 20.102(c) and (d); 20.401(b); 20.606(a), 
(b), and (d); 20.608(b)(2); 20.700(b) and (d); 20.702(a), (c), (d), and 
(e); 20.704(a), (c), (d), (e), and (f); 20.705(b); 20.707; 20.708; 
20.711(e) and (h); 20.714(a)(4); 20.715; 20.716; 20.717(d); 20.901(e); 
20.1003; 20.1100(a); and 20.1304(b).
    November 2, 1994: Sec. 20.900(b) and (d).

List of Subjects

38 CFR Part 19

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Veterans.

38 CFR Part 20

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Lawyers, Legal 
services, Veterans.

    Approved: April 30, 1996.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 38 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, parts 19 and 20, are amended under the authority 
of Public Law 103-271, 108 Stat. 740, and Public Law 103-446, 108 Stat. 
4645, as set forth below:

PART 19--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: APPEALS REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a)

Subpart A--Operation of the Board of Veterans' Appeals

    2. Section 19.2 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.2  Composition of the Board.

    The Board consists of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Deputy Vice 
Chairmen, Members and professional, administrative, clerical and 
stenographic personnel. Deputy Vice Chairmen are Members of the Board 
who are appointed to that office by the Secretary upon the 
recommendation of the Chairman.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 512, 7101(a))

    3. Section 19.3 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.3  Assignment of proceedings.

    (a) Assignment. The Chairman may assign a proceeding instituted 
before the Board, including any motion, to an individual Member or to a 
panel of three or more Members for adjudication or other appropriate 
action. The Chairman may participate in a proceeding assigned to a 
panel of Members.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102)

    (b) Inability to serve. If a Member is unable to participate in the 
disposition of a proceeding or motion to which the Member has been 
assigned, the Chairman may assign the proceeding or motion to another 
Member or substitute another Member (in the case of a proceeding or 
motion assigned to a panel).

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7101(a), 7102)


Sec. 19.4  [Amended]

    In Sec. 19.4 the authority citation is revised to read as follows:

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7104, 7107)

    5. Section 19.7 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 19.7  The decision.

* * * * *

[[Page 20449]]

    (c) A decision by a panel of Members will be by a majority vote of 
the panel Members.
    6. Section 19.9 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.9  Remand for further development.

    When, during the course of review, it is determined that further 
evidence or clarification of the evidence or correction of a procedural 
defect is essential for a proper appellate decision, a Member or panel 
of Members of the Board shall remand the case to the agency of original 
jurisdiction, specifying the action to be undertaken.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7104(a))

    7. Section 19.11 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.11  Reconsideration panel.

    (a) Assignment of Members. When a motion for reconsideration is 
allowed, the Chairman will assign a panel of three or more Members of 
the Board, which may include the Chairman, to conduct the 
reconsideration.
    (b) Number of Members constituting a reconsideration panel. In the 
case of a matter originally heard by a single Member of the Board, the 
case shall be referred to a panel of three Members of the Board. In the 
case of a matter originally heard by a panel of Members of the Board, 
the case shall be referred to an enlarged panel, consisting of three or 
more Members than the original panel. In order to obtain a majority 
opinion, the number of Members assigned to a reconsideration panel may 
be increased in successive increments of three.
    (c) Members included in the reconsideration panel. The 
reconsideration panel may not include any Member who participated in 
the decision that is being reconsidered. Additional Members will be 
assigned in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7103)

    8. Section 19.12(b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.12  Disqualification of Members.

* * * * *
    (b) Appeal on same issue subsequent to decision on administrative 
appeal. Any Member of the Board who made the decision on an 
administrative appeal will disqualify himself or herself from acting on 
a subsequent appeal by the claimant on the same issue.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7104, 7106)
* * * * *

Subpart B--Appeals Processing by Agency of Original Jurisdiction


Sec. 19.30  [Amended]

    9. In Sec. 19.30 paragraph (b), is amended by removing ``VA Form 1-
9'' and adding, in its place, ``VA Form 9''.


Sec. 19.31  [Amended]

    10. In Sec. 19.31, the last sentence is removed.


Sec. 19.35  [Amended]

    11. Section 19.35 is amended by removing ``VA Form 1-8'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 8''.

Subpart C--Administrative Appeals

    12. Section 19.51(a)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.51  Officials authorized to file administrative appeals and 
time limits for filing.

* * * * *
    (a) Central Office--(1) Officials. The Under Secretary for Benefits 
or a service director of the Veterans Benefits Administration, the 
Under Secretary for Health or a service director of the Veterans Health 
Administration, and the General Counsel.
* * * * *
    13. The heading for Subpart D is revised to read as follows:

Subpart D--Hearings Before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at 
Department of Veterans Affairs Field Facilities

    14. Section 19.75 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.75  Hearing docket.

    Hearings on appeal held at Department of Veterans Affairs field 
facilities will be scheduled for each area served by a regional office 
in the order in which requests for such hearings within that area are 
received by the Department except when a motion to advance the case on 
the hearing docket is granted under Rule of Practice 704(f) (38 CFR 
20.704(f)).

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7107)

    15. Section 19.76 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 19.76  Notice of time and place of hearing before the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals at Department of Veterans Affairs field facilities.

    The agency of original jurisdiction will notify the appellant and 
his or her representative of the place and time of a hearing before the 
Board of Veterans' Appeals at a Department of Veterans Affairs field 
facility not less than 60 days prior to the hearing date. This time 
limitation does not apply to hearings which have been rescheduled due 
to a postponement requested by an appellant, or on his or her behalf, 
or due to the prior failure of an appellant to appear at a scheduled 
hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at a Department of 
Veterans Affairs field facility with good cause. The right to notice at 
least 60 days in advance will be deemed to have been waived if an 
appellant accepts an earlier hearing date due to the cancellation of 
another previously scheduled hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7107)


Sec. 19.77  [Removed and revised]

    16. Section 19.77 is removed, and revised.

Subpart E--Simultaneously Contested Claims

    17. Section 19.101 is amended by removing ``VA Form 1-9'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 9''.

PART 20--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: RULES OF PRACTICE

    18. The authority citation for part 20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a)

Subpart A--General

    19. Section 20.3 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (h), (i), 
(j), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (o), and (p) 
respectively, and adding new paragraphs (h) and (n) to read as follows:


Sec. 20.3  Rule 3. Definitions.

* * * * *
    (h) Electronic hearing means a hearing on appeal in which an 
appellant or a representative participates, through voice transmission 
or through picture and voice transmission, by electronic or other 
means, in a hearing with a Member or Members sitting at the Board's 
principal location in Washington, DC.
* * * * *
    (n) Presiding Member means that Member of the Board who presides 
over a hearing, whether conducted as a single Member or panel hearing.
* * * * *

Subpart B--The Board

    20. In Sec. 20.102 paragraph (d) is removed, and paragraph (c) is 
revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.102.  Rule 102. Delegation of authority--Rules of Practice.

* * * * *
    (c) The authority exercised by the Chairman of the Board of 
Veterans'

[[Page 20450]]

Appeals described in Rules 2 and 606(e) (Secs. 20.2, and 20.606(e) of 
this part), may also be exercised by the Vice Chairman of the Board; by 
Deputy Vice Chairmen of the Board; and, in connection with a proceeding 
or motion assigned to them by the Chairman, by a Member or Members of 
the Board.
* * * * *

Subpart C--Commencement and Perfection of Appeal


Sec. 20.202  [Amended]

    21. Section 20.202 is amended by removing ``VA Form 1-9'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 9''.

Subpart E--Administrative Appeals

    22. In Sec. 20.401, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.401  Rule 401. Effect of decision on administrative or merged 
appeal on claimant's appellate rights.

* * * * *
    (b) Appeal not merged. If the claimant does not authorize merger, 
normal appellate rights on the same issue are preserved, and the 
Chairman will assign the proceeding to a Member or panel of Members of 
the Board who did not make the decision on the administrative appeal. 
The period of time from the date of notification to the claimant of the 
administrative appeal to the date of the Board's decision on the 
administrative appeal is not chargeable to the claimant for purposes of 
determining the time limit for perfecting his or her separate appeal.
* * * * *

Subpart G--Representation


Sec. 20.603  [Amended]

    23. Section 20.603(a) is amended by removing ``VA Form 2-22a'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 22a''.


Sec. 20.604  [Amended]

    24. Section 20.604(a) is amended by removing ``VA Form 2-22a'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 22a''.


Sec. 20.605  [Amended]

    25. Section 20.605(c) is amended by removing ``VA Form 2-22a'' and 
adding, in its place, ``VA Form 22a''.


Sec. 20.606  [Amended]

    26. In Sec. 20.606, paragraph (a) is amended by removing ``before 
traveling Sections of the Board''. Paragraph (b) is amended by removing 
``Chief, Hearing Section (014B)'' and adding, in its place, ``Director, 
Administrative Service (014)''; and by removing ``appeals before 
traveling Sections of the Board'' and adding, in its place, ``hearings 
before a Member or Members of the Board at Department of Veterans field 
facilities''; and by removing ``traveling Section'' and adding, in its 
place, ``hearing''. Paragraph (d) is amended by removing ``Chief of 
Hearing Section'' and adding, in its place, ``Director of the 
Administrative Service''; and by removing ``proceedings before 
traveling Sections'' and adding, in its place, ``hearings before a 
Member or Members''; and by revising the phrase ``not more than 10 days 
prior to the scheduled hearing date'' to read, ``not less than 10 days 
prior to the scheduled hearing date,'' and reinserting it directly 
after the first appearance of ``attorney-at-law'' in the second 
sentence; and removing ``traveling Section'' in the third sentence and 
adding, in its place, ``hearing''.


Sec. 20.608  [Amended]

    27. In Sec. 20.608, paragraph (b)(2), the last sentence is removed.
    28. The heading for Subpart H is revised to read as follows:

Subpart H--Hearings on Appeal

    29. In Sec. 20.700, paragraph (b) is amended in the third sentence 
by removing ``personal'', and by removing ``of the hearing panel 
involved'' in the last sentence and adding, in its place, ``assigned to 
conduct the hearing''; paragraph (d) is amended in the second sentence 
by removing ``a Board of Veterans' Appeals hearing panel'' and adding, 
in its place, ``the Board of Veterans Appeals'', and by removing 
``panel members'' in the third sentence and adding, in its place, 
``Member or Members to whom the appeal has been assigned for a 
determination''; a new paragraph (e) is added; and the authority 
citation is revised to read as follows.


Sec. 20.700  Rule 700. General.

* * * * *
    (e) Electronic hearings. When suitable facilities and equipment are 
available, an appellant may be scheduled for an electronic hearing. Any 
such hearing will be in lieu of a hearing held by personally appearing 
before a Member or panel of Members of the Board and shall be conducted 
in the same manner as, and considered the equivalent of, such a 
hearing. If an appellant declines to participate in an electronic 
hearing, the appellant's opportunity to participate in a hearing before 
the Board shall not be affected.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)


Sec. 20.701  [Amended]

    30. In Sec. 20.701, the authority citation is revised to read as 
follows:

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105, 7107)

    31. Section 20.702 is amended by revising the last sentence in 
paragraph (c)(1), the last two sentences in paragraph (c)(2), the 
fourth and last sentences in paragraph (d), the last sentence in 
paragraph (e), and the authority citations for paragraphs (a) through 
(e) to read as follows:


Sec. 20.702  Rule 702. Scheduling and notice of hearings conducted by 
the Board of Veterans' Appeals in Washington, DC.

    (a) * * *

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    (b) * * *

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    (c) Requests for changes in hearing dates. (1) * * * In the case of 
hearings to be conducted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals in 
Washington, DC, such requests for a new hearing date must be filed 
with: Director, Administrative Service (014), Board of Veterans' 
Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420.
    (2) * * * In the case of a hearing conducted by the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals in Washington, DC, whether good cause for 
establishing a new hearing date has been shown will be determined by 
the presiding Member assigned to conduct the hearing. In the case of 
hearings to be conducted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals in 
Washington, DC, the motion for a new hearing date must be filed with: 
Director, Administrative Service (014), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7105A, 7107)

    (d) Failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. * * * In the case of 
hearings to be conducted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals in 
Washington, DC, the motion must be filed with: Director, Administrative 
Service (014), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20420. * * * In the case of hearings before the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals in Washington, DC, whether good cause for such 
failure to appear has been established will be determined by the 
presiding Member assigned to conduct the hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7105A, 7107)

    (e) Withdrawal of hearing requests. * * * In the case of hearings 
to be conducted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals in Washington, DC, 
the notice of withdrawal must be sent to: Director, Administrative 
Service (014), Board of

[[Page 20451]]

Veterans' Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 2900-0085)

    32. Section 20.703 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.703  Rule 703. When right arises to hearing before the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals at a Department of Veterans Affairs field facility.

    A hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at a Department of 
Veterans Affairs field facility is a ``hearing on appeal.'' 
Accordingly, there is no right to such a hearing until a Notice of 
Disagreement has been filed. Any request for such a hearing filed with 
a Notice of Disagreement, or filed subsequent to the filing of a Notice 
of Disagreement, will be accepted by the agency of original 
jurisdiction. Requests for such hearings filed before a Notice of 
Disagreement has been filed, or after the Board has entered a final 
decision in the case on the issue (or issues) appealed will be 
rejected, except for requests for such hearings after a Notice of 
Disagreement has been filed appealing a denial of benefits in a 
reopened claim which followed a prior Board decision or after a motion 
for reconsideration of a prior Board decision has been granted.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7105(a), 7107)

    33. In Sec. 20.704, the section heading; paragraphs (a), (c), (d), 
and (e); and the authority citation are revised and paragraph (f) is 
added to read as follows:


Sec. 20.704  Rule 704. Scheduling and notice of hearings conducted by 
the Board of Veterans' Appeals at Department of Veterans Affairs field 
facilities.

    (a) General. Hearings are conducted by a Member or Members of the 
Board of Veterans' Appeals during prescheduled visits to Department of 
Veterans Affairs facilities having adequate physical resources and 
personnel for the support of such hearings. The hearings will be 
scheduled in the order in which requests for such hearings within that 
area were received by the agency of original jurisdiction, except as 
provided in paragraph (f). Requests for such hearings must be submitted 
to the agency of original jurisdiction, in writing, and should not be 
submitted directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
* * * * *
    (c) Requests for changes in hearing dates. Requests for a change in 
a hearing date may be made at any time up to two weeks prior to the 
scheduled date of the hearing if good cause is shown. Such requests 
must be in writing, must explain why a new hearing date is necessary, 
and must be filed with the office of the official of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs who signed the notice of the original hearing date. 
Examples of good cause include, but are not limited to, illness of the 
appellant and/or representative, difficulty in obtaining necessary 
records, and unavailability of a necessary witness. If good cause is 
shown, the hearing will be rescheduled for the next available hearing 
date after the appellant or his or her representative gives notice that 
the contingency which gave rise to the request for postponement has 
been removed. If good cause is not shown, the appellant and his or her 
representative will be promptly notified and given an opportunity to 
appear at the hearing as previously scheduled. If the appellant elects 
not to appear at the prescheduled date, the request for a hearing will 
be considered to have been withdrawn. In such cases, however, the 
record will be submitted for review by the Member who would have 
presided over the hearing. If the presiding Member determines that good 
cause has been shown, the hearing will be rescheduled for the next 
available hearing date after the contingency which gave rise to the 
request for postponement has been removed.
    (d) Failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. If an appellant (or 
when a hearing only for oral argument by a representative has been 
authorized, the representative) fails to appear for a scheduled hearing 
and a request for postponement has not been received and granted, the 
case will be processed as though the request for a hearing had been 
withdrawn. No further request for a hearing will be granted in the same 
appeal unless such failure to appear was with good cause and the cause 
for the failure to appear arose under such circumstances that a timely 
request for postponement could not have been submitted prior to the 
scheduled hearing date. A motion for a new hearing date following a 
failure to appear for a scheduled hearing must be in writing, must be 
filed within 15 days of the originally scheduled hearing date, and must 
explain why the appellant failed to appear for the hearing and why a 
timely request for a new hearing date could not have been submitted. 
Such motions must be filed with: Director, Administrative Service 
(014), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20420. Whether good cause for such failure to appear and the 
impossibility of timely requesting postponement have been established 
will be determined by the Member who would have presided over the 
hearing. If good cause and the impossibility of timely requesting 
postponement are shown, the hearing will be rescheduled for the next 
available hearing date at the same facility after the appellant or his 
or her representative gives notice that the contingency which gave rise 
to the failure to appear has been removed.
    (e) Withdrawal of hearing requests. A request for a hearing may be 
withdrawn by an appellant at any time before the date of the hearing. A 
request for a hearing may not be withdrawn by an appellant's 
representative without the consent of the appellant. Notices of 
withdrawal must be submitted to the office of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs official who signed the notice of the hearing date.
    (f) Advancement of the case on the hearing docket. A hearing may be 
scheduled at a time earlier than would be provided for under paragraph 
(a) upon written motion of the appellant or the representative showing 
that the appellant is seriously ill or under severe financial hardship. 
The motion must be filed with the Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. The ruling on the motion 
will be by the Member assigned as the presiding Member for the hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7107)

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 2900-0085)

    34. Section 20.705(b) and the authority citation are revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 20.705  Rule 705. Where hearings are conducted.

* * * * *
    (b) At a Department of Veterans Affairs facility having adequate 
physical resources and personnel for the support of such hearings.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)


Sec. 20.706  [Amended]

    35. In Sec. 20.706, the authority citation is revised to read as 
follows:

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    36. Section 20.707 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.707  Rule 707. Designation of Member or Members to conduct the 
hearing.

    The Member or panel to whom a proceeding is assigned under 
Sec. 19.3 of this part shall conduct any hearing before the Board in 
connection with that proceeding. Where a proceeding has been assigned 
to a panel, the Chairman,

[[Page 20452]]

or the Chairman's designee, shall designate one of the Members as the 
presiding Member. The Member or Members who conduct the hearing shall 
participate in making the final determination of the claim, subject to 
the exception in Sec. 19.11(c) of this part (relating to 
reconsideration of a decision).

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7107)

    37. Section 20.708 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.708  Rule 708. Prehearing conference.

    An appellant's authorized representative may request a prehearing 
conference with the presiding Member of a hearing to clarify the issues 
to be considered at a hearing on appeal, obtain rulings on the 
admissibility of evidence, develop stipulations of fact, establish the 
length of argument which will be permitted, or take other steps which 
will make the hearing itself more efficient and productive. With 
respect to hearings to be held before the Board at Washington, DC, 
arrangements for a prehearing conference must be made through: 
Director, Administrative Service (014), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. Requests for prehearing 
conferences in cases involving hearings to be held before the Board at 
Department of Veterans Affairs field facilities must be addressed to 
the office of the Department of Veterans Affairs official who signed 
the letter giving notice of the time and place of the hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)


Sec. 20.709  [Amended]

    38. Section 20.709 is amended by revising the authority citation to 
read as follows:

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    39. Section 20.710 is amended by revising the authority citation to 
read as follows:


Sec. 20.710  Rule 710. Witnesses at hearings.

* * * * *
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    40. Section 20.711 is amended by revising paragraphs (e) and (h) 
and the authority citation to read as follows:


Sec. 20.711  Rule 711. Subpoenas.

* * * * *
    (e) Ruling on motion for subpoena. Where the Chairman has assigned 
the appeal to a Member or panel, the ruling on the motion will be made 
by that Member or panel. Where the appeal has not been assigned, the 
Chairman will assign the matter for the purpose of ruling on the 
motion. Where the moving party seeks production of documents or other 
tangible evidence, the Member or panel may condition the granting of 
the motion upon the advancement by the moving party of the reasonable 
cost of producing the books, paper, documents, or other tangible 
evidence requested.
* * * * *
    (h) Motion to quash or modify subpoena. If an individual served 
with a subpoena considers the subpoena to be unreasonable or 
oppressive, he or she may move that the subpoena be quashed or 
modified. Such motions must be in writing and must explain why the 
subpoena is unreasonable or oppressive and what relief is sought. Such 
motions must be filed with the Board not more than 10 days following 
receipt of the subpoena. Rulings on such motions will be made by the 
Member or panel authorizing the subpoena, who will inform all 
interested parties of the ruling in writing. The quashing of any 
subpoena will be conditional upon the return of the check for fees and 
mileage to the party on whose behalf the subpoena was issued.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5711, 7102(a), 7107)

    41. In Sec. 20.714, paragraph (a) introductory text is amended by 
revising the first sentence; paragraph (a)(1) is amended by removing 
``of the hearing panel'' in the second sentence, and by removing 
``Chief, Hearing Section (014B)'' in the last sentence and adding, in 
its place, ``Director, Administrative Service (014); and paragraph 
(a)(4) introductory text and the authority citation at the end of the 
section are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.714  Rule 714. Record of hearing.

    (a) Board of Veterans' Appeals. A hearing before a Member or panel 
of Members of the Board, whether held in Washington, DC, or at a 
Department of Veterans Affairs field facility, will be recorded on 
audio tape. * * *
* * * * *
    (4) With respect to hearings conducted by a Member or Members of 
the Board at a Department of Veterans Affairs field facility : * * *
* * * * *
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    42. In Sec. 20.715 the last two sentences and the authority 
citation are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.715  Rule 715. Recording of hearing by appellant or 
representative.

    * * * In the case of hearings held before the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals in Washington, DC, arrangements must be made with the Director 
of the Administrative Service (014), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. In the case of hearings held 
before the Board at Department of Veterans Affairs field facilities, 
arrangements must be made through the office of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs official who signed the letter giving notification of 
the time and place of the hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    43. In Sec. 20.716 the last two sentences and the authority 
citation are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.716  Rule 716. Correction of hearing transcripts.

    * * * In the case of hearings held before the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals, whether in Washington, DC, or in the field, the motion must be 
filed with the Director, Administrative Service (014), Board of 
Veterans' Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. The 
ruling on the motion will be made by the presiding Member of the 
hearing.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

    44. Section 20.717, paragraph (c) is amended by removing ``Chief, 
Hearing Section (0141F)'' and adding, in its place, ``Director, 
Administrative Service (014); and by revising paragraph (d) and the 
authority citation to read as follows:


Sec. 20.717  Rule 717. Loss of hearing tapes or transcripts--motion for 
new hearing.

* * * * *
    (d) Ruling on motion for a new hearing. The ruling on the motion 
for a new hearing will be made by the Member who presided over the 
hearing. If the presiding Member is no longer available, the ruling on 
the motion may be made by the Member or Members to whom the case has 
been assigned for a determination. In cases in which a final Board of 
Veterans' Appeals decision has already been promulgated with respect to 
the appeal in question, the Chairman will assign the matter in 
accordance with Sec. 19.3 of this title. Factors to be considered in 
ruling on the motion include, but will not be limited to, the extent of 
the loss of the record in those cases where only a portion of a hearing 
tape is unintelligible or only a portion of a transcript has been lost 
or destroyed, and the extent and reasonableness of any delay in moving 
for a new hearing. If a new hearing is granted in a case in which a 
final Board of Veterans' Appeals decision has already been promulgated, 
a supplemental decision will be issued.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)

[[Page 20453]]

Subpart J--Action by the Board

    45. Section 20.900 is amended by revising paragraph (b) and the 
authority citation, and by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 20.900  Rule 900. Order of consideration of appeals.

* * * * *
    (b) Appeals considered in docket order. Appeals are considered in 
the order in which they are entered on the docket, except as provided 
in paragraphs (c) and (d).
* * * * *
    (d) Consideration of appeals remanded by the United States Court of 
Veterans Appeals. A case remanded by the United States Court of 
Veterans Appeals for additional development or other appropriate action 
will be treated expeditiously by the Board without regard to its place 
on the Board's docket.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7107, Pub. Law No. 103-446 Sec. 302)

    46. Section 20.901(e) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.901  Rule 901. Medical opinions and opinions of the General 
Counsel.

* * * * *
    (e) For purposes of this section, the term ``the Board'' includes 
the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, any Deputy Vice Chairman, and any 
Member of the Board before whom a case is pending.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5107(a), 7104(c), 7109)

Subpart K--Reconsideration

    47. Section 20.1003 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.1003  Rule 1003. Hearings on reconsideration.

    After a motion for reconsideration has been allowed, a hearing will 
be granted if an appellant requests a hearing before the Board. The 
hearing will be held by a Member or Members assigned to the 
reconsideration panel. A hearing will not normally be scheduled solely 
for the purpose of receiving argument by a representative. Such 
argument should be submitted in the form of a written brief. Oral 
argument may also be submitted on audio cassette for transcription for 
the record in accordance with Rule 700(d) (Sec. 20.700(d) of this 
part). Requests for appearances by representatives alone to personally 
present argument to a Member or panel of Members of the Board may be 
granted if good cause is shown. Whether good cause has been shown will 
be determined by the presiding Member.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7103, 7105(a))

Subpart L--Finality

    48. In section 20.1100(a), the last sentence is amended by removing 
``Section'' and adding, in its place, ``Panel''; and the first sentence 
is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 20.1100  Rule 1100. Finality of decisions of the Board.

    (a) General. All decisions of the Board will be stamped with the 
date of mailing on the face of the decision. * * *
* * * * *

Subpart N--Miscellaneous


Sec. 20.1304  [Amended]

    49. In Sec. 20.1304 paragraph (b) is amended by removing the next-
to-the-last sentence reading ``The ruling on the motion will be by the 
Chairman.''.

[FR Doc. 96-11279 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P