This court is independent of the Department of Veterans Affairs. To appeal to the court, the claimant must have filed a Notice of Disagreement on or after Nov. 18, 1988. The notice of appeal must be received by the court within 120 days after the Board of Veterans' Appeals mails its final decision. The court does not hold trials or receive new evidence. The court reviews the record that was considered by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Oral argument is held only at the direction of the court.
Either party may appeal a decision of the court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and to the Supreme Court of the United States. Appellants may represent themselves before the court or have lawyers or other agents as representatives.