Only the claimant may seek a review by the court. To appeal to the court, the claimant must have filed a Notice of Disagreement, which starts the appeal process at the VA regional office or medical center, on or after Nov. 18, 1988. The notice of appeal must be received by the court within 120 days after the board mails its final decision. The court does not hold trials or receive new evidence. The court reviews the record which was considered by VA and was available to the board.
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 nonlawyers as representatives. For information about the court's rules and procedures, contact the clerk's office at 625 Indiana Ave.