To appeal to the court, the claimant must have filed a Notice of Disagreement on or after Nov. 18, 1988. The appeal must be filed with the court with a postmark that is 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. Appellants may represent themselves before the court or have lawyers or approved agents as representatives.
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 may seek review in the Supreme Court of the United States.