What this means
m21-5:7.H.1 explains board field hearings. In plain terms, the official guidance says as of April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) assumed responsibility of scheduling all Board hearings at VA field stations. It also addresses hearings where all the presiding judge and witnesses physically provide testimony at the field facility are called Travel Board hearings.
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-5:7.H.1 to audit how VA handled board field hearings. Start with the decision date, the issue being reviewed, and the evidence VA was allowed to consider, then compare the record with this rule: As of April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) assumed responsibility of scheduling all Board hearings at VA field stations. Hearings where all the presiding judge and witnesses physically provide testimony at the field facility are called Travel Board hearings. Cite the exact document and page when raising a factual or procedural error, and use the review rights in the actual notice for any deadline.
What to review in your file
- Check the file against this official condition: when a Board hearing can be requested, and
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: 7.H.1.b. When a Board Hearing Can Be Requested
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: A substantive appeal must be filed before an appellant or accredited representative can request a hearing before the Board.
Important limits
m21-5:7.H.1 explains VA guidance for board field hearings; it does not guarantee an award or replace the statutes, regulations, binding decisions, and review instructions that control an individual claim. Conditions and exceptions still matter, including this source point: As of April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) assumed responsibility of scheduling all Board hearings at VA field stations. A substantive appeal must be filed before an appellant or accredited representative can request a hearing before the Board.
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- Board Field Hearings
- m21-5:7.H.1
- when Board hearing requested
- notification Travel Board visits.
- 7.H.1.a. Board Field Hearings
- April 2019 Board Appeals
- purposes this section refers
- Hearings where presiding judge
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
1. Board Field Hearings
Introduction
This topic contains information on the legacy Travel Board hearing docket, including
- Board field hearings
- when a Board hearing can be requested, and
- RO notification of Travel Board visits.
Change Date
May 27, 2022
7.H.1.a. Board Field Hearings
As of April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) assumed responsibility of scheduling all Board hearings at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) field stations.
For the purposes of this section, all information refers to legacy appeals.
Hearings where all the presiding judge and witnesses physically provide testimony at the field facility are called Travel Board hearings.
Hearings where the presiding judge is located at the Board's headquarters and the witnesses testify via videoconference at the field facility are called video hearings.
7.H.1.b. When a Board Hearing Can Be Requested
A substantive appeal must be filed before an appellant or accredited representative can request a hearing before the Board.
References: For more information on
- when a hearing before the Board at a field facility can be requested, see 38 CFR 20.703, and
- substantive appeal requirements, see M21-5, Chapter 6, Section B.3.b.
7.H.1.c. RO Notification of Travel Board Visits
ROs receive 30-day advance notice through Caseflow/VACOLS or other electronic means of
- Travel Board visits, and
- the number of cases the Travel Board will hear.