Legal Definitions - Board of Veterans' Appeals

The Board of Veterans' Appeals is a specialized agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that serves as the highest administrative body for reviewing appeals from veterans. When a veteran disagrees with a decision made by a local VA office regarding their eligibility for various benefits—such as disability compensation, healthcare, or educational assistance—they can appeal to the Board. The Board's role is to conduct an independent, thorough review of the veteran's case, considering all submitted evidence and applicable laws, before issuing a final decision. If a veteran remains dissatisfied with the Board's ruling, they may then seek further review from the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Here are some examples of situations where the Board of Veterans' Appeals would be involved:

• Disability Compensation Appeal: A veteran named David filed a claim for disability compensation, asserting that his chronic back pain was a direct result of an injury sustained during his military service. The local VA regional office denied his claim, stating there wasn't sufficient medical evidence to establish a "service connection." David believes the VA overlooked key documents and medical opinions. He can appeal this denial to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which will independently review all the evidence in his file, including any new information he submits, to determine if his back pain should be recognized as service-connected and thus eligible for compensation.

• Education Benefits Dispute: After serving four years, Maria applied for her Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to attend a university. The VA informed her that she was only eligible for 70% of the maximum benefit, rather than the 100% she believed she qualified for based on her length and type of service. Maria disputes this calculation, believing an error was made in assessing her service time. She can appeal this decision to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which will examine her service records and the specific criteria for education benefits to ascertain if she is entitled to a higher percentage of the GI Bill.

• Healthcare Eligibility Denial: Robert, a veteran, sought specialized mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a VA medical center. The local facility denied his request for a specific, intensive outpatient program, stating that his current symptoms did not meet the strict eligibility criteria for that particular program. Robert, however, believes his condition warrants this specialized care. He can appeal this denial to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which will review his medical history, current diagnoses, and the VA's eligibility guidelines for the program to decide if the local facility's decision was correct or if he should be granted access to the treatment.