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The Court was created under Article I of the Constitution by the Veterans' Judicial Review Act (Pub.L. No. 100-687) on November 18, 1988. Originally named the United States Court of Veterans Appeals, its name was changed effective March 1, 1999, by the Veterans' Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 (Pub.L. No. 105-368). The Court's seven judges are appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate, for 15 year terms. The law that created the Court is in chapter 72 of title 38, United States Code.
This federal court is not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It is not connected to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), which is an administrative body within VA.
The Court can review final decisions of the BVA. Only the claimant may seek such review. Most cases deal with entitlement to disability or survivor benefits, or the amount of those benefits, but a few deal with education benefits, life insurance, home loan foreclosure, or waiver of indebtedness.
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The Court's Rules of Practice and Procedure govern its procedures.
The Court does not hold trials, hear witness testimony, or receive new evidence. In deciding a case, it considers the BVA decision, the briefs submitted by the parties, and the record that was considered by VA and was available to the BVA.
If the issues warrant, the Court holds oral argument. Only about 1% of decided cases involve oral argument. The Court holds most arguments in its Washington courtroom, but sometimes conducts argument by telephone conference call.
Either party may appeal from a decision of the Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and, thereafter, may seek review in the Supreme Court of the United States.
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The Court's address is 625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20004-2950.
The Public Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except weekends and holidays.
Telephone for case-related matters: 202-501-5970
FAX for case-related filings, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: 202-501-5848.
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