BVA Hearing: In-Person, Video, or Virtual

What you get

A chance to talk with a Veterans Law Judge about your Board Appeal, from home, at a VA location near you, or at the Board in Washington, DC.

What a Board hearing needs

1. 1A hearing request on the Board Appeal formYou ask for a hearing when you file VA Form 10182, or when you file a new form to change your Board Appeal option. A request at any other time is not accepted.
2. 2The way you will meet the judgeYou pick virtual, video conference, or in person. The Board tells you the method, and you can make one request to change it. For a virtual hearing, you need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera, a microphone, and a strong internet connection.
3. 3Being there on the dateThe Board mails a notice of the date, time, and place at least 30 days before the hearing. If you do not come and no new date was granted, the Board treats the hearing request as withdrawn.

Source: 38 CFR 20.703(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board Appeals (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.703(d) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: virtual hearings for a Board Appeal (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.703 (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.704(d) (opens in new tab)

Hearing or no hearing?

• A hearing with a Veterans Law Judge

  A hearing is optional. You talk with a judge about your appeal, and you can bring new evidence. There are three ways to have it. You can have a virtual hearing from home, a video conference hearing at a VA location near you, or an in-person hearing at the Board in Washington, DC, where you pay your own travel.

  Source: 38 CFR 20.700 (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.702 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board Appeals (opens in new tab)

• Withdraw the hearing request

  You can cancel the hearing request in writing before the hearing date. You still have 90 days after the withdrawal to send evidence. Withdrawing does not speed up your appeal unless you also switch to Direct Review, which you can do only at certain times.

  1. 1A written withdrawal before the hearing dateYou send it to the Board. A representative cannot withdraw it without your consent.

  Source: 38 CFR 20.704(e) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.302 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab)

Time limits

Ask for a hearing on your Board Appeal form (VA Form 10182). You can add evidence at the hearing or within 90 days after it. If you miss a hearing for a reason you could not have warned the Board about, a written motion for a new date is due within 15 days of the original hearing date.

What to gather, and what it shows VA

Evidence goes to the Board at the hearing or by mail or fax after it. BeneVets does not ask you to send or type records here.

Steps, in order

1. Ask for a hearing on VA Form 10182

   Select the hearing option, then virtual, video conference, or in person. If your appeal is already on the Board docket with a hearing, you can ask to switch to a virtual hearing by email to BVAVirtualHearing@va.gov.

   Source: VA Form 10182 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: virtual hearings for a Board Appeal (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.703(a) (opens in new tab)

2. Get free help to prepare

   Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. Your representative can help you prepare and join the hearing with you.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab)

3. Watch for your hearing notice

   The Board schedules hearings in docket order (the Board's list of cases in order) and sends notice at least 30 days ahead. For a virtual hearing, test your device with the link in the email before the day.

   Source: 38 CFR 20.703 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab); VA.gov: virtual hearings for a Board Appeal (opens in new tab)

4. If you need a new date

   Send the Board a written request with good cause, such as illness or trouble getting records, as early as you can. The VA.gov hearing page gives the cutoff; closer to the date, you file a motion instead. A new date keeps your place on the docket.

   Source: 38 CFR 20.704(c) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab)

5. If you missed the hearing

   The Board treats a missed hearing as withdrawn. If something kept you from asking for a new date in time, a written motion explaining why is due by the deadline under Time limits. If the Board does not give you a new date, you have 90 days from the missed date to send evidence.

   Source: 38 CFR 20.704(d) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.302 (opens in new tab)

6. After the hearing

   Send any new evidence in the window under Time limits. When it closes, your case goes on the docket for a decision by the judge.

   Source: 38 CFR 20.302 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Board hearings with a Veterans Law Judge (opens in new tab)

Good to know