Board of Veterans' Appeals

Department of Veterans Affairs
Board of Veterans' Appeals
Department Seal
Board of Veterans Affairs logo
Agency overview
FormedJuly 21, 1930; 94 years ago (1930-07-21)
(Cabinet rank 15 March 1989)
TypeAppellate review board for decisions made by VA agencies, on behalf of the Secretary
JurisdictionUnited States federal government
StatusActive
HeadquartersVeteran Affairs Building
810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, D.C., U.S.
Employees108 Veterans Law Judges
850 Attorney-advisers
Non-attorney staff: unknown
Annual budgetFY 2022: $228 million
FY 2023: $285 million
FY 2024: $287 million (requested)
Agency executives
  • Jaime Areizaga-Soto, Chairman
  • Kenneth Arnold, Vice Chairman
  • Christopher Santoro, Sr. Deputy Vice Chairman
Parent departmentDepartment of Veterans Affairs
Websitewww.bva.va.gov Edit this at Wikidata

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) is an administrative tribunal within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), located in Washington, D.C. Established by Executive Order on July 28, 1933, the Board reviews and makes decisions on appeals concerning veterans' benefits. Its mission is to conduct hearings and issue decisions promptly, ensuring all relevant evidence and applicable laws and regulations are considered to provide fair outcomes for veterans, their dependents, and survivors. The Board operates on behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[1]

The Board's jurisdiction covers all questions in matters involving decisions by the Secretary under laws affecting the provision of benefits to veterans, their dependents, or survivors. Veterans, their dependents, or survivors dissatisfied with decisions made by an Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) within the VA—such as the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA), and VA Office of General Counsel (OGC).[2] The Board re-evaluates all evidence and legal arguments without deference to the AOJ's findings, except for favorable findings of fact for the claimant.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the BVA issued a record 103,245 decisions, marking the fifth consecutive year with over 95,000 decisions. Of these, 70,584 (68%) were legacy system appeals, and 32,661 (32%) were under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The Board also reduced its pending hearings inventory by 2.6%, from 74,411 to 72,465, with a significant 85% decrease in pending legacy appeals.[3]

  1. ^ 38 U.S.C. § 7101(a).
  2. ^ http://www.bva.va.gov/docs/Chairmans_Annual_Rpts/BVA2015AR.pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Veterans' Appeals Annual Report Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (PDF) (Report). Board of Veterans' Appeals.