Glossary

This glossary contains many of the terms commonly used in the appeal process. 38 U.S.C. § 101 also defines many claim and appeal terms.

Advance on the Docket: A change in the order in which an appeal is reviewed and decided — from the date when it would normally occur to an earlier date.

Appeal: A request for a review of an Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) determination on a claim.

Appellant: An individual who has appealed an AOJ claim determination.

Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ): The office where a claim originates.

Board: The Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA): The part of VA that reviews benefit claims appeals and that issues decisions on those appeals.

Board Member: See Member of the Board.

BVA Hearing: A personal hearing, held at the BVA office in Washington, D.C., or at a regional office, that is conducted by a member of the Board. A BVA hearing can be held by videoconference from some regional offices. Also see Travel Board Hearing.

Claim: A request for veterans' benefits.

Claim Number: A number assigned by VA that identifies a person who has filed a claim; often called a "C-number."

Claims File: Same as claims folder.

Claims Folder: The file containing all documents concerning a veteran's claim or appeal.

Court of Veterans Appeals: See United States Court of Veterans Appeals.

Decision: The final product of BVA's review of an appeal. Possible decisions are to grant or deny the benefit or benefits claimed, or to remand the case back to the AOJ for additional action.

Determination: A decision on a claim made at the AOJ.

Docket: A listing of appeals that have been filed with BVA. Appeals are listed in numerical order, called docket number order, based on when a VA Form 9 is received by VA.

Docket Number: The number assigned to an appeal when a VA Form 9 is received by VA. By law, cases are reviewed by the Board in docket number order.

File: To submit in writing.

Hearing: A meeting, similar to an interview, between an appellant and an official from VA who will decide an appellant's case, during which testimony and other evidence supporting the case is presented. There are two types of personal hearings: Regional office hearings (also called local office hearings) and BVA hearings.

Issue: A benefit sought on a claim or an appeal. For example, if an appeal seeks a decision on three different matters, the appeal is said to contain three issues.

Local Office Hearing: See Regional Office Hearing.

Member of the Board: An attorney, appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and approved by the President, who decides veterans' benefit appeals.

Motion: A legal term used to describe a request that some specific action be taken.

Motion to Advance on the Docket: A request that BVA review and decide an appeal sooner than when it normally would based on the appeal's docket number order.

Motion to Reconsider: A request for BVA to review its decision on an appeal.

Notice of Disagreement (NOD): A written statement expressing dissatisfaction or disagreement with a local VA office's determination on a benefit claim that must be filed within one year of the date of the regional office's decision.

Regional Office (RO): A local VA office; there are 58 VA regional offices throughout the U.S. and its territories.

Regional Office Hearing: A personal hearing conducted by an RO officer. A regional office hearing may be conducted in addition to a BVA hearing.

Remand: An appeal returned to the regional office or medical facility where the claim originated.

Representative: Someone familiar with the benefit claim process who assists claimants in the preparation and presentation of an appeal. Most representatives are Veterans' Service Organization employees who specialize in veterans' benefit claims. Most states, commonwealths, and territories also have experienced representatives to assist veterans. Other individuals, such as lawyers, may also serve as appeal representatives.

RO Hearing: See Regional Office Hearing.

Statement of the Case (SOC): Prepared by the AOJ, this is a summary of the evidence considered, as well as a listing of the laws and regulations used in deciding a benefit claim. It also provides information on the right to appeal an BVA.

Substantive Appeal: A completed VA Form 9.

Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC): A summary, similar to an SOC, that VA prepares if a VA Form 9 contains a new issue or presents new evidence and the benefit is still denied. A Supplemental Statement of the Case will also be provided after an appeal is returned (remanded) to the RO by the Board for new or additional action.

Travel Board Hearing: A personal hearing conducted at a VA regional office by a member of the Board.

United States Court of Veterans Appeals: An independent court that reviews appeals of BVA decisions.

VA Form 9: This form, which accompanies the SOC, formally initiates the appeal process.

Veterans' Service Organization (VSO): An organization that represents the interests of veterans. Most Veterans' Service Organizations have specific membership criteria, although membership is not usually required to obtain assistance with benefit claims or appeals.

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