The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) has held over 13,000 virtual tele-hearings. These virtual tele-hearings allow the Board to hold hearings for Veterans safely and efficiently from wherever the Veteran chooses. Best of all, the technology allows the Board to be more efficient and more productive, increasing the number of yearly hearings it can hold.
When a Veteran disagrees with a decision that VA made on their compensation claim, the Veteran has three options when asking for another look at the decision. One of those options is called an appeal, which is sent to BVA (the Board). At the Board, the Veteran has the choice to request a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge (Judge). The Veteran, their representative and the Judge all meet to discuss the Veteran’s appeal.
The Judge is there to help, asking the Veteran questions to better understand the appeal. After the hearing, the appeal is held for about 90 days or more before the Judge reviews the appeal and issues a decision.
Requesting a hearing does take the Board longer to decide the appeal. That’s because a lot of Veterans ask for hearings (more than 85,000 are waiting). Virtual tele-hearings allow the Board to hold more hearings. More hearings enable the Board to get more Veterans a faster decision.
Virtual tele-hearings allow the Veteran and representative to use their cellphone, computer, or tablet to have a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge. It is like a virtual doctor’s appointment. Veterans can do this from their home, from a car, or from any location with Wi-Fi.
If the Veteran chooses a virtual tele-hearing, the Board will send the Veteran or person assisting the Veteran an email with connection details. This email will connect the Veteran to a hearing with the Judge. The Board has people standing by to help if there are any technical difficulties before or during the hearing. A Veteran’s family member or caregiver can also attend and assist. Once the hearing is held, the Veteran’s appeal will move forward in the decision process.
Veterans can contact their accredited representatives and tell them to call the Board and ask for a virtual tele-hearing, or send the Board an email requesting a virtual hearing at mailto: BVAVirtualHearing@VA.gov .
