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Updated Jul 17, 2024

In This Section

  
This section contains the following topics:
 
Topic
Topic Name
1
 2 
 

1.  Board Field Hearings
 

Introduction

  
This topic contains information on the legacy Travel Board hearing docket, including

Change Date

  
 May 27, 2022

7.H.1.a.  Board Field Hearings

  
As of April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) assumed responsibility of scheduling all Board hearings at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) field stations. 
 
For the purposes of this section, all information refers to legacy appeals.
 
Hearings where all the presiding judge and witnesses physically provide testimony at the field facility are called Travel Board hearings.
 
Hearings where the presiding judge is located at the Board’s headquarters and the witnesses testify via videoconference at the field facility are called video hearings. 

7.H.1.b.   When a Board Hearing Can Be Requested

  
A substantive appeal must be filed before an appellant or their accredited representative can request a hearing before the Board.
 
References:  For more information on

7.H.1.c.  RO Notification of Travel Board Visits

  
ROs receive 30-day advance notice through Caseflow/VACOLS or other electronic means of
  • Travel Board visits, and
  • the number of cases the Travel Board will hear.
                                               
 

2.  Regional Office (RO) Responsibilities for Travel Board and Video Hearings

 

Introduction

  
This topic contains information on preparing for Travel Board and video hearings, including

Change Date

  
July 18, 2024

7.H.2.a.  RO Responsibilities for Board Field Hearings

  
When hearings have been scheduled, RO personnel are responsible for
  • printing and distributing the daily hearing docket
  • greeting the appellant and their representative, if applicable, on the day of the hearing
  • ensuring that the appellant and their representative are in the hearing room at the proper time
  • ensuring the equipment is provided and operational as provided in M21-5, Chapter 7, Section H.2.b and c, and
  • processing evidence and claims received at Board hearings as provided in M21-5, Chapter 7, Section H.2.d.
Notes: 
  • Follow the procedures in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 1.A or M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.A to ensure all mail received prior to the hearing is available in the eFolder.
  • An appellant’s accredited representative may access the appellant’s eFolder through the Veterans Benefit Management System (VBMS).
  • An appellant may view the contents of their eFolder by scheduling an appointment with the RO where the hearing will be held.
References:  For more information on

7.H.2.b.  Providing Computer Access to the eFolder at Travel Board Hearings

  
Before Travel Board hearings, RO staff must equip the hearing room with a computer properly configured to provide the presiding judge access to each appellant’s eFolder.

7.H.2.c.  Videoconference Equipment and Backup Phones

  
RO staff must ensure that videoconference equipment in the hearing room is properly set up and operational in advance of Board video hearings.
 
The videoconference equipment must be left on at all times.  The system will shut itself down after five minutes of non-use when disconnected from a videoconference call.
 
A backup phone system consisting of a normal speakerphone must also be available in the videoconference room so that the hearing may continue (with audio only) even if there is a disconnection in the video link between the Board and the RO.

7.H.2.d.  RO Handling of Evidence or Claims Submitted During Board Hearings

  
If, during the hearing, an appellant submits statements or other evidence related to the appeal before the Board
  • immediately date stamp the evidence, and
  • within one business day of the hearing, follow the procedures in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 1.A.2 to package and ship the mail to the appropriate scanning vendor for the Board.
For any new claims submitted during a Board hearing, ensure that these are processed expeditiously, consistent with the processing of new claims at RO hearings as provided in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 1.A.2.

7.H.2.e.  Board Administrative Responsibilities for Video Hearings

  
The Board is responsible for the
  • scheduling of all hearings with the Board
  • initiation of all videoconference calls to ROs
  • transcription of the digital audio recording of the hearing, and
  • association of the following with the corresponding claims folder:
    • the transcript of the hearing, and
    • additional evidence with waiver and witness forms.