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Veterans Justice Clinic - Spring 2023

URL: https://libguides.law.ucla.edu/veteransclinicspring23

Agency Decisions & Case Law

VA Office of the General Counsel: General Counsel opinions are binding legal authority for the ROs (Regional Offices) and the BVA (Board of Veterans' Appeals).  They are summarized periodically in the Federal Register and available in full in the following sources: 

Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA): An administrative board within the V.A.; reviews, on appeal, the administrative decisions of the VA Regional Offices (VAROs).  These decisions are never precedential (see 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303). For Rules of Practice before the BVA, see 38 C.F.R. Part 20.

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (CAVC): Independent judicial body; reviews, on appeal, the administrative decisions of the BVA.  Decisions may be precedential and are published in the West's Veterans Appeals Reporter (Vet. App.). See Court Rules & Procedures; also a handy flowchart of the Court Process

  • CAVC website (1989-present)
  • Westlaw (Dec. 1989 - present) (links to PDF images from West's Vet. App. reporter are included) 
  • Lexis (Dec 1989 - present)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: reviews, on appeal, decisions of the CAVC.