Va Form 0904 - Your Rights To Appeal The General Counsel'S Decision Concerning Your Fee Agreement

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YOUR RIGHTS TO APPEAL THE GENERAL COUNSEL'S DECISION
CONCERNING YOUR FEE AGREEMENT
The General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reached a decision on the motion for
review of your fee agreement.
What do I do if I disagree with the General Counsel's decision? You should write a letter to the General
Counsel stating that you disagree with the decision. This letter is called a “Notice of Disagreement.” Send your
Notice of Disagreement to: Office of the General Counsel (022D), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20420.
How soon must I state my disagreement with the decision? Your Notice of Disagreement must be
postmarked or received by the Office of the General Counsel within 60 days from the date of the letter notifying
you of the General Counsel's decision. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.501(a). The General Counsel's decision regarding
your fee agreement becomes final on the first day after this 60-day period if you do not file a Notice of
Disagreement.
What happens after the Office of the General Counsel receives my Notice of Disagreement? We will send
you a Statement of the Case if the General Counsel's decision regarding your fee agreement does not change. A
Statement of the Case describes the law that the General Counsel applied to the facts and the reasons for the
decision. We will also send you a VA Form 9, “Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals.”
What is an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals? An appeal is your formal request, using the VA Form
9, that the Board review the General Counsel's decision regarding your fee agreement. The Board can either
agree with the General Counsel's decision or change it. The Board can also send the matter back to the General
Counsel for more processing before the Board makes its decision.
How long do I have to appeal the decision? Your VA Form 9, also known as your “substantive appeal,” must
be postmarked or received by the Office of the General Counsel within 30 days from the date of the Statement of
the Case. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.501(b). The General Counsel's decision regarding your fee agreement becomes
final on the first day after this 30-day period if you do not file a substantive appeal.
If you do appeal, a copy of your substantive appeal must also be sent to the party with whom you have the
dispute over fees. The opposing party may file a brief or argument with the Office of the General Counsel in
answer to your substantive appeal within 30 days from the date your substantive appeal is furnished to the
opposing party. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.502. Upon receipt of the opposing party's filing, or upon the expiration of 30
days, the Office of the General Counsel will certify the case to the Board in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 19.35.
Can I get a hearing with the Board? Yes. If you decide to appeal, the Board will give you a hearing if you
want one. The VA Form 9 we will send you with the Statement of the Case has complete information about the
kinds of hearings the Board offers and check boxes for requesting a Board hearing. The Board does not require
you to have a hearing. It is your choice.
Where can I find out more about appealing to the Board? You can find a "plain language" booklet called
"How Do I Appeal," on the Internet at: The booklet also
may be requested by writing to: Hearings and Transcription Unit (014HRG), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810
Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.
You can find the rules for appealing to the Board in the Board's Rules of Practice at 38 C.F.R. part 20. You can
0904
(Please continue reading on page 2)
VA FORM
JUL 2010

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