# 38 C.F.R. § 20.703 (2026): Rule 703. When a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals may be requested; procedure for requesting a change in method of hearing > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_703 ## Section - **Citation:** 38 C.F.R. § 20.703 (2026) - **Heading:** Rule 703. When a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals may be requested; procedure for requesting a change in method of hearing - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Title 38 CFR: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief / Chapter I: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS / Part 20: BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS: RULES OF PRACTICE / Subpart H: Hearings on Appeal / § 20.703: § 20.703 Rule 703. When a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals may be requested › procedure for requesting a change in method of hearing. ## Text (a) How to request a hearing. An appellant, or an appellant's representative, may request a hearing before the Board when submitting the Notice of Disagreement, or when requesting to modify the Notice of Disagreement, as provided in Rule 202 (§ 20.202). Requests for such hearings at any other time will be rejected. (b) Board's determination of method of hearing. Following the receipt of a request for a hearing, the Board shall determine, for purposes of scheduling the hearing for the earliest practical date, whether a hearing before the Board will be held at its principal location or by picture and voice transmission at a facility of the Department located within the area served by a regional office of the Department. (c) Notification of method of hearing. The Board will notify the appellant and his or her representative of the method of a hearing before the Board. (d) How to request a change in method of hearing. If an appellant declines to participate in the method of hearing selected by the Board, the appellant's opportunity to participate in a hearing before the Board shall not be affected. Upon notification of the method of the hearing requested pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, an appellant may make one request for a different method of the requested hearing. If the appellant makes such a request, the Board shall grant the request and notify the appellant of the change in method of the hearing. (e) Notification of scheduling of hearing. The Board will notify the appellant and his or her representative of the scheduled time and location for the requested hearing not less than 30 days prior to the hearing date. This time limitation does not apply to hearings which have been rescheduled due to a postponement requested by an appellant, or on his or her behalf, or due to the prior failure of an appellant to appear at a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals with good cause sentative of the scheduled time and location for the requested hearing not less than 30 days prior to the hearing date. This time limitation does not apply to hearings which have been rescheduled due to a postponement requested by an appellant, or on his or her behalf, or due to the prior failure of an appellant to appear at a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals with good cause. The right to notice at least 30 days in advance will be deemed to have been waived if an appellant accepts an earlier hearing date due to the cancellation of another previously scheduled hearing. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7105(a), 7107) [84 FR 186, Jan. 18, 2019] ## Nearby sections - [38 C.F.R. § 20.700 (2026) § 20.700 Rule 700. General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_700.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.701 (2026) § 20.701 Rule 701. Who may present oral argument.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_701.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.702 (2026) § 20.702 Rule 702. Methods by which hearings are conducted.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_702.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.703 (2026) § 20.703 Rule 703. When a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals may be requested; procedure for requesting a change in method of hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_703.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.704 (2026) § 20.704 Rule 704. Scheduling and notice of hearings conducted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_704.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.705 (2026) § 20.705 Rule 705. Functions of the presiding Member.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_705.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.706 (2026) § 20.706 Rule 706. Designation of Member or Members to conduct the hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_706.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.707 (2026) § 20.707 Rule 707. Prehearing conference.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_707.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.708 (2026) § 20.708 Rule 708. Witness at hearings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_708.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.709 (2026) § 20.709 Rule 709. Subpoenas.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_709.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.710 (2026) § 20.710 Rule 710. Expenses of appellants, representatives, and witnesses incident to hearings not reimbursable by the Government.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_710.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.711 (2026) § 20.711 Rule 711. Hearings in simultaneously contested claims.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_711.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.712 (2026) § 20.712 Rule 712. Record of hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_712.md) - [38 C.F.R. § 20.713 (2026) § 20.713 Rule 713. Recording of hearing by appellant or representative.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_713.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P20_S20_703. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.