# 38 CFR § 20.700: Rule 700. General

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.700

## Section

- **Citation:** 38 CFR § 20.700
- **Heading:** Rule 700. General
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 38—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

## Text

(a) Right to a hearing. A hearing on appeal will be granted if an appellant, or an appellant's representative acting on his or her behalf, expresses a desire to testify before the Board. An appellant is limited to one Board hearing following the filing of a Notice of Disagreement with a decision of the agency of original jurisdiction. Requests for additional Board hearings may be granted for good cause shown.
(b) Purpose of hearing. The purpose of a hearing is to receive argument and testimony relevant and material to the appellate issue or issues. It is contemplated that the appellant and witnesses, if any, will be present. A hearing will not normally be scheduled solely for the purpose of receiving argument by a representative. Such argument may be submitted in the form of a written brief. Requests for appearances by representatives alone to personally present argument to Members of the Board may be granted if good cause is shown. Whether good cause has been shown will be determined by the presiding Member assigned to conduct the hearing.
(c) Nonadversarial proceedings. Hearings conducted by the Board are ex parte in nature and nonadversarial. Parties to the hearing will be permitted to ask questions, including follow-up questions, of all witnesses but cross-examination will not be permitted. Proceedings will not be limited by legal rules of evidence, but reasonable bounds of relevancy and materiality will be maintained. The presiding Member may set reasonable time limits for the presentation of argument and may exclude documentary evidence, testimony, and/or argument which is not relevant or material to the issue, or issues, being considered or which is unduly repetitious.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7102, 7105(a), 7107)
[57 FR 4109, Feb. 3, 1992, as amended at 58 FR 27935, May 12, 1993; 61 FR 20450, May 7, 1996; 84 FR 184, Jan. 18, 2019]

## Nearby sections

- [38 CFR § 20.1 § 20.1 Rule 1. Purpose and construction of Rules of Practice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.1.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.2 § 20.2 Rule 2. Procedure in absence of specific Rule of Practice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.2.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.3 § 20.3 Rule 3. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.3.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.4 § 20.4 Rule 4. Appeal systems definitions and applicability provisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.4.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.5 § 20.5 Rule 5. Right to representation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.5.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.6 § 20.6 Rule 6. Withdrawal of services by a representative.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.6.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.100 § 20.100 Rule 100. Establishment of the Board.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.100.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.101 § 20.101 Rule 101. Composition of the Board; titles.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.101.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.102 § 20.102 Rule 102. Name, business hours, and mailing address of the Board.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.102.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.103 § 20.103 Rule 103. Principal functions of the Board.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.103.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.104 § 20.104 Rule 104. Jurisdiction of the Board.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.104.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.105 § 20.105 Rule 105. Criteria governing disposition of appeals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.105.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.106 § 20.106 Rule 106. Assignment of proceedings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.106.md)
- [38 CFR § 20.107 § 20.107 Rule 107. Disqualification of Members.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.107.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-20.700. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.