U.S. Statutes
Statutory law governing the Department of Veterans Affairs and adjutication of veterans benefits is found in Title 38 of the United States Code. You can research the code in the following databases:
U.S. Rules & Regulations
Agency regulations are created by the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement the statutes promulgated by Congress. Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) is where regulations for the VA are published.
Title 38 of the C.F.R. can also be searched in the following databases:
Veterans Case Law
The U.S. Supreme Court rarely hears appeals regarding veterans' issues although there are a few decisions out there. In addition, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has limited jurisdiction to review legal rulings by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Most veterans' appeals are decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) after the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) has considered and ruled on the veteran's claim.
Recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decisions are listed here. "CACV" is the case type or origin identifier for veterans cases.
CAVC decisions are searchable here on the CAVC web site.
Both Federal Circuit and CAVC cases are searchable in the following resources and databases:
Board of Veterans Appeals
Members of the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) review benefit claims determinations made by local VA offices and issue decision on appeals. BVA is equivalent in function to what a mid-level appeal ate court is to a supreme court. Cases usually must first be considered by BVA before the veteran may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
BVA created a pamphlet called How Do I Appeal that is intended to explain the steps involved in filing an appeal and to serve as a reference for the terms and abbreviations used in the appeal process.
BVA Decisions Search is a public data base that archives BVA opinions from 1992 until present. Older BVA opinions are available for public inspection and copying in the BVA Research Center, 811 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420.
BVA decisions may also be searched in the following databases:
VA Claims Adjutication Manuals
The VA Web Automated Reference Material System site includes Manuals, Directives, Handbooks, Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations and more. The publications provide information about Department of Veterans Affairs benefits policy.
Some of these publications are only available on-line and cannot be ordered from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Administrative Opinions/Law
The General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs issues written legal opinions having precedential effect in adjudications and appeals involving veterans' benefits under laws administered by VA. The General Counsel's interpretations on legal matters, contained in such opinions, are conclusive as to all VA officials and employees not only in the matter at issue but also in future adjudications and appeals, in the absence of a change in controlling statute or regulation, Court decision, or a superseding written legal opinion of the General Counsel.