38 U.S.C. § 7103 | Reconsideration; correction of obvious errors

(a)

section 7102 of this title The decision of the Board determining a matter under is final unless the Chairman orders reconsideration of the decision in accordance with subsection (b). Such an order may be made on the Chairman’s initiative or upon motion of the claimant.

(b)

(1)

Upon the order of the Chairman for reconsideration of the decision in a case, the case shall be referred—

(A)

in the case of a matter originally decided by a single member of the Board, to a panel of not less than three members of the Board; or

(B)

in the case of a matter originally decided by a panel of members of the Board, to an enlarged panel of the Board.

(2)

A panel referred to in paragraph (1) may not include the member, or any member of the panel, that made the decision subject to reconsideration.

(3)

A panel reconsidering a case under this subsection shall render its decision after reviewing the entire record before the Board. The decision of the panel shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the panel. The decision of the panel shall constitute the final decision of the Board.

(c)

The Board on its own motion may correct an obvious error in the record, without regard to whether there has been a motion or order for reconsideration.

Pub. L. 85–857Sept. 2, 195872 Stat. 1241 Pub. L. 100–687, div. A, title II, § 202(a)Nov. 18, 1988102 Stat. 4110 Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1)May 7, 1991105 Stat. 238 Pub. L. 103–271, § 6(a)July 1, 1994108 Stat. 741 Pub. L. 115–55, § 2oAug. 23, 2017131 Stat. 1111 (, , , § 4003; , , ; renumbered § 7103, , , ; , , ; (), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–552017—Subsec. (b)(1). substituted “decided” for “heard” in subpars. (A) and (B).

Pub. L. 103–2711994— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) Decisions by a section of the Board shall be made by a majority of the members of the section. The decision of the section is final unless the Chairman orders reconsideration of the case.

“(b) If the Chairman orders reconsideration in a case, the case shall upon reconsideration be heard by an expanded section of the Board. When a case is heard by an expanded section of the Board after such a motion for reconsideration, the decision of a majority of the members of the expanded section shall constitute the final decision of the Board.

“(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Board on its own motion may correct an obvious error in the record.”

Pub. L. 102–40 section 4003 of this title1991— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 100–6871988—, in amending section generally, added subsec. (a), struck out former subsec. (a) which provided that determination of section, when unanimous, be final determination of Board, added subsec. (b), struck out former subsec. (b) which provided that when there is disagreement among members of section, concurrence of Chairman with majority of members of section shall constitute final determination of Board, and added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–55 section 5104 of this titleAug. 23, 2017Pub. L. 115–55 section 2(x) of Pub. L. 115–55 section 101 of this titleAmendment by applicable to all claims for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides notice of a decision under on or after the later of 540 days after , or 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a certification of certain capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the new appeals system established by and to address appeals of decisions on legacy claims, with provision for early applicability of the new appeals system to certain claims, see , set out as a note under , and bracketed note thereunder.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–687Jan. 1, 1989section 401(d) of Pub. L. 100–687 section 7251 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .