§7107. Appeals: dockets; hearings

(a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (f), each case received pursuant to application for review on appeal shall be considered and decided in regular order according to its place upon the docket.

(2) A case referred to in paragraph (1) may, for cause shown, be advanced on motion for earlier consideration and determination. Any such motion shall set forth succinctly the grounds upon which it is based and may not be granted unless the case involves interpretation of law of general application affecting other claims or for other sufficient cause shown.

(b) The Board shall decide any appeal only after affording the appellant an opportunity for a hearing.

(c) A hearing docket shall be maintained and formal recorded hearings shall be held by such member or members of the Board as the Chairman may designate. Such member or members designated by the Chairman to conduct the hearing shall, except in the case of a reconsideration of a decision under section 7103 of this title, participate in making the final determination of the claim.

(d)(1) An appellant may request that a hearing before the Board be held at its principal location or at a facility of the Department located within the area served by a regional office of the Department.

(2) A hearing to be held within an area served by a regional office of the Department shall (except as provided in paragraph (3)) be scheduled to be held in the order in which requests for hearings within that area are received by the Department.

(3) In a case in which the Secretary is aware that the appellant is seriously ill or is under severe financial hardship, a hearing may be scheduled at a time earlier than would be provided for under paragraph (2).

(e)(1) At the request of the Chairman, the Secretary may provide suitable facilities and equipment to the Board or other components of the Department to enable an appellant located at a facility within the area served by a regional office to participate, through voice transmission or through picture and voice transmission, by electronic or other means, in a hearing with a Board member or members sitting at the Board's principal location.

(2) When such facilities and equipment are available, the Chairman may afford the appellant an opportunity to participate in a hearing before the Board through the use of such facilities and equipment in lieu of a hearing held by personally appearing before a Board member or panel as provided in subsection (d). Any such hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as, and shall be considered the equivalent of, a personal hearing. If the appellant declines to participate in a hearing through the use of such facilities and equipment, the opportunity of the appellant to a hearing as provided in such subsection (d) shall not be affected.

(f) Nothing in this section shall preclude the screening of cases for purposes of-

(1) determining the adequacy of the record for decisional purposes; or

(2) the development, or attempted development, of a record found to be inadequate for decisional purposes.

( Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1242 , §4006; renumbered §4007, Pub. L. 87–666, §1, Sept. 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 553 ; renumbered §7107, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, §402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238 ; Pub. L. 103–271, §7(a)(1), July 1, 1994, 108 Stat. 742 ; Pub. L. 103–446, title III, §303, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4658 .)

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–446 substituted "Except as provided in subsection (f), each case" for "Each case" in subsec. (a)(1) and added subsec. (f).

Pub. L. 103–271 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "All cases received pursuant to application for review on appeal shall be considered and decided in regular order according to their places upon the docket; however, for cause shown a case may be advanced on motion for earlier consideration and determination. Every such motion shall set forth succinctly the grounds upon which it is based. No such motion shall be granted except in cases involving interpretation of law of general application affecting other claims, or for other sufficient cause shown."

1991-Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4007 of this title as this section.

1962-Pub. L. 87–666 renumbered section 4006 of this title as this section.