Fillable Form VA 9 Appeal
The VA Form 9 Appeal is a form used by veterans to request for their cases to be reconsidered if they find themselves unsatisfied with the Board of Veterans’ decision regarding their claim for benefits or loans. It can be filled out by the veteran or an agent who is representing the veteran.
What is Form VA 9?
Form VA 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans’ Appeals, or also known as the Substantive Appeal Form, is a form by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA Form 9 is an important step in the appeals process. It is a document that gives veterans the opportunity to contest information on the Statement of the Case (SOC) and present additional evidence. It may also be used to give veterans several options for requesting a personal hearing with a Veteran Affairs judge.
How to fill out Form VA 9?
Form VA 9 is a five-page document. The first two pages contain fillable items that you need to fill out. Pages three to five consist of instructions on how to fill out the Form VA 9 and answer some frequently-asked-questions related to its use.
Item 1 — Name of Veteran
Enter your full name in the following format: Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial.
Item 2 — Claim File Number
Enter the Claim File Number, including the prefix.
Item 3 — Insurance File No., or Loan No.
Enter the insurance file number or file loan number.
Item 4 — I am the
Mark the appropriate box to determine your relationship with the veteran, if you are not the veteran. You may select:
Item 5 — Telephone Numbers
A. Home
Enter your home phone number including the area code.
B. Work
Enter your work phone number including the area code.
Item 6 — My address is
Enter your address, including Number and Street or Post Office Box, City, State, and ZIP Code.
Item 7 — If I am not the veteran, my name is
Enter your full name, if you are not the veteran, in the following format: Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial.
Item 8 — These are the issues I want to appeal to the board
A. I have read the statement of the case and any supplemental statement of the case I received. I am only appealing these issues.
Mark this box if you only want to continue your appeal on some of the issues listed on the SOC and any SSOC you received. Enter the specific issues you want to appeal on the space provided. You may also use the space to call the Board's attention to issues you told your local VA office in your Notice of Disagreement you wanted to appeal that are not included in the SOC or any SSOC.
B. I want to appeal all of the issues listed on the statement of the case and any supplemental statement of the case that my local VA office sent me.
Mark this box if you think that your local VA office has correctly identified the issues you are appealing and, after reading the SOC and any SSOC you received, you still want to appeal its decisions on all those issues. Do not check this box if you have selected the first box already.
Item 9 — Here is why I think that VA decided my case incorrectly
Enter your reason for disagreeing with the decision made by your local VA office in support of the issues you identified in Block 8. Be specific. Moreover, the form encourages you to read the information about this item in paragraph 6 of the instructions page. You may attach copies of evidence or let the VA know of its existence so that it may be obtained on your behalf, but you do not have to attach copies of evidence you have already sent to the VA. You can continue it on the back of the form or you can attach separate sheets if you need more space.
Item 10 — Optional Board Hearing
Mark the appropriate box to determine your preference regarding board hearing. Your choice will let the VA know whether or not you want to appear at a board hearing. You may select:
A. I do not want an optional board hearing — Mark this box if you decide that you do not want a board hearing. There is no need for a hearing to be held when you have already sent all the requirements and documents that the board will need to decide your case.
B. I want an optional board hearing: By live videoconference at a local VA office — Mark this box if you want to appear at a live board videoconference hearing. By choosing this option, you have can have a hearing by way of videoconferencing. You will be at a local VA office while the Veterans Law Judge hearing your case will be at the board’s offices in Washington, DC.
C. I want an optional board hearing: In Washington, DC — Mark this box if you want to appear for a hearing at the board’s offices in Washington, DC.
D. I want an optional board hearing: At a local VA office — Mark this box if you want a board hearing at your local VA office. This option is not available in some locations, such as Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; and some regional offices.
Item 11 — Signature of Person Making This Appeal
Affix the signature of the person making the appeal.
Item 12 — Date
Enter the date you completed and signed VA Form 9 in the following format: MM/DD/YYYY.
Item 13 — Signature of Appointed Representative, If Any
Enter the signature of the appointed representative, but if the appellant signed already this item may be left blank.
Item 14 — Date
Provide the date the form was completed and signed by the appointed representative in the following format: MM/DD/YYYY.
Continuation Sheet for Item 9
Use this page when the space provided for Item 9 is not sufficient. You may attach additional sheets if necessary.
Where to submit Form VA 9?
Submit Form VA 9 within 60 days of the date the Veterans Affairs mailed your SOC. Follow the instructions you received with your SOC to know where to send VA Form 9.