Searching BVA Decisions
How to read past Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions — and why they aren't precedent.
BVA decisions are NOT precedent
Under 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303, each Board decision is non-precedential and is decided on its own facts. You cannot cite "another veteran won on the same facts" as a binding rule. They can, however, be persuasive — useful for understanding how the Board has historically weighed similar evidence.
Where to search
VA Board Decision Search
va.gov/vetapp
The official BVA decision database. Searches the full text of every Board decision since the early 1990s. Results return a citation like Citation Nr: 22012345 and a link to the full PDF.
How to search effectively
- 1
Search by diagnostic code or condition
Use phrases like "diagnostic code 6847" (sleep apnea) or "lumbar strain secondary to" to find decisions on a specific condition or theory.
- 2
Search by legal theory
Try terms like "secondary service connection," "presumption of soundness," "TDIU," or "extraschedular" to find Board reasoning on the doctrine that matches your case.
- 3
Filter by year
Older decisions may apply outdated rating criteria. Confirm the rating schedule cited is still in force using the CFR Part 4 Change Tracker.
- 4
Read the 'Reasons and Bases' section
This is where the Board explains how it weighed the evidence. It is the most useful part for understanding what arguments worked or failed.
- 5
Pull the underlying CAVC or GC precedent
If a Board decision cites a court case or GC opinion, look it up on the Landmark Case Law or General Counsel Precedents pages — those ARE binding.
What to do with what you find
- Use a favorable BVA decision as a research roadmap — note the regulations, exam findings, and lay statements the Board found persuasive.
- Do not cite the BVA decision itself in your brief as binding authority. Cite the underlying CFR sections, CAVC cases, or GC opinions.
- Watch for outdated rating criteria — the Mental Disorders schedule changed in 2025 and the Sleep Apnea schedule is under proposed revision.