Search USCAVC Decisions

How to Search USCAVC Decisions

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (USCAVC or CAVC) reviews final decisions issued by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. If you believe the Board made a legal error in your case—or you’re researching how others successfully challenged BVA decisions—searching USCAVC case law is a powerful tool.

🔍 Where You’re Searching

Our search bar above uses Google to scan only the Court’s official website at uscourts.cavc.gov. You can search by:

Veteran’s name or case name (e.g., Smith v. McDonough)
Docket number (e.g., 22-1234)
Legal issues like "presumption of soundness" or "duty to assist"

🧠 Tips for Better Results

Use quotation marks for exact phrases:

"reasons and bases", "clear and unmistakable error", "duty to assist"
Filter by date using Google tools:

After you search, click Tools → Any time → Custom range to narrow down to recent rulings.
Try common legal errors such as:
- “Stegall violation”
- “inadequate medical opinion”
- “failure to obtain service records”

⚖️ What to Look For

USCAVC decisions can do one of three things:

Remand: Send your case back to the BVA for correction of legal errors
Reverse: Rare, but the Court can order the VA to grant benefits
Dismiss: If the appeal is late or lacks jurisdiction, it may be dismissed

🛑 What the Court Can’t Do

It can’t review VA Regional Office decisions directly
It doesn’t allow new evidence — only legal arguments
It doesn’t reconsider decisions that haven’t reached the BVA yet