The Board of Veterans' Appeals has dismissed the matter as it does not have original jurisdiction to decide eligibility for attorney fees from past-due benefits.
The deciding factor: The case was referred by the RO, and under Scates v. Gober, the Board must dismiss matters involving direct-payment contingency-fee agreements as they are within the purview of the RO.
- Claimed conditions
- retinitis pigmentosa, blindness in one eye having only light perception, loss of use of one eye
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2000
- Citation
- 0024083
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0024083.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.