If a veteran fails to appear at a BVA hearing, how will it be treated?

When a veteran fails to appear at a Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) hearing, it is treated as a withdrawal of their request for a hearing. This means that the BVA considers the hearing request effectively canceled, and the case will proceed without the veteran's testimony. The withdrawal does not imply that the merits of the veteran's case are dismissed; rather, it allows the case to continue without the benefit of the veteran's input during that hearing.

This outcome aligns with the procedures established by the BVA, where the veteran's absence indicates a decision not to proceed with the hearing at that time, rather than any negative implications for the overall case itself. Other options, such as treating it as a canceled appointment or a dismissal of the case, would incorrectly imply a more final or punitive outcome, which is not applicable in this context. Automatic approval does not reflect the reality of the situation since the absence at the hearing does not grant any concessions regarding the appeal.