Effective on and after June 20, 2007, the law allows claimants for VA benefits to retain an attorney to represent them before the VA, once a notice of disagreement is filed with a decision of a Regional Office or other VA agency of original jurisdiction. This also applies to representation before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Claimants may also retain an attorney to represent them before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, once they have received a final decision denying them benefits from the BVA.