Veterans may be able to attend their VA appeal hearings from their home in 2020, thanks to a push to make the process available via a system based on the department’s telemedicine platform.

Tests of the “virtual hearings” began in July, according to a VA news release announcing the plans. VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals held 155 virtual hearings as of Dec. 9.

“Giving Veterans the ability to participate in secure, confidential virtual hearings is another aspect of VA’s modernization to provide Veterans with the ultimate customer experience,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in the release.

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A timeline for a full rollout of the virtual appeal process was not revealed. Veterans will use VA Video Connect to participate in the hearing; the system already is in use by veterans to connect with care providers, with an emphasis on veterans in rural areas.

For more information on the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, visit the Board’s website. For more from MOAA on the VA Claims process, click here.