38 CFR § 18b.73 - Final decisions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t38/s18b.73"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "38 CFR § 18b.73 - Final decisions."
title_number: 38
title_name: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
section_number: "18b.73"
section_name: "Final decisions."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "18b"
part_name: "PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE UNDER TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND PART 18 OF THIS CHAPTER"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301, 38 U.S.C. 501 and 38 CFR 18.9(d) and appendix A, part 18."
regulatory_source: "35 FR 10760, July 2, 1970, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "18b"
---


# 18b.73 Final decisions.

(a) Where the hearing is conducted by a hearing examiner who makes an initial decision, if no exceptions thereto are filed within the 20-day period specified in § 18b.72, such decision shall become the final decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and shall constitute “final agency action” within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 704 (formerly section 10(c) of the Administrative Procedure Act), subject to the provisions of § 18b.75.

(b) Where the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge who makes a recommended decision or upon the filing of exceptions to an administrative law judge's initial decision, the reviewing authority shall review the recommended or initial decision and shall issue a decision thereon, which shall become the final decision of VA, and shall constitute “final agency action” within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 704 (formerly section 10(c) of the Administrative Procedures Act), subject to the provisions of § 18b.75.

(c) All final decisions shall be promptly served on all parties, and amici, if any.

[35 FR 10760, July 2, 1970, as amended at 51 FR 10386, Mar. 26, 1986; 54 FR 34984, Aug. 23, 1989]