An error or defect in any decision by the Board of Veterans' Appeals which does not affect the merits of the issue or substantive rights of the appellant will be considered harmless and not a basis for vacating or reversing such decision.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 7103)
source: 57 FR 4109, Feb. 3, 1992, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 38 CFR 20.1102