True or False: Claimants are not allowed to be represented by an attorney until an appeal is made to the CAVC.

The statement that claimants are not allowed to be represented by an attorney until an appeal is made to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) is false. Veterans and their claimants can be represented by an attorney at various stages of the claims process, not just after a denial when appealing to the CAVC.

Representation can occur during the initial claims process with the Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing attorneys to assist claimants in preparing and submitting their claims for benefits. This means that claimants have the right to have legal support right from the beginning, which can help them navigate the complexities of veterans' benefits and ensure that their claims are as strong as possible.

Therefore, representation is permissible at the initial stages, making the statement inaccurate and validating the choice that it is, indeed, false.