1023.313—When an application may be filed.
(a)
An application may be filed whenever the applicant has prevailed in the proceeding, or, with permission of the Board for good cause shown, when the applicant has prevailed in a significant and discrete substantive portion of the proceeding, but in no case later than 30 days after the Board's final disposition of the proceeding.
(b)
For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, final disposition means the date on which a decision or order disposing of the merits of the proceeding or any other complete resolution of the proceeding, such as a settlement or voluntary dismissal, becomes final and unappealable.
(c)
If reconsideration of a decision is sought as to which an applicant believes it has prevailed, proceedings for the award of fees shall be stayed pending final disposition of the underlying controversy. When the United States appeals the underlying merits of a covered proceeding to a court, no decision on an application for fees and other expenses in connection with that proceeding shall be made until a final and unreviewable decision is rendered by the court on that appeal or until the underlying merits of the case have been finally determined pursuant to the appeal.