410.666—Effect of Appeals Council's decision or refusal to review.
The Appeals Council may deny a party's request for review or it may grant review and either affirm or reverse the Administrative Law Judge's decision. The decision of the Appeals Council, or the decision of the Administrative Law Judge where the request for review of such decision is denied (see § 410.662 ), shall be final and binding upon all parties to the hearing unless a civil action is filed in a district court of the United States under the provisions of section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, as incorporated by section 413(b) of the Act (see § 410.670a ), or unless the decision is revised under the provisions described in § 410.671.