| SHINSEKI ADDS 4
JUDGES TO BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS
VA Secretary Shinseki: "This expansion
of BVA will enable Veterans to receive more expeditious decisions
on their appeals."
NOTE from Larry Scott, VA
Watchdog dot Org ... While this seems to be a move in the
right direction, one has to ask: Why just four judges?
The Board currently has 60
judges, so this is just a 6.67% increase. I doubt four
judges will substantially help eliminate the backlog of appeals.
Now, 15-20 new judges would have an impact. Something to
consider as this appears to be just a stop-gap measure.
Use our search engine for more
about the BVA ... here ...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?
q=board+of+veterans+appeals&op=ph
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Secretary Announces
Expansion of Veterans Appeals Board
Four New Judges Will Speed Veterans’ Appeals
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
announced the addition of four new Veterans Law Judges to the
Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), which will enable the board to
increase the number of cases being decided.
“Veterans have earned the right to prompt, exhaustive and
professional review of their claims for benefits,” Secretary
Shinseki said. “This expansion of BVA will enable Veterans to
receive more expeditious decisions on their appeals.”
 BVA
is an appeals body to which Veterans, their dependents or their
survivors can go when they are not satisfied with decisions about
claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). BVA reviews decisions on benefit claims made by
local VA offices and issues decisions on appeals. The board
currently has 60 Veterans Law Judges.
These law judges are attorneys experienced in Veterans law and in
reviewing benefit claims. They are the only ones who can issue BVA
decisions. Staff attorneys, also trained in Veterans law, review
the facts of each appeal and assist the board members.
In fiscal year 2008, the board decided 43,757 appeals and handled
48,804 cases in fiscal year 2009. Most of the cases involve claims
for disability compensation and pensions.
“We must foster a responsive approach when we consider Veterans,”
Shinseki said. “Reducing the backlog of benefits decisions and
waiting times are essential to providing our Veterans and their
families with the service they deserve.”
VA provides a pamphlet entitled, How Do I Appeal, to anyone who is
not satisfied with the results of a benefits claim that was
decided by a VA regional office, medical center or another local
VA office. The pamphlet explains the steps involved in filing an
appeal. For more information about BVA or to download a copy of
the pamphlet, visit
www.va.gov/vbs/bva.
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TOPICS:
veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs,
Board of Veterans Appeals |
