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Secretary Announces Expansion
of Veterans Appeals Board
October 21, 2009
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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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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