VA Appeals Reform Becomes Law
 

VA Appeals Reform Becomes Law - 8-25-17
RE: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorpsweekly

VA Appeals Reform Becomes Law:

On Wednesday, the president signed into law the VFW-supported Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, which now provides three options for veterans to appeal disability rating decisions made by the Veterans Benefits Administration, as well as allows some veterans already in the appeals process to opt into the new system. The three options available to veterans dissatisfied with their initial claims rating decisions are to seek a higher-level review by a regional office on the same evidence presented to the original claims processors; to file a supplemental claim with a regional office that would include the opportunity to submit additional evidence; or to opt for an expedited consideration of their appeal directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

The entire intent of the new law is to speed the appeals process, which VFW National Commander Keith Harman wholeheartedly supports. “As a former veterans’ service officer myself, I know first-hand that many of the veterans the VFW helps every day to access their earned benefits will be better served under this new framework,” he said. “The VFW looks forward to working with the VA to make sure this new framework results in timely, understandable and accurate benefits decisions for veterans.” Read the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.