,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #icc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #be1 #bjag ,mr4 
,sullivan 7= himself & ,mr4 ,casey7     
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
to c>ry out a pilot program to provide  
vet]ans ! option ( us+ an alt]native    
appeals process to m quickly det]m9e    
claims = disability comp5sation1 & = o!r
 purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act  
may be cit$ z ! ,express ,appeals ,act (
 #bjag4  #b4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs pilot program on fully develop$
 appeals  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs %all c>ry out a pilot 
program to provide ! option ( an        
alt]native appeals process t %all m     
quickly det]m9e su* appeals 9 accordance
 ) ?is section4  7b7 ,election  7#a7    
,fil+ ,9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#b71 a  
claimant may elect to file a fully      
develop$ appeal "u ! pilot program "u   

subsection 7a7 by fil+ ) ! ,secret>y !  
foll[+3  7,a7 ,! notice ( disagreem5t "u
 *apt] #ga ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 along ) ! writt5 election ( !    
claimant to h ! appeal det]m9$ "u !     
pilot program4  7,b7 ,all evid5ce t !   
claimant believes is ne$$ = ! appeal z (
 ! date ( ! fil+4  7,c7 ,a /atem5t ( !  
argum5t 9 support ( ! claim1 if any4    
7#b7 ,tim+ ,a claimant %all make an     
election "u p>agraph 7#a7 z "p ( !      
notice ( disagreem5t fil$ by ! claimant 
9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#a77;,a74  7#c7
 ,rev]sion  7,a7 ,elect$ rev]sion ,at   
any "t1 a claimant :o makes an election 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 may elect to rev]t to !
 /&>d appeals process4 ,su* a rev]sion  
%all be f9al4  7,b7 ,automatic rev]sion 
,a claimant describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71
 or a claimant :o makes an election "u  
p>agraph 7#a7 b is lat] det]m9$ to be   
ineligible = ! pilot program "u         
subsection 7a71 %all rev]t to ! /&>d    
appeals process )\t any p5alty to !     
claimant o!r ?an ! loss ( ! docket numb]

 associat$ ) ! fully develop$ appeal4   
7#d7 ,outrea* ,9 provid+ claimants )    
notices ( ! det]m9ation ( a claim dur+ !
 p]iod 9 :i* ! pilot program "u         
subsection 7a7 is c>ri$ out1 ! ,secret>y
 %all conduct outrea* z foll[s3  7,a7 ,!
 ,secret>y %all provide to ! claimant 7&
 to ! repres5tative ( record ( !        
claimant1 if any7 in=mation reg>d+--    
7i7 ! pilot program1 includ+ !          
advantages & disadvantages ( ! program2 
7ii7 h[ to make an election "u p>agraph 
7#a72  7iii7 ! limitation on ! use ( new
 evid5ce describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#c7 (     
subsection 7c7 & ! developm5t (         
in=mation "u p>agraph 7#d7 ( su*        
subsection2 &  7iv7 ! ability ( !       
claimant to seek advice & education     
reg>d+ su* process f vet]ans s]vice     
organizations1 attorneys1 & claims ag5ts
 recogniz$ "u *apt] #ei ( title #ch1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7,b7 ,! ,secret>y 
%all collaborate1 p>tn] )1 & give weight
 to ! advice ( ! ?ree vet]ans s]vice    
organizations ) ! mo/ memb]s to publi%  

on ! ,int]net website ( ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs an onl9e tutorial     
expla9+ ! advantages & disadvantages ( !
 pilot program4  7c7 ,treatm5t by       
,dep>tm5t & ,bo>d  7#a7 ,process ,^u !  
election ( a claimant to file a fully   
develop$ appeal pursuant to subsection  
7b77#a71 ! ,secret>y %all--  7,a7 n     
provide ! claimant ) a /atem5t ( ! case 
nor require ! claimant to file a        
sub/antive appeal2 &  7,b7 transf]      
jurisdiction ov] ! fully develop$ appeal
 directly to ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'        
,appeals4  7#b7 ,docket  7,a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals %all--    
7i7 ma9ta9 fully develop$ appeals on a  
sep>ate docket ?an /&>d appeals2  7ii7  
decide fully develop$ appeals 9 ! ord] t
 ! fully develop$ appeals are receiv$ on
 ! fully develop$ appeal docket2  7iii7 
except z provid$ by subp>agraph 7,b71   
decide n m ?an "o fully develop$ appeal 
= ea* f\r /&>d appeals decid$2 &  7iv7  
to ! ext5t practicable1 decide ea* fully
 develop$ appeal by ! date t is "o ye>  

foll[+ ! date on :i* ! claimant files ! 
notice ( disagreem5t4  7,b7 ,adju/m5t   
,beg9n+ "o ye> aft] ! date on :i* !     
pilot program "u subsection 7a7         
comm5ces1 ! ,bo>d may adju/ ! numb] (   
/&>d appeals decid$ = ea* fully develop$
 appeal "u subp>agraph 7,a77iii7 if !   
,bo>d det]m9es t su* adju/m5t is fair = 
bo? /&>d appeals & fully develop$       
appeals4  7#c7 ,limitation on use ( new 
evid5ce  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$
 by subp>agraphs 7,b7 & 7,c7-- 7i7 a    
claimant may n submit or id5tify to !   
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals any new      
evid5ce relat+ to a fully develop$      
appeal aft] fil+ su* appeal unless !    
claimant rev]ts to ! /&>d appeals       
process pursuant to subsection 7b77#c72 
&  7ii7 if a claimant submits or        
id5tifies any su* new evid5ce1 su*      
submission or id5tification %all be     
deem$ to be an election to make su* a   
rev]sion pursuant to subsection 7b77#c74
  7,b7 ,evid5ce ga!r$ by ,bo>d          
,subp>agraph 7,a7 %all n apply to       

evid5ce develop$ pursuant to p>agraphs  
7#d7 & 7#e74 ,! ,bo>d %all consid] su*  
evid5ce 9 ! fir/ in/ance )\t            
consid]ation by ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits     
,adm9i/ration4  7,c7 ,repres5tative (   
record ,! repres5tative ( record ( a    
claimant = appeals purposes1 if any1    
%all be provid$ an opportunity to review
 ! fully develop$ appeal ( ! claimant & 
submit any additional argum5ts or       
evid5ce t ! repres5tative det]m9es      
necess>y dur+ a p]iod specifi$ by !     
,bo>d = purposes ( ?is subp>agraph4     
7#d7 ,prohibition on rem& = additional  
developm5t ,if ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'      
,appeals det]m9es t a fully develop$    
appeal requires ,f$]al records1         
indep5d5t m$ical op9ions1 or new m$ical 
exam9ations1 ! ,bo>d %all--  7,a7 9     
accordance ) p>agraph 7#e71 take su*    
actions z may be necess>y to develop su*
 records1 op9ions1 or exam9ations 9     
accordance ) section #eajc;,a ( title   
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2  7,b7 reta9   
jurisdiction ( ! fully develop$ appeal  

)\t requir+ a det]m9ation by ! ,vet]ans 
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration bas$ on su*      
records1 op9ions1 or exam9ations2  7,c7 
ensure ! claimant1 & ! repres5tative (  
record ( a claimant1 if any1 receives a 
copy ( su* records1 op9ions1 or         
exam9ations2 &  7,d7 provide ! claimant 
a p]iod ( #ij days aft] ! date ( mail+  
su* records1 op9ions1 or exam9ations    
dur+ :i* ! claimant may provide ! ,bo>d 
any additional evid5ce )\t requir+ !    
claimant to make a rev]sion pursuant to 
subsection 7b77#c74  7#e7 ,developm5t   
unit  7,a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,bo>d (       
,vet]ans' ,appeals %all e/abli% an (fice
 to develop ,f$]al records1 indep5d5t   
m$ical op9ions1 & new m$ical exam9ations
 pursuant to p>agraph 7#d77;,a7 t !     
,bo>d det]m9es necess>y to decide a     
fully develop$ appeal4  7,b7            
,requirem5ts ,! ,secret>y %all-- 7i7    
ensure t ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits            
,adm9i/ration coop]ates ) ! ,bo>d (     
,vet]ans' ,appeals 9 c>ry+ out          
subp>agraph 7,a72 &  7ii7 transf]       

employees ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits         
,adm9i/ration :o1 prior to ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 7 responsible = process+      
claims rem&$ by ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'     
,appeals to positions )9 ! (fice ( !    
,bo>d e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 9 a  
numb] ! ,secret>y det]m9es suffici5t to 
c>ry out su* subp>agraph4  7#f7 ,he>+s  
,not)/&+ section #gajg ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ! ,secret>y may n  
provide he>+s ) respect to fully        
develop$ appeals4 ,if a claimant reque/s
 to hold a he>+ pursuant to su* section 
#gajg1 su* reque/ %all be deem$ to be an
 election to rev]t to ! /&>d appeals    
process pursuant to subsection 7b77#c74 
7d7 ,duration2 application ,! ,secret>y 
%all c>ry out ! pilot program "u        
subsection 7a7 = a five-ye> p]iod beg9n+
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act4 ,?is section %all apply only to   
fully develop$ appeals t are fil$ dur+  
su* p]iod4  7e7 ,reports ,dur+ ea* ye> 9
 :i* ! pilot program "u subsection 7a7  
is c>ri$ out1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to

 ! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a   
report on ! pilot program4 ,! fir/ su*  
report %all be submitt$ by n lat] ?an   
#ahj days aft] ! date on :i* ! pilot    
program comm5ces4 ,ea* report %all      
include ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,= ! p]iod cov]$
 by ! report-- 7,a7 ! numb] ( claimants 
:o fil$ a fully develop$ appeal "u !    
pilot program2  7,b7 ! av]age process+  
"t = ea* su* appeal1 measur$ by ea*     
phase ( ! appeal1 &1 if ! process+ "t = 
appeals exce$ "o ye>1 ! reasons = su*   
process+ "t2  7,c7 a summ>y ( reasons = 
:i* ! developm5t ( evid5ce 0 requir$ "u 
subsection 7c77#e72  7,d7 ! numb] (     
issues decid$1 li/$ by ! disposition ( !
 issue2  7,e7 ( ! numb] id5tifi$ 9      
subp>agraph 7,d71 ! numb] ( issues = :i*
 evid5ce 0 n s develop$1 li/$ by !      
disposition ( ! issue2  7,f7 ( ! numb] (
 fully develop$ appeals decid$ by !     
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 ! numb] (   
cases f ea* ag5cy ( orig9al             
jurisdiction1 li/$ by ! disposition ( ! 

issue2  7,g7 ! numb] ( fully develop$   
appeals appeal$ to ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = 
,vet]ans ,claims1 li/$ by ! disposition 
( ! case2  7,h7 ! numb] ( rev]sions made
 "u subsection 7b77#c72 &  7,i7 any     
reasons = :y a claimant 0 det]m9$ to be 
ineligible to p>ticipate 9 ! pilot      
program4  7#b7 ,a review1 made 9        
conjunction ) vet]ans s]vice            
organizations1 ( ! ef=ts ( ! ,secret>y  
to provide cle> rat+ decisions & improve
 disability rat+ notification lett]s1   
includ+ ) respect to--  7,a7 ! op9ions (
 vet]ans s]vice organizations reg>d+ su*
 ef=ts2 &  7,b7 h[ ! pilot program      
improves su* ef=ts4  7#c7 ,a            
recomm5dation = any *anges to improve ! 
pilot program4  7#d7 ,an assessm5t ( !  
feasibility & advisability ( exp&+ !    
pilot program4  7f7 ,regulations ,n lat]
 ?an "o day aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (  
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all publi% int]im
 guidance on ! pilot program "u         
subsection 7a74 ,n lat] ?an #ij days    
aft] su* date ( enactm5t1 ! ,secret>y   

%all prescribe regulations to c>ry out  
su* pilot program4  7g7 ,def9itions ,9  
?is section3 7#a7 ,claimant ,! t]m      
claimant has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9       
section #eajj ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code4  7#b7 ,comp5sation ,! t]m       
comp5sation has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9    
section #aja ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  7#c7 ,fully develop$ appeal ,!  
t]m fully develop$ appeal means an      
appeal ( a claim = disability           
comp5sation t is--  7,a7 fil$ by a      
claimant 9 accordance ) subsection      
7b77#a72 &  7,b7 consid]$ 9 accordance )
 ?is section4  7#d7 ,/&>d appeal ,! t]m 
/&>d appeal means an appeal ( a claim = 
disability comp5sation t is n a fully   
develop$ appeal4