,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #giag  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,april #aj1 #bjbd,mr4 
,bo/ 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,/efanik1 & ,mr4  
,bilirakis7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i*
 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'  
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve !      
effici5cy ( adjudications & appeals (   
claims = b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by    
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans ,appeals          
,effici5cy ,act ( #bjbd4  #b4           
,improvem5ts to effici5cy (             
adjudications & appeals ( claims =      
b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,annual report on
 l5g? ( adjudications  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
,section #eaji;,b ( title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 by /rik+  
,! ,secret>y & ins]t+ 7a7 ,9 g5]al4--,! 
,secret>y2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end !   
foll[+ new subsection3  7b7 ,annual     
report ,! ,secret>y %all submit to !    

,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an   
annual report t includes1 ) respect to !
 p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 a /atem5t ( ! 
av]age l5g? ( "t a claim 7or issue )9 a 
claim7 t is rem&$ by ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'
 ,appeals is p5d+ be=e ! ,secret>y aft] 
su* return or rem&4  4  7#b7 ,deadl9e ,!
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all     
submit ! fir/ report requir$ by         
subsection 7b7 ( section #eaji;,b ( su* 
title 7z add$ by p>agraph 7#a77 by n    
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act4  7b7 ,requirem5t ,to track 
c]ta9 claims = b5efits  7#a7 ,9 g5]al   
,*apt] #ea ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section  
#eaji;,b ! foll[+ new section3          
#eaji;,c4 ,requirem5t to track & ma9ta9 
in=mation on c]ta9 claims = b5efits2    
notice ( c]ta9 assignm5ts  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,! ,secret>y %all use te*nology to track
 & ma9ta9 in=mation 7includ+ in=mation )
 respect to timel9ess7 on-- 7#a7 claims 
= b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !       

,secret>y 7includ+ issues )9 su* claims7
 t are-- 7,a7 cont9u\sly pursu$ 9       
accordance )-- 7i7 sections #eajd;,c7a7 
& #eaaj7;a77#b7 ( ?is title2 or  7ii7   
any o!r policy e/abli%$ by ! ,secret>y2 
7,b7 fil$ 9 ! ,national ,"w ,queue 7or  
any successor sy/em7 b h n be5 assign$  
to an (fice ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits       
,adm9i/ration = adjudication2  7,c7     
af=d$ exp$iti\s treatm5t by ! ,vet]ans  
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration pursuant to      
section #eaji;,b ( ?is title or any o!r 
policy e/abli%$ by ! ,secret>y2  7,d7   
rem&$ by ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals to
 ! ,secret>y pursuant to section #gajd (
 ?is title2 or  7,e7 p5d+ a he>+ by !   
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals "u section   
#gajg ( ?is title2  7#b7 in/ances 9 :i* 
an adjudicator ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits    
,adm9i/ration does n comply ) a relevant
 decision ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals
 to rem& a claim = b5efits "u ! laws    
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 7or issue )9 su*
 claim71 includ+ su* in/ances 9 :i* !   
relevant decision conc]n$ a failure on !

 "p ( ! ag5cy ( orig9al jurisdiction to 
satisfy ! ,secret>y's duty to assi/ "u  
section #eajc;,a ( ?is title2  7#c7     
supplem5tal claims "u section #eajh (   
?is title fil$-- 7,a7 9 accordance )    
section #eajd;,c7a7 & section           
#eaaj7;a77#b7 ( ?is title2 &  7,b7 aft] 
! date ( ! applicable f9al decision ( ! 
,secret>y ) respect to a claim = b5efits
 "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 7or  
issue )9 su* claim72  7#d7 fir/ notices 
submitt$ to ! ,secret>y ( ! dea? (      
individuals 9 receipt ( b5efits "u !    
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1           
disaggregat$ by su* individuals :o 7--  
7,a7 assign$ a fiduci>y2 &  7,b7 n      
assign$ a fiduci>y2 &  7#e7 decisions ( 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals to rem& a  
claim = b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! 
,secret>y t ! ,*airman ( ! ,bo>d (      
,vet]ans' ,appeals det]m9es 7 unnecess>y
 pursuant to subsection 7f7 ( section   
#gajd ( ?is title4  7b7 ,notice ( reason
 = c]ta9 assignm5ts ,9 c>ry+ out ?is    
section1 ! ,secret>y %all prescribe     

rules & regulations to ensure t a       
claimant 7or ! repres5tative ( a        
claimant7 may view or o!rwise obta9     
notice ( ! reasons a relevant claim =   
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y is-- 7#a7 def]r$ = additional 
action by an (fice ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits
 ,adm9i/ration 9 ! ,national ,"w ,queue 
7or any successor sy/em72 or  7#b7      
assign$ a susp5se date = fur!r action 9 
! ,national ,"w ,queue 7or any successor
 sy/em74  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!   
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt]
 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+  
to section #eaji;,b ! foll[+ new item3  
,sec4 #eaji;,c4 ,requirem5t to track &  
ma9ta9 in=mation on c]ta9 claims =      
b5efits2 notice ( c]ta9 assignm5ts  4   
7c7 ,improvem5ts to ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'   
,appeals  7#a7 ,au?ority to aggregate   
c]ta9 claims ,section #gajd ( su*       
section is am5d$ 9 subsection 7a7 by    
ins]t+ aft] ! second s5t5ce ,if !       
,*airman ( ! ,bo>d det]m9es t m ?an "o  
appeal involves sub/antially simil>     

que/ions ( law or fact1 ! ,*airman may  
aggregate su* appeals = review44  7#b7  
,requirem5t to ensure sub/antial        
compliance ) c]ta9 decisions ,su*       
section is fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subsection-- 7,a7 by       
r$esignat+ subsection 7f7 z subsection  
7g72 &  7,b7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection  
7e7 ! foll[+ new subsection 7f73  7f7   
7#a7 ,! ,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,*airman
 ( ! ,bo>d1 %all ensure sub/antial      
compliance ) any decision ( ! ,bo>d to  
rem& a claim4  7#b7 ,! ,secret>y may    
waive ! requirem5t "u p>agraph 7#a7 )   
respect to a decision ( ! ,bo>d to rem& 
a claim to ! ,secret>y if ! ,*airman ( !
 ,bo>d det]m9es-- 7,a7 evid5ce add$ to !
 evid5ti>y aft] ! date ( su* decision is
 suffici5t to resolve ! issues und]ly+  
su* decision2 or  7,b7 su* decision 0   
unnecess>y4  7#c7 ,if ! ,secret>y       
ex]cises ! au?ority "u p>agraph 7#b71 ! 
,secret>y %all include1 pursuant to     
subsection 7d71 a writt5 notation ( su* 
ex]cise 9 ! decision ( ! ,bo>d4  4  7#c7

 ,motion = ,,ogc op9ion ,section #gajd (
 su* title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !  
foll[+ new subsection3  7g7 ,! ,bo>d    
may1 on its own initiative or ^u motion 
( ! appellant1 submit to ! ,g5]al       
,c\nsel a reque/ = an op9ion ) respect  
to a "q ( law aris+ 9 an appeal "u      
review by ! ,bo>d4  4  7d7 ,expansion ( 
jurisdiction ( ,c\rt ( ,appeals =       
,vet]ans ,claims ,section #gbeb ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by r$esignat+ subsections 7b7 & 7c7
 z subsections 7d7 & 7e71 respectively2 
&  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7a7 ! 
foll[+ new subsections3  7b7 7#a7 ,!    
,c\rt %all h supplem5tal jurisdiction to
 review an eligible claim p5d+ a f9al   
decision ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans ,appeals )
 respect to su* eligible claim4  7#b7 ,!
 p]iod dur+ :i* a claimant may submit a 
reque/ = adm9i/rative review ( an       
eligible claim "u subsection 7a7 (      
section #eajd;,c ( ?is title %all be    
toll$ = ! p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on :i* 
! claimant submits to ! ,c\rt a motion =

 class action review & end+ on ! date t 
is #fj days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,c\rt  
issues a f9al decision ) respect to--   
7,a7 su* eligible claim2 or  7,b7 su*   
motion = class action review1 :i*ev] is 
lat]4  7#c7 ,9 ?is subsection1 ! t]m    
eligible claim means a claim = b5efits  
"u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y = :i* 
relief may be grant$ on a class-wide    
basis pursuant to ! rules ( practice &  
proc$ure ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans
 ,claims4  7c7 7#a7 ,! ,c\rt may rem& a 
matt] to ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals = 
! limit$ purpose ( ord]+ ! ,bo>d to     
address a "q ( law or fact 9 a claim =  
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y t ! ,c\rt det]m9es ! ,bo>d    
fail$ to-- 7,a7 address1 9 ! relevant   
decision ( ! ,bo>d1 an issue t-- 7i7 !  
claimant 7or repres5tative ( su*        
claimant7 rais$2 or  7ii7 0 reasonably  
rais$ by ! evid5ti>y record ( su* claim2
 or  7,b7 provide adequate reasons or   
bases = ! decision ( ! ,bo>d ) respect  
to su* "q4  7#b7 ,9 issu+ a rem& "u     

p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,c\rt may require !    
,bo>d to issue a decision on ! relevant 
"q ) a c]ta9 p]iod ( "t prescrib$ by !  
,c\rt4  7#c7 ,) respect to any matt]    
rem&$ to ! ,bo>d pursuant to p>agraph   
7#a71 ! ,c\rt %all-- 7,a7 reta9         
jurisdiction ov] su* matt]2 &  7,b7 /ay 
! proce$+s ( ! ,c\rt on su* matt] until 
! date on :i* ! ,bo>d issues ! decision 
requir$ by su* rem&4  4  7e7 ,/udy &    
report on common que/ions ( law or fact 
be=e ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals  7#a7   
,/udy ,! ,*airman ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans  
,appeals %all c>ry out a /udy to id5tify
 que/ions ( law or fact ! ,bo>d commonly
 consid]s :5 review+ appeals pursuant to
 section #gajd ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 = :i* prec$5tial guidance 
w\ld assi/ ! ,bo>d 9 issu+ f9al         
decisions on su* appeals4 ,! ,*airman   
may use artificial intellig5ce & o!r    
te*nology 9 c>ry+ out su* /udy4  7#b7   
,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,*airman ( !  
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans ,appeals %all submit to

 ! ,committees on ,vet]ans ,affairs ( ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report t includes ! f9d+s ( ! /udy      
requir$ by p>agraph 7#a74  7f7          
,indep5d5t assessm5t ( pot5tial         
modifications to au?ority ( ,bo>d (     
,vet]ans' ,appeals  7#a7 ,agreem5t ,n   
lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all seek to ent] into
 an agreem5t ) an ,,ffrdc = an assessm5t
 ( ! feasibility ( modify+ ! au?ority ( 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals e/abli%$ "u
 *apt] #ga ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 to p]mit ! ,bo>d to issue        
prec$5tial decisions ) respect to       
que/ions ( law or fact aris+ 9 matt]s   
be=e ! ,bo>d4  7#b7 ,assessm5t ,an      
,,ffrdc t ent]s to an agreem5t "u       
subsection 7a7 %all submit to !         
,secret>y a writt5 assessm5t t includes 
! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! det]m9ation ( !       
,,ffrdc ( :e!r modify+ ! au?ority ( !   
,bo>d to p]mit ! ,bo>d to issue         
prec$5tial decisions ) respect to       

que/ions ( law or fact aris+ 9 matt]s   
be=e ! ,bo>d is feasible4  7,b7 ,an     
assessm5t ( ! au?ority ( ! ,bo>d (      
,vet]ans' ,appeals to aggregate1 =      
review1 m ?an "o appeal "u *apt] #ga (  
su* title t involves sub/antially simil>
 que/ions ( law or fact pursuant to     
section #gajd ( su* title 7z am5d$ by   
subsection 7c77#a774  7,c7 ,!           
recomm5dations ( ! ,,ffrdc ) respect to 
rules or pr9ciples to :i* ! ,bo>d %\ld  
adh]e :5 aggregat+ appeals = review     
pursuant to section #gajd7;a7 ( title   
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7z am5d$ by    
subsection 7d774  7#c7 ,report2         
implem5tation ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] 
! ,secret>y receives ! assessm5t "u     
subsection 7b71 ! ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 
submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives a copy ( su* assessm5t2 
&  7,b7 create policies & proc$ures to  
implem5t ! recomm5dations 9 ! assessm5t 
) respect to ! au?ority ( ! ,bo>d (     
,vet]ans' ,appeals describ$ 9           

subp>agraph 7,b7 ( p>agraph 7#b74  7#d7 
,def9itions ,9 ?is subsection3 7,a7 ,!  
t]m ,,ffrdc means a f$]ally fund$ rese>*
 & developm5t c5t]4  7,b7 ,! t]ms       
claimant & notice h ! mean+s giv5 su*   
t]ms 9 section #eajj ( title #ch1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code4  7g7 ,plan = timely      
assignm5t ( claims ,! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs %all develop a plan to
 ensure claims = b5efits adm9i/]$ by !  
,secret>y are assign$ to an adjudicator 
( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans 9 a timely mann] to
 ! ,national ,"w ,queue 7or any         
successor sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t7 & submit 
to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs (
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a 
copy ( su* plan by n lat] ?an "o ye>    
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4