,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cihc  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,june #ab1 #bjbe,mr4  
,luttrell introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve !      
quality ( ! adjudication ( 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 ,claims        
,quality ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 
,notice ( avoidable def]rals ( claims = 
b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs2 /udy & report on   
c]ta9 op9ions ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs ,(fice ( ,g5]al ,c\nsel  7a7   
,notice ( avoidable def]rals ,n lat] ?an
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all develop policies1 proc$ures1 &     
te*nological capabilities to ensure t   
ea* employee ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits      
,adm9i/ration t commits an avoidable    

def]ral ) respect to a claim = b5efits  
"u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs 9 ! ,national ,"w     
,queue is notifi$ ( any avoidable       
def]rals t su* employee commits )       
respect to ! same claim4  7b7 ,/udy &   
report on c]ta9 ,,ogc op9ions  7#a7     
,/udy ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 consultation ) !   
,(fice ( ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs & ! ,*airman ( !    
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 %all        
complete a /udy to id5tify--  7,a7      
issues ab\t :i* an op9ion f ! ,(fice ( !
 ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t w\ld fo/] 
consi/5cy 9 ! decisions ( ! ,secret>y ) 
respect to claims = b5efits "u ! laws   
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7,b7 issues 
rais$ 9 appeals ( su* decisions to !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,c\rt ( ,appeals =        
,vet]ans ,claims be=e ! date ( !        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act ab\t :i* ! ,(fice ( 
! ,g5]al ,c\nsel has _h inconsi/5t      
op9ions 9 matt]s involv+ sub/antially   

simil> que/ions ( law or fact4  7#b7    
,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit to !      
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report t      
includes-- 7,a7 ! f9d+s ( ! /udy requir$
 by p>agraph 7#a72  7,b7 a /atem5t ( :i*
 issues id5tifi$ pursuant to su* /udy   
ab\t :i* ! ,(fice ( ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( !
 ,dep>tm5t int5ds to publi% an op9ion2 &
  7,c7 a timel9e = ! publication ( any  
su* op9ion4  #c4 ,improvem5ts to sy/em =
 adjudication ( claims = b5efits "u laws
 adm9i/]$ by ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs  7a7 ,program = quality        
assurance 9 decisions ( ,bo>d (         
,vet]ans' ,appeals2 p]=mance reviews    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #gaja ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subsection3  
7f7 7#a7 ,! ,*airman %all c>ry out a    
program to ensure quality 9 ! decisions 
( ! ,bo>d4 ,"u su* program1 ! ,*airman  
%all--  7,a7 develop policies &         

proc$ures =-- 7i7 measur+ quality 9 su* 
decisions2  7ii7 ma9ta9+ data & id5tify+
 tr5ds ) respect to-- 7,i7 errors 9 su* 
decisions2  7,,ii7 errors 9 decisions   
rem&$ or return$ to ! ,bo>d by ! ,c\rt (
 ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims2 &  7,,iii7
 specific memb]s ( ! ,bo>d t issu$      
decisions t 7 subsequ5tly vacat$ by !   
,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims2 &  
7iii7 ensur+ any su* decision ( ! ,bo>d 
to rem& a claim = a b5efit "u a law     
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y is necess>y "u  
any applicable law or regulation2  7,b7 
) respect to a claim = su* a b5efit t is
 rem&$ to ! ,bo>d by ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals 
= ,vet]ans ,claims--  7i7 in=m any      
employee ( ! ,bo>d responsible = draft+ 
! decision ( ! ,bo>d ) respect to su*   
claim t su* decision 0 rem&$2  7ii7     
provide any su* employee ) a copy ( !   
relevant ord] ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals =    
,vet]ans ,claims 7includ+ a copy ( any  
accompany+ jo9t motion = rem&72 &  7iii7
 provide inc5tives to su* employees to  
review su* relevant ord]s & jo9t motions

 = rem&2 &  7,c7 ensure1 to ! maximum   
ext5t practicable1 t any error id5tifi$ 
by ! ,bo>d "u su* program is correct$   
be=e ! date on :i* ! ,bo>d issues ! f9al
 decision associat$ ) su* error4  7#b7  
,9 develop+ policies & proc$ures to     
measure quality 9 decisions ( ! ,bo>d   
pursuant to clause 7i7 ( subp>agraph    
7,a7 ( p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,*airman %all   
consid] ! data & tr5ds ma9ta9$ &        
id5tifi$ pursuant to clause 7ii7 ( su*  
subp>agraph4  7#c7 ,! ,*airman may use  
te*nology1 includ+ artificial           
intellig5ce1 to ma9ta9 su* data &       
id5tify su* tr5ds4  7#d7 ,! ,secret>y   
%all submit to ! ,committees on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an annual    
report on ! program requir$ by ?is      
subsection t includes1 ) respect to !   
p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 an             
id5tification (-- 7,a7 elem5ts1 if any (
 ! process ( ! ,bo>d = review+ an appeal
 "u ?is *apt] t lead to errors 9        
decisions ( ! ,bo>d2 &  7,b7 ! mo/      

common reasons t a claim = a b5efit "u a
 law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 0 rem&$ to 
su* ,bo>d by ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals =       
,vet]ans ,claims4  4  7#b7 ,deadl9e ,!  
,secret>y %all submit ! fir/ report     
requir$ by p>agraph 7#b7 ( su* section  
7z add$ by p>agraph 7#a77 by n lat] ?an 
"o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act4  7b7 ,tra9+ program = c]ta9       
employees ( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals2 
p]=mance reviews  7#a7 ,tra9+ program   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga ( su* title 7z 
am5d$ by subsection 7a77 is fur!r am5d$ 
by ins]t+ aft] section #gaja;,a ! foll[+
 new section3  #gaja;,b4 ,tra9+ program 
= ,memb]s ( ,bo>d on timely & correct   
adjudication ( appeals  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
,secret>y1 9 conjunction ) ! ,*airman ( 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 %all      
develop & c>ry out a program to provide 
,memb]s ( ! ,bo>d tra9+ on timely &     
correct adjudication ( appeals "u ?is   
*apt]4  7b7 ,requir$ consid]ations ,9   
c>ry+ out ! program requir$ by          
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all consid]

 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,fe$back1 if any1 f     
memb]s ( ! ,bo>d & cov]$ employees )    
respect to su* program4  7#b7 ,data on  
errors 9 decisions ( ! ,bo>d ma9ta9$    
pursuant to ! program = quality         
assurance requir$ by subsection 7f7 (   
section #gaja ( ?is title4  7#c7 ,any   
decision ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans
 ,claims to rem& a claim = b5efits "u ! 
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to ! ,bo>d 
= fur!r action1 includ+ a jo9t motion to
 rem& su* claim4  7c7 ,assessm5ts (     
effectiv5ess ,! ,secret>y1 9 conjunction
 ) ! ,*airman ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'     
,appeals1 %all develop a me?od to       
assess1 on an annual basis1 !           
effectiv5ess ( ! tra9+ program "u ?is   
section4 ,9 develop+ su* me?od1 !       
,secret>y %all consid] be/ practices =  
assess+ ! effectiv5ess ( tra9+ programs1
 includ+ ! ,kirkpatrick evaluation      
model4  7d7 ,report ,! ,secret>y %all   
submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate an annual report on ! program   

requir$ by subsection 7a7 t includes1 ) 
respect to ! p]iod cov]$ by ! report--  
7#a7 a /atem5t ( ! topics ( ! tra9+     
provid$ pursuant to ?is section1        
disaggregat$ by-- 7,a7 m&atory tra9+2 & 
7,b7 non-m&atory tra9+2 &  7#b7 !       
results ( ! assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess (
 su* program requir$ "u subsection 7b74 
7e7 ,cov]$ employee def9$ ,9 ?is        
section1 ! t]m cov]$ employee means an  
employee ( ! ,bo>d :o is-- 7#a7 n a     
memb] ( ! ,bo>d2 &  7#b7 responsible =  
draft+ decisions ( ! ,bo>d4  4  7,b7    
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at 
! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] ! item relat+ to section #gaja;,a !
 foll[+ new item3  #gaja;,b4 ,tra9+     
program = ,memb]s ( ,bo>d on timely &   
correct adjudication ( appeals4  4  7#b7
 ,p]=mance reviews ( ,memb]s ( ! ,bo>d  
,section #gaja;,a ( su* title 7z am5d$  
by p>agraph 7#a77 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9     
subp>agraph 7,b7 ( subsection 7c77#a7 by
 /rik+ n less (t5 ?an once e ?ree ye>s &
 ins]t+ n less (t5 ?an annually2 &  7,b7

 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new          
subsection3  7h7 7#a7 ,) respect to any 
p]=mance review ( a cov]$ employee1 !   
,secret>y may n consid] ! timel9ess or  
quality ( "w ( any ,memb] ( ! ,bo>d4    
7#b7 ,9 ?is subsection1 ! t]m cov]$     
employee has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9     
section #gaja;,b ( ?is title4  4  7c7   
,decisions ( ,bo>d to rem&  7#a7        
,in=mation relat+ to decisions to rem&  
,section #gajd ( su* title is am5d$ 9   
subsection 7d7--  7,a7 by r$esignat+    
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 z p>agraphs   
7#b7 ?r\gh 7#d71 respsectively2 &  7,b7 
by ins]t+ be=e p>agraph 7#b7 7z s       
r$esignat$71 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3     
7#a7 ) respect to a claim t ! ,bo>d     
rem&s = fur!r action1 a /atem5t ( !     
specific reasons su* claim 0 rem&$1     
includ+ any failure on ! "p ( !         
,secret>y to comply )-- 7,a7 !          
,secret>y's duty to assi/ "u section    
#eajc;,a ( ?is title2 &  7,b7 !         
,secret>y's duty to notify "u section   
#eajc ( ?is title2  4  7#b7 ,notice (   

rem&$ decision = c]ta9 employees ,su*   
section is fur!r am5d$ 9--  7,a7        
subsection 7e7-- 7i7 by r$esignat+      
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 z subp>agraphs
 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c71 respectively2  7ii7 by
 /rik+ ,aft] & ins]t+ 7#a7 ,aft]2 &     
7iii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
p>agraph3  7#b7 ,if1 pursuant to a      
decision on an appeal1 ! ,bo>d rem&s a  
claim = a b5efit "u a law adm9i/]$ by ! 
,secret>y = fur!r action1 ! ,secret>y   
%all1 to ! maximum ext5t practicable1   
issue a copy ( su* decision to ea*      
employee ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits          
,adm9i/ration :o committ$ ! error       
result+ 9 ! decision ( ! ,bo>d to rem&1 
:5 applicable4  2 &  7,b7 9 subsection  
7f71 by /rik+ "u subsection 7e7 & ins]t+
 "u p>agraph 7#a7 ( subsection 7e74  7d7
 ,annual reports = ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'    
,appeals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by ins]t+ aft] section #gaad ! foll[+  
new section3  #gaae4 ,annual report on  
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals ,! ,*airman (

 ! ,bo>d %all submit to ! ,committees on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (         
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an annual    
report t includes1 = ea* decision ( !   
,bo>d to rem& a claim = a b5efit "u a   
law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to !        
,secret>y = fur!r adjudication dur+ !   
p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 a /atem5t ( !  
reasons = su* decision ( ! ,bo>d1       
disaggregat$ by decisions on--  7#a7    
claims ) a rat+ decision dat$ on or aft]
 ,febru>y #ai1 #bjai2 &  7#b7 claims ) a
 rat+ decision dat$ be=e su* date4  4   
7#b7 ,deadl9es ,! ,secret>y %all submit 
! fir/ reports requir$ by subsections   
7a7 & 7b7 ( section #gaae ( su* title 7z
 add$ by p>agraph 7#a77 by n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act4  7#c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( 
sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is     
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to   
section #gaad ! foll[+ new item3  #gaae4
 ,annual report on ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'    
,appeals  4  7e7 ,plan = improvem5ts to 
quality 9 decisions ( ,bo>d  7#a7 ,9    

g5]al ,n lat] ?an six mon?s aft] ! date 
( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 consultation ) !   
,*airman ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
& ! head ( ! ,(fice ( ,adm9i/rative     
,review ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits           
,adm9i/ration1 %all develop a plan to-- 
7,a7 improve ! quality ( decisions ( !  
,bo>d to rem&1 pursuant to section #gajd
 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1      
claims = a b5efit "u a law adm9i/]$ by !
 ,secret>y to ! ,secret>y = fur!r       
action2 &  7,b7 mitigate ! numb] ( su*  
decisions t are unnecess>y "u any       
applicable law or regulation4  7#b7     
,report ,! ,secret>y %all submit to !   
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report on su* plan by n lat] ?an six    
mon?s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is    
,act4