,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cbhf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #a1 #bjbe,mr4 
,cassidy 7= himself & ,mr4 ,blum5?al7   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
improve processes relat+ to appeals (   
decisions reg>d+ 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 ,improvem5t & ,mod]nization   
,act #b4j4  #b4 ,improvem5ts to         
processes relat+ to appeals ( decisions 
reg>d+ claims = b5efits "u ! laws       
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs  7a7 ,evid5ti>y docket         
,subsection 7c7 ( section #gaac is am5d$
 to read z foll[s3  7c7 ,cases ) no     
reque/ = a he>+ & ) a reque/ =          
additional evid5ce ,= cases 9 :i* a he>+
 is n reque/$ 9 ! notice ( disagreem5t b
 an opportunity to submit evid5ce is    

reque/$1 ! evid5ti>y record be=e ! ,bo>d
 %all be limit$ to evid5ce submitt$ by !
 appellant & 8 or h] repres5tative1 if  
any1 at any "t be=e ! date t is #ij days
 foll[+ receipt ( ! notice (            
disagreem5t4  4  7b7 ,he>+ docket       
,subsection 7b7 ( su* section is am5d$  
to read z foll[s3  7b7 ,cases ) a reque/
 = a he>+ ,= cases 9 :i* a he>+ is      
reque/$ 9 ! notice ( disagreem5t1 !     
evid5ti>y record be=e ! ,bo>d %all be   
limit$ to evid5ce submitt$ by !         
appellant & 8 or h] repres5tative1 if   
any1 at any "t be=e ! date t is #ij days
 foll[+ ! ,bo>d he>+4  4  7c7 ,docket   
flexibility ,section #gajg7;e7 ( su*    
title is am5d$-- 7#a7 by ins]t+ 7#a7    
be=e ,! ,secret>y2 &  7#b7 by add+ at ! 
end ! foll[+ new p>agraphs3  7#b7 ,!    
,secret>y %all develop & implem5t a     
policy all[+ an appellant to )draw an   
appeal 9 ! appellant's case by fil+ a   
supplem5tal claim to ! ag5cy ( orig9al  
jurisdiction at any "t )\t los+ cont9u\s
 pursuit 9 cases 9 :i*-- 7,a7 !         

appellant has n submitt$ new evid5ce = !
 case or ! case has n _h a ,bo>d he>+2 &
  7,b7 ! case has n be5 decid$ by !     
,bo>d4  7#c7 ,! ,secret>y's policy      
develop$ & implem5t$ "u p>agraph 7#a7   
%all all[ ! appellant to move !         
appellant's case f "o docket to ano!r   
docket at any "t )\t los+ cont9u\s      
pursuit 9 cases 9 :i*-- 7,a7 ! appellant
 has n submitt$ new evid5ce = ! case or 
! case has n _h a ,bo>d he>+2 &  7,b7 ! 
case has n be5 decid$ by ! ,bo>d4  4    
#c4 ,electronic notices by ,bo>d (      
,vet]ans' ,appeals ( decisions on appeal
 ,section #gajd7;f7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph
 7#a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ if & ins]t+       
unless2 &  7,b7 by ins]t+ 9 a mann] o!r 
?an aft] su* notice2 &  7#b7 9 p>agraph 
7#b71 by ins]t+ make or be=e revoke4    
#d4 ,requirem5ts = notices by ,bo>d (   
,vet]ans' ,appeals reg>d+ decisions ( ! 
,bo>d ,section #gajd7;d77#a7 ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
/rik+ record2 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3        

8record1 includ+--  7,a7 id5tification (
 ! issues adjudicat$2  7,b7 a summ>y ( !
 evid5ce consid]$ by ! ,bo>d2  7,c7 a   
summ>y ( ! applicable laws &            
regulations2  7,d7 id5tification ( f9d+s
 favorable to ! claimant2  7,e7 9 ! case
 ( a d5ial1 id5tification ( elem5ts n   
satisfi$ lead+ to ! d5ial2  7,f7 an     
explanation ( h[ to obta9 or access     
evid5ce us$ 9 mak+ ! decision2 &  7,g7  
if applicable1 id5tification ( ! crit]ia
 t mu/ be satisfi$ to grant s]vice      
connection or ! next high] level (      
comp5sation2  4  #e4 ,plan = vet]ans    
b5efits managem5t sy/em & casefl[       
integration  7a7 ,review ,n lat] ?an "o 
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
complete a review ( ! electronic sy/ems 
us$ to process appeals "u *apt] #ga (   
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7b7    
,plan ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all  
submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on   

,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives a plan to ensure !      
foll[+3 7#a7 ,seamless integration      
betwe5 sy/ems us$ to process decision at
 ag5cies ( jurisdiction & ! sy/ems us$  
by ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals to      
process appeals = b5efits "u title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7 ,life-cycle  
track+ ( appeals ( decisions reg>d+     
assi/ance or support s]vices "u section 
#agbj;,g ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code4  #f4 ,reconsid]ation ( decisions 
( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals ,section   
#gajc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
is am5d$ to read z foll[s3  #gajc4      
,reconsid]ation2 correction ( obvi\s    
errors  7a7 ,ord]s ( ! ,*airman  7#a7 ,!
 decision ( ! ,bo>d det]m9+ a matt] "u  
section #gajb ( ?is title is f9al unless
 ! ,*airman ord]s reconsid]ation ( !    
decision 9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#b74  
,su* an ord] may be made on ! ,*airman's
 initiative or ^u motion ( ! claimant4  
7#b7 7,a7 ,^u ! ord] ( ! ,*airman =     
reconsid]ation ( ! decision 9 a case1 ! 

case %all be ref]r$-- 7i7 9 ! case ( a  
matt] orig9ally decid$ by a s+le memb] (
 ! ,bo>d1 to a panel ( n less ?an ?ree  
memb]s ( ! ,bo>d2 or  7ii7 9 ! case ( a 
matt] orig9ally decid$ by a panel (     
memb]s ( ! ,bo>d1 to an enl>g$ panel ( !
 ,bo>d4  7,b7 ,a panel ref]r$ to 9      
subp>agraph 7,a7 may n include ! memb]1 
or any memb] ( ! panel1 t made !        
decision subject to reconsid]ation4     
7,c7 ,a panel reconsid]+ a case "u ?is  
subsection %all r5d] its decision aft]  
review+ ! entire record be=e ! ,bo>d4 ,!
 decision ( ! panel %all be made by a   
majority vote ( ! memb]s ( ! panel4 ,!  
decision ( ! panel %all con/itute ! f9al
 decision ( ! ,bo>d4  7b7 ,correction ( 
obvi\s errors ,! ,bo>d on its own motion
 may correct an obvi\s error 9 ! record1
 )\t reg>d to :e!r !re has be5 a motion 
or ord] = reconsid]ation4  7c7 ,motion (
 claimant  7#a7 7,a7 ,a claimant may    
submit to ! ,bo>d a motion reque/+ a    
review ( ! decision ( a memb] ( ! ,bo>d 
by a diff]5t memb] or panel ( memb]s ( !

 ,bo>d4  7,b7 ,! ,*airman %all approve  
ea* reque/ = review "u subp>agraph 7,a74
  7#b7 ,a reque/ = high]-level review by
 ! ,bo>d %all be-- 7,a7 9 writ+ 9 su* =m
 z ! ,secret>y may prescribe2 &  7,b7   
made )9 ! timeframe giv5 to appeal a    
decision ( ! ,bo>d4  7#c7 ,notice ( a   
decision "u ?is subsection %all be      
provid$ to ! claimant 7& any            
repres5tative ( su* claimant7 & %all    
include a g5]al /atem5t-- 7,a7 reflect+ 
:e!r evid5ce 0 n consid]$ pursuant to   
p>agraph 7#d72 &  7,b7 not+ ! options   
available to ! claimant to h ! evid5ce  
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 if any1    
consid]$ by ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#d7 ,!       
evid5ti>y record be=e a memb] ( ! ,bo>d 
%all be limit$ to ! evid5ce ( record 9 !
 ,bo>d decision be+ review$4  7#e7 ,a   
reconsid]ation ( a decision "u ?is      
subsection %all be de novo4  4  #g4     
,ord] ( decision ( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'    
,appeals ,section #gajg ( title #ch1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9  
subsection 7a77#d71 by /rik+ 9          

subsection 7b7 & ins]t+ 9 subsection 7b7
 or 7c77#c72 &  7#b7 9 subsection 7c71  
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 
7#c7 ,at ! discretion ( ! memb] ( !     
,bo>d conduct+ a he>+1 ! ,bo>d may issue
 a decision1 9 :ole or 9 "p1 dur+ !     
he>+4  4  #h4 ,annual report on outcomes
 ( appeals  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,sub*apt] ,i ( 
*apt] #ea ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new section3  #eaji;,c4 ,annual  
report on outcomes ( appeals  7a7 ,9    
g5]al ,n less frequ5tly ?an once ea*    
ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to         
,congress & publi% on an int]net website
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t a report on ! outcome (  
appeals1 includ+ ) respect to           
supplem5tal review1 high]-level review1 
& options = appeals to ! ,bo>d (        
,vet]ans' ,appeals4  7b7 ,disaggregation
 ( data ,! in=mation report$ & publi%$  
pursuant to subsection 7a7 %all be      
disaggregat$ by ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,type (  
review4  7#b7 ,ag5cy ( orig9al          
jurisdiction4  7#c7 ,nature ( issue1 su*

 z s]vice connection1 disability rat+1  
or effective date4  7#d7 ,body sy/em or 
diagno/ic code4  7#e7 ,outcome1 su* z   
affirm$ or rev]s$1 b5efit aw>d$1 rem& = 
m$ical op9ion1 rem& to obta9 records1 or
 rem& = o!r reason4  7c7 ,deid5tifi$ ,! 
,secret>y %all insure t all in=mation   
publi%$ "u ?is section is deid5tifi$4  4
  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (       
sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ea ( su*  
title is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item    
relat+ to section #eaji;,b ! foll[+ new 
item3  #eaji;,c4 ,annual report on      
outcomes ( appeals4  4  #i4 ,?ird-p>ty  
review ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
appeals process  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all seek 
to ent] into an agreem5t ) a            
non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs entity
 t ! ,secret>y det]m9es has k ( !       
appeals process ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs & ! ,f$]al rules ( appellate  
proc$ures to c>ry out a review ( su*    
process4  7b7 ,p]iod = ent]+ into       
agreem5t ,! ,secret>y %all seek to ent] 

into ! agreem5t describ$ 9 subsection   
7a7 be=e ! date t is #ahj days aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7c7      
,elem5ts ,pursuant to an agreem5t ent]$ 
into by ! ,secret>y & an entity "u      
subsection 7a71 ! entity %all conduct ! 
review cov]$ by ! agreem5t1 includ+ !   
foll[+3 7#a7 ,a review ( jo9t motions = 
rem& appeals decisions made by ! ,bo>d (
 ,vet]ans' ,appeals4  7#b7 ,a review (  
rem&s by ! ,bo>d ( decisions made by    
ag5cies ( orig9al jurisdiction4  7#c7   
,developm5t ( recomm5dations =          
legislative or adm9i/rative action to   
increase ! quality ( decisions made by  
ag5cies ( orig9al jurisdiction & ! ,bo>d
 ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 & r$uce !        
preval5ce ( rem&s4  #aj4 ,comptroll]    
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates review (       
prec$5t sett+ decisions ( ,unit$ ,/ates 
,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims &   
,(fice ( ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel  7a7 ,review  
,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
%all conduct a review ( ! implem5tation 
by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs (    

prec$5tial decisions issues by ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans      
,claims or ! ,(fice ( ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7  
,elem5ts ,! review conduct$ "u          
subsection 7a7 %all cov] ! foll[+3 7#a7 
,! circum/ances 9 :i* ! ,c\rt or ,(fice 
issu$ prec$5tial decisions & factors :i*
 may limit ! ability ( ! ,c\rt or ,(fice
 to issue su* decisions4  7#b7 ,!       
process ( ! ,dep>tm5t = provid+ tra9+ & 
guidance = claims processors & h[ t     
process affects compliance ) prec5d5tial
 decisions describ$ 9 subsection 7a74   
7#c7 ,accuracy ( claims decisions :5    
apply+ new prec$5t4  7#d7 ,:e!r !       
/ructure or type ( prec$5tial decision  
affects ! implem5tation by ! ,dep>tm5t4 
7#e7 ,p]spectives ( /akehold]s ) respect
 to tra9+1 guidance1 & quality assurance
 at ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#f7 ,su* o!r matt]s  
relat+ to *all5ges & opportunities =    
improvem5t relat+ to prec$5tial         
decisions z ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al        
consid]s appropriate4  7c7 ,report ,n   

lat] ?an two ye>s aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]      
,g5]al %all submit to ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
f9d+s ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ) respect  
to ! review conduct$ "u subsection 7a74