“Examining the VA Appeals Process: Ensuring High Quality Decision-Making for Veterans’ Claims on Appeal”

On November 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (EST) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on DAMA will hold an Oversight hearing in 360 Cannon House Office Building, to discuss the quality of actions by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board), including Board determinations on whether a Notice of Disagreement has initiated an appeal, Board remands of cases to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for further action or development, and Board decisions on veterans’ claims for VA benefits. The hearing will also examine the extent to which the VBA uses data from Board remands to inform its quality assurance and training programs, as well as the extent to which the Board uses data from orders by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to inform its quality assurance and training programs.

Witnesses

Panel 1

The Honorable Denis McDonough; Secretary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro; Comptroller General

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Panel 2

Mr. Patrick Murray;Director, National Legislative Service

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Ms. Joy Ilem; National Legislative Director

Disabled American Veterans

Ms. Diane Boyd Rauber; Executive Director

National Organization of Veterans' Advocates

Mr. Zachary M. Stolz; Partner

Chisholm, Chisholm, & Kilpatrick LTD