VA to Roll Out New Claims Appeals Process On Education, Insurance, Vocational Rehab and Caregiver Benefits
February 26, 2019
The Department of Veteran Affairs will launch a new system for veterans challenging their disability claims decisions.
The new process gives veterans three options for contesting their claim and significantly reducing the time it takes to receive a final decision. The three choices are:
- Supplemental claim lane,” in which they can introduce new evidence in their case and have a regional specialist review it and make a decision
- Request that their case be reviewed by a senior adjudicator rather than the regional office with emphasis on looking for errors and mistakes
- Appeal the decision to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals that includes a direct review with additional information and waiving their right to a hearing, submission of extra evidence without a hearing or a full hearing in which they can submit more evidence and testify before a judge
Decisions will be made within 125 days