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United States · Bill · S

S. 1024 (115th)

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

3 May 2017

Last action

10 July 2017 · Reported

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.

Sponsors

Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT], Steve Daines, Maggie Hassan, Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM], Angus King, Tammy Baldwin, Timothy Kaine, Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Shelley Capito, Susan Collins, Richard Durbin, John Thune, Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV], Mike Crapo, Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4], Mark Warner, Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [I-WV], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Mike Rounds, Rep. Nelson, Bill [D-FL-11], Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO], Martin Heinrich, Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN], John Hoeven, Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, Rep. Roberts, Pat [R-KS-1]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

14 January 2026

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 This bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals system. The bill permits a veteran to appeal within one year by: (1) requesting a review of the agency of original jurisdiction's (AOJ) decision by a higher-level adjudicator within AOJ using the same evidentiary record; (2) filing a supplemental claim with a regional office that includes the opportunity to submit additional evidence and have a hearing; or (3) appealing directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with the opportunity to select an expedited review to submit new evidence but without a hearing, or to select a review with the option to submit new evidence and request a hearing. A veteran may: (1) maintain the original effective date of a claim if he or she submits new and relevant evidence within one year of the most recent decision, and (2) retain the services of attorneys and accredited agents who charge a fee when the AOJ provides notice of the original decision. The VA's statutory duty to assist a veteran terminates after the original decision. The bill: (1) requires the VA to issue decision notification letters, (2) permits certain veterans who initiated an appeal prior to the bill's effective date to opt-in to the new appeals system, (3) authorizes the VA to conduct a pilot program to test such system, and (4) requires the VA, prior to full implementation, to certify to Congress that it has sufficient resources and personnel to carry out the legacy and new appeals systems.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 3 May 2017

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 3 May 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 17 May 2017

    Committee

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.

    Source: Committee

  4. 28 June 2017

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 10 July 2017

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 10 July 2017

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-126.

    Source: Committee

  7. 10 July 2017

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-126.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

5 official files

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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