Express Appeals Act of 2016

Summary

Express Appeals Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a five-year pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process to determine appeals of claims for disability compensation more quickly, and (2) inform claimants about such program. Appeals filed under the pilot program are described as "fully developed appeals." A claimant may elect to file a fully developed appeal by filing with the VA: (1) a notice of disagreement along with the claimant's written election to have the appeal determined under the pilot program, (2) all evidence that the claimant believes is needed for the appeal, and (3) a statement of the argument in support of the claim. A claimant who elects the pilot program may elect to revert to the standard appeals process at any time. Such reversion, however, shall be final. Such a claimant or an electing claimant who is later determined to be ineligible for the pilot program shall revert to the standard appeals process without any penalty other than the loss of docket number. The VA shall transfer jurisdiction over a fully developed appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The Board shall: maintain fully developed appeals on a separate docket; hear fully developed appeals in the order received; decide not more than one fully developed appeal for each four traditional appeals decided, though this ratio may be adjusted for fairness purposes beginning one year after the pilot program begins; and decide each fully developed appeal within one year of a claimant's filing the notice of disagreement. A claimant may not submit or identify to the Board any new evidence relating to a fully developed appeal after filing such appeal unless the claimant reverts to the standard appeals process. The Board shall establish an office to develop necessary federal records, independent medical opinions, and new medical exams. The Board may not provide hearings for fully developed appeals.

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

Timeline

1. 28 January 2016

   Introduced

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

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 28 January 2016

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 15 March 2016

   Committee

   Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-558.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 28 January 2016 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 28 January 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 28 January 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 28 January 2016

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

  Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

• Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssva00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → American Heroes COLA Act of 2015
• related to → Express Appeals Act
• related to → Express Appeals Act of 2017
• related to ← Veterans First Act