US Congress Senate Bill 2473 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Introduced on January 28 2016 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2016-03-15 - Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

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.

Express Appeals Act of 2016

Sen. Dan Sullivan [R-AK]	Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA]	Sen. Dean Heller [R-NV]	Sen. Jon Tester [D-MT]
Sen. Steve Daines [R-MT]	Sen. Jerry Moran [R-KS]	Sen. Christopher Coons [D-DE]	Sen. Chuck Grassley [R-IA]
Sen. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]	Sen. Mike Rounds [R-SD]

Date	Chamber	Action
2016-03-15	Senate	Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
2016-01-28	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

HB800 (Related) 2015-07-09 - Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
HB677 (Related) 2016-02-10 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
SB2921 (Related) 2016-05-16 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 467.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2473/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2473/BILLS-114s2473is.pdf