by George O’ Connor – Communications Director of Congressman Mike Bost 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Two bipartisan bills authored by U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) to help veterans passed the House on Tuesday. The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (H.R. 2288) streamlines the benefits appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 1329) ensures that our nation’s veterans receive the same annual cost-of-living adjustment as Social Security recipients

“I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this long overdue legislation to help fix the VA’s broken appeals process and backlog,” said Rep. Bost, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. “Our heroes deserve rapid access to quality care, and that begins with having their appeals decided in a timely manner. I encourage the U.S. Senate to take up this legislation as soon as possible.”

“When a veteran appeals a decision on their claim for disability benefits, they deserve to have their appeal reviewed and decided in a timely manner,” said House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe. “It’s unfair to the men and women who may have been injured as a result of their service to have their claim for benefits stuck in the appeals backlog for years on end. I am grateful to Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Esty for their leadership in addressing this issue, and I’m proud that this bipartisan legislation was sponsored by every single member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.”

Background on Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act

The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 would create three “lanes” for veterans’ appeals, including the “Local Higher Level Review Lane” in which an adjudicator reviews the same evidence considered by the original claims processor; the “New Evidence Lane,” in which the veteran could submit new evidence for review and have a hearing; and the “Board Lane,” in which jurisdiction for the appeal would transfer immediately to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

The bill would give the Secretary the authority to test the new system prior to full implementation and would allow some veterans already going through the appeals process to opt into the new system. It would also require VA to provide a comprehensive plan for how the new system will be implemented and a subsequent certification by the Secretary that the department is prepared to roll-out the reform. Lastly, the bill would require the Secretary to submit periodic reports to Congress, including information on how many appeals are pending in both the modernized system and the legacy system.

This legislation was sponsored by every member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

More information here.

Watch Representative Bost’s floor speech here.

Read the bill text here.

Background on Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act

The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans as of December 1st, 2017.

More information here.

Read the bill text here.

“We owe a constant debt to the men and women who have fought for our great nation,” said DAMA Subcommittee Chairman Bost.  “I am proud to have bipartisan support from my colleagues in passing this bill to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependents. This vitally important legislation ensures the men and women who have served receive the benefits they have earned.”