Skip to main content
S 1024 115th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Administrative remedies Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Department of Veterans Affairs Evidence and witnesses Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Health information and medical records Medical tests and diagnostic methods Performance measurement Personnel records Veterans' pensions and compensation

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

Introduced: May 3, 2017 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 10, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.
Jul 10, 2017
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-126.
Jun 28, 2017
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 17, 2017
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.
May 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now July 10, 2017

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

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HR 457 Related bill VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
  • S 712 Related bill Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
  • S 933 Related bill Express Appeals Act of 2017
  • HR 2288 Related bill Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 18
All 18 Democratic 9 Republican 8 Independent 1
R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Jul 18, 2017
 R
Hoeven, John
North Dakota · Jul 13, 2017
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Jun 29, 2017
 R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Jun 29, 2017
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Jun 27, 2017
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Jun 27, 2017
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Jun 20, 2017
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Jun 14, 2017
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · May 24, 2017
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · May 17, 2017
 R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · May 17, 2017
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · May 3, 2017
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · May 3, 2017
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · May 3, 2017
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · May 3, 2017
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · May 3, 2017
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · May 3, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1024: Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1024/
MLA
"S. 1024: Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1024/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1024, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1024/.
Markdown link
[S. 1024: Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1024/)
Report a problem