Should the VA Allow Veterans Appealing Benefit Decisions to Appear by Tele-Hearing? (H.R. 4771)

What is H.R. 4771?

(Updated April 13, 2020)

This bill — the VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act — would require the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) to allow veterans with pending appeals to appear before the BVA remotely from their personal computers. Currently, BVA only conducts tele-hearings from regional benefit offices, so veterans need to travel to those offices — which may be hours away from where they live — to appeal their decisions by tele-hearing.

Argument in favor

Veterans shouldn’t have to travel long distances to appeal benefit decisions, especially when video conferencing and online call technology is already so robust.

Argument opposed

This bill isn’t needed, as the VA is already developing and testing a tele-hearing system that it expects to have online by the beginning of 2020.

Impact

Veterans; veterans appealing benefit decisions; VA; and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Cost of H.R. 4771

The CBO estimates that this bill wouldn’t increase spending.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) introduced this bill to require the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to allow veterans with pending appeals to appear before the Board remotely from their personal computers instead of appearing in person: 

“Right now, Lowcountry veterans are forced to drive hours away to a regional VA office in order to appeal an adverse decision by the VA, placing a wholly unnecessary burden on veterans and their families. The VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act offers a common-sense solution to this problem, by allowing veterans to participate in these hearings inside the comfort of their own home from their personal computers. Veterans, who have already sacrificed so much for our country should not be forced to jump through hoops to appeal their claims.”

After this bill passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Committee Ranking Member Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) said, “Mr. Cunningham, thank you for helping the VBA [Veteran Board of Appeals] get out of a horse and buggy and finally get into the 21st century… It makes sense, it’s way past due.”

This legislation passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee by voice vote with the support of one cosponsor, Rep. John Katko (R-NY).

Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Wounded Warrior Project support this legislation.

Of Note: The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is responsible for determining whether veterans are entitled to their claimed benefits and other services. It is located in Washington, D.C. and currently only conducts tele-hearings from regional benefit offices. Consequently, veterans have to be present at their specified regional benefit office for their hearings. In some cases, this can mean driving multiple hours. 

The BVA is already allowing tele-hearings at locations other than VA regional offices on a trial basis. It expects to permit all veterans who request a BVA hearing to appear remotely by the start of 2020. 

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) Press Release
  
• Sponsoring Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-CA) Press Release After Committee Passage