Full Implementation of Appeals Reform: VA Publishes Updates to Adjudications Manual
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
On August 23, 2017, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (Appeals Reform) was signed into law. The new system allows veterans to choose from three different review options, or lanes, when filing an appeal:
- The Higher-Level Review lane
- The Supplemental Claim lane
- Notice of Disagreement (i.e. Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals) lane
There are three additional options for veterans at the Board: the direct review docket, evidence docket, and hearing docket. Appeals Reform was officially implemented February 19, 2019. All requests for review of VA decisions that were issued on or after that date are processed under the new, multi-lane system.
On the same day, VA also published updates to nearly 100 sections of its Adjudications Manual (M21-1 Manual) to reflect the changes implemented by Appeals Reform. The M21-1 Manual outlines VA’s internal policies and procedures and guides VA adjudicators in making decisions.
