Wednesday Hearing to Examine U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093
(Washington, DC) Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) announced today that members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will meet to discuss the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
The Court was established in 1988 to provide judicial review of decisions made by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The Board is an administrative body within the Department of Veterans Affairs that decides appeals related to claims for VA benefits, usually disability compensation.
In fiscal year 2007, the Court received over 4,600 cases, an almost 25 percent increase over the highest level ever received in a single year. The Court today has almost 6,300 pending cases, which is 36 percent more cases than two years ago. Witnesses have been asked to address the performance and structure of the Court, including whether Congress should increase the size of the Court from seven to nine judges.
The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 7, in room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. It will be broadcast live on the Committee's website and available for viewing later at http://veterans.senate.gov. Audio may also be available - during the hearing only - at http://www.capitolhearings.org.
Panel 1
- The Honorable William P. Greene, Jr., Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Panel 2
- R. Randall Campbell, Assistant General Counsel, Professional Staff Group VII, Department of Veterans Affairs
- Richard Cohen, President, National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc.
- Christine Cote, Litigation Attorney, National Veterans Legal Services Program
- Joe Violante, National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
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