§5104B — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

You can ask the same agency that decided your claim to have a higher-level reviewer look at the decision. The Secretary must approve every request. Ask in writing on the form the Secretary requires and do it within one year after the agency’s decision. You can ask for a reviewer in the same office or in a different office, and the Secretary can’t refuse a different-office request without good cause. The reviewer may only use the evidence that was in the original file. The reviewer must look at the case again on its own merits. The agency must send the review decision to you and your representative and say if any evidence was not considered because of the record limit, and explain any options to get that evidence considered by the Department.

Title 38, §5104B

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)A claimant may request a review of the decision of the agency of original jurisdiction by a higher-level adjudicator within the agency of original jurisdiction.

(2)The Secretary shall approve each request for review under paragraph (1).

(b)(1)A request for higher-level review by the agency of original jurisdiction shall be—

(A)in writing in such form as the Secretary may prescribe; and

(B)made within one year of the notice of the agency of original jurisdiction’s decision.

(2)Such request may specifically indicate whether such review is requested by a higher-level adjudicator at the same office within the agency of original jurisdiction or by an adjudicator at a different office of the agency of original jurisdiction. The Secretary shall not deny such request for review by an adjudicator at a different office of the agency of original jurisdiction without good cause.

(c)Notice of a higher-level review decision under this section shall be provided to the claimant (and any representative of such claimant) and shall include a general statement—

(1)reflecting whether evidence was not considered pursuant to subsection (d); and

(2)noting the options available to the claimant to have the evidence described in paragraph (1), if any, considered by the Department.

(d)The evidentiary record before the higher-level adjudicator shall be limited to the evidence of record in the agency of original jurisdiction decision being reviewed.

(e)A review of the decision of the agency of original jurisdiction by a higher-level adjudicator within the agency of original jurisdiction shall be de novo.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–168 substituted “to the claimant (and any representative of such claimant)” for “in writing” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable to all claims for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides notice of a decision under section 5104 of this title on or after the later of 540 days after Aug. 23, 2017, or 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a certification of certain capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the new appeals system established by Pub. L. 115–55 and to address appeals of decisions on legacy claims, with provision for early applicability of the new appeals system to certain claims, see section 2(x) of Pub. L. 115–55, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2017 Amendment note under section 101 of this title, and bracketed note thereunder. Rule of

Construction

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–168 not to be construed to apply section 5104(a) of this title to decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals under chapter 71 of this title, see section 807(b) of Pub. L. 117–168, set out as a note under section 5100 of this title.

§5104B Higher-level Review by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction

Summary

Title 38, §5104B

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Construction

Citations & Metadata