Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 6.djvu/92

 108 STAT. 4660 PUBLIC LAW 103-446—NOV. 2, 1994 rent official of the Department of Veterans Affairs) to be chairman of the commission. SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. (a) IN GENERAL. —The commission shall carry out a study of the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the disposition of claims for veterans benefits. (b) PURPOSE OF STUDY.— The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the disposition of claims for veterans benefits in order to determine the following: (1) The efficiency of current processes and procedures under the system for the abjudication, resolution, review, and final disposition of claims for veterans benefits, including the effect of judicial review on the system, and means of increasing the efficiency of the system. (2) Means of reducing the number of claims under the system for which final disposition is pending. (3) Means of enhancing the abihty of the Department of Veterans Affairs to achieve final determination regar^ng claims under the system in a prompt and appropriate manner. (c) CONTENTS OF STUDY.— The study to be carried out by the commission under this section is a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the disposition of claims for veterans benefits (as defined in section 406) and of the system for the delivery of such benefits, together with any related issues that the commission determines are relevant to the study. The study shall include an evaluation and assessment of the following: (1) The preparation and submission of claims by veterans under the system. (2) The processes and procedures under the system for the disposition of claims, including— (A) the scope and nature of the review undertaken with respect to a claim at each stage in the claims disposition process, including the role of hearings throughout the process; (B) the number, Federal employment grade, and experience and qualifications required of the persons undertaking such review at each such stage; (C) opportunities for the submittal of new evidence; and (D) the availability of alternative means of completing claims. (3) The effect on the system of the participation of attorneys, members of veterans service organizations, and other advocates onbehalf of veterans. (4) The effect on the system of actions taken by the Secretary to modernize the information management system of the Department, including the use of electronic data management systems. (5) The effect on the system of any work performance standards used by the Secretary at regional offices of the Department £Uid at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. (6) The extent of the implementation in the system of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Claims Processing submitted to the Conmiittees on Veterans' Affairs

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