Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025
The Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 would change how members of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) are recommended for appointment. Specifically, it adds a new priority in the nomination process: when the Chairman of the Board recommends individuals to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve on the BVA, he or she must give priority to candidates who have three or more years of legal professional experience in areas that pertain to the laws administered by the Secretary. In short, the bill aims to ensure that future BVA members have substantial legal experience relevant to VA laws, with the goal of improving the quality and consistency of veterans’ benefit decisions. The act amends existing law (38 U.S.C. 7101A(a)) and specifies that this is a priority consideration in the recommendation process, rather than creating a new mandatory qualification or quota. It is introduced in the 119th Congress and, at the time of introduction, has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs with additional sponsors noted.
Key Points
- 1Creates a new priority in recommending Board of Veterans’ Appeals members.
- 2The priority applies to recommendations made to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for individuals to serve on the BVA.
- 3Eligible priority candidates must have three or more years of legal professional experience.
- 4The experience must be in areas that pertain to the laws administered by the Secretary (i.e., laws governing VA benefits and related programs).
- 5The amendment is added as a new paragraph (3) to 38 U.S.C. 7101A(a), changing how recommendations are prioritized; it does not establish a mandatory qualification or a fixed quota, but elevates certain candidates in the process.