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VA FORM 9
VA FORM 646
Casey Matuszak
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 1
OBJECTIVES
VA Form 9
What is an appeal?
What is a substantive appeal?
When is it filed?
How to complete Form 9?
Who is the author?
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 2
OBJECTIVES
VA Form 646
When?
Why?
BVA
Staffing
Tips
Statistics
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 3
VA Form 9
What is an appeal?
An appeal consists of a
timely filed NOD,
SOC has been furnished,
Substantive Appeal.
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 4
VA Form 9
What is a substantive appeal?
Properly completed VA Form 9, “Appeal to
Board of Veterans' Appeals,” or
Correspondence containing the necessary
information.
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 5
VA Form 9
When is it filed?
Post Statement of the Case (SOC)
Time limit?
One year vs. 60 days
Contested claim
Extension of time
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 6
VA Form 9
How to complete VA Form 9?
Block 9 - Check either
Appeal all issues listed in SOC, or
Appeal specific issues
Block 10 - Argument
Facts and Law
Key - Explain why claimant is entitled
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 7
VA Form 9
Special Considerations!
BVA is liberal when deciding issues raised.
BVA may dismiss an appeal that doesn’t
ID error of fact or law.
BVA will not presume facts
BVA considers hearing testimony
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 8
VA Form 9
Who is the author of a VA Form 9?
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 9
VA FORM 646
Opportunity to review the appeal and
submit additional statement/evidence
No legal requirement
Allow 5-8 days for review
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 10
VA FORM 646
Advance on the docket for good cause
CFR 20.900
Terminal illness of claimant
Advanced age
Extreme financial hardship, and/or
interpretation of law affecting other
claimants. MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 11
VA FORM 646
After 646, what’s next?
VA Form 8, Certification of Appeal
RO Holds
RO sends to BVA
Docket number assigned when case is
received in BVA
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 12
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 13
BVA
MOPH Staff
Howard Hood – BVA Appeals Manager
Rick Foster – BVA Legal Assistant
General duties of Appeals Manager
Review all MOPH cases coming to BVA
Initial, BVA remands and Court remands
Conducts hearing at BVA
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 14
BVA
MOPH Staff
Specific Duties
Informal Hearing Presentation (IHP)
F1-11 Hearing Memorandum
Hearings
Reviews Independent Medical Opinions
Answers questions – clients – NSOs
CANNOT discuss a case with a VLJ
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 15
AMC
Don’t tell vets to call Celeste/Howard for
updates
Don’t advise vets to waive 30 days w/o NSO
discussing issue w/Celeste
Don’t submit evidence directly to AMC/BVA
DO submit evidence directly to Celeste/Howard
NSOs should e-mail questions on remands to
Celeste
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 16
BVA
BVA STATISTICS
Appeals filed – Form 9
FY 2009 51,481
FY 2010 57,925
FY 2011 38,606
Appeals Pending as EOM January 2012
AMC 19,000
BVA 31,261
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 17
BVA APPEALS PENDING BY
SERVICE ORGANIZATION(EOM Jan 2012)
American Legion 8,813 412 days
AmVets 106 202 days
DAV 10,811 292 days
MOPH 275 175 days
VFW 2980 205 days
Nationwide 32,186 280 days
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 18
APPEALS PROCESSING TIME FY 2011
STAGE Responsible
Party
Processing time
NOD - SOC AOJ 257 days
SOC – Form 9 Appellant 41 days
Form 9 - Certification AOJ 585 days
Certif. – BVA Decision BVA 240 days
Remand AOJ 427 days
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 19
BVA DISPOSITIONS (FY 2011)
Allowed
Remand Denied Other Total
MOPH
138
31.9%
190
43.9%
94
21.7%
7
3.2%
433
0.9%
NO
Representation
1,023
22.7%
1,732
38.4%
1,624
36%
135
3%
4,514
9.3%
TOTAL BVA
Disposition
13,842
28.5%
21,464
44.2%
11,763
24.2%
1,519
3.1%
48,588
100%
VA FORMS 9 & 646
MOPH NSO Training
Orlando, FL March 2012 20
