H.R. 3835 — Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025

This section amends VA claims processing requirements under 38 U.S.C. §5109B to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on (1) the average time claims or issues remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals have been pending; (2) cases advanced on the Board's docket under §7107(b) due to a motion, disaggregated by grant/denial and reason; and (3) Board dismissals, disaggregated by whether due to appellant death and, if so, whether suicide-related. The first report is due not later than one year after enactment. This section further directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Board of Veterans' Appeals and VA General Counsel, to prescribe guidelines within one year of enactment for advancing cases on the Board's docket via motions under §7107(b)(3), including types of evidence permitted. This section also adds a new §5109C requiring the Secretary to use technology to track and annually report to the Committees on (1) specified claims (e.g., continuously pursued, unassigned in National Work Queue, expeditious treatment, remanded, or pending Board hearing); (2) Veterans Benefits Administration adjudicator non-compliance with Board remand decisions; (3) supplemental claims filed post-final decision; and (4) initial death notices for benefit recipients, disaggregated by fiduciary assignment. The first report is due not later than one year after enactment of the Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025. In addition, this section authorizes the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals to aggregate appeals involving common questions of law or fact under §7104(a), effective upon completion of required policies and procedures; redesignates §7104(f) as (g); and inserts a new §7104(f) on ensuring substantial compliance with certain decisions.