What Is the Board of Veterans Appeals Annual Report Transparency Act?

In October 2025, Congress passed H.R. 6698, known as the Board of Veterans Appeals Annual Report Transparency Act. This law requires the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) to release more detailed annual reports about its operations, case outcomes, and processing times. The goal is to improve transparency and oversight in the VA appeals process.

While the Act does not directly change how benefits are awarded or denied, it makes the appeals process more understandable for veterans and their advocates. By law, these reports must now include clear statistics on case backlogs, average wait times, and the outcomes of different types of appeals.

How Does This Affect Your VA Disability Appeal?

If you are appealing a VA disability claim decision using VA Form 10182 (Decision Review Request: Board Appeal), this new law may impact your experience. The BVA must now publish information that can help you estimate how long your appeal may take and what outcomes are most common for cases like yours.

For example, the Act requires the BVA to break down data by type of appeal (direct review, evidence submission, hearing) and by medical condition or benefit type. This can help you and your representative make more informed decisions about which appeal lane to choose and how to prepare your case.

What New Information Will Be Available?

The Act amends 38 U.S.C. § 7101, requiring the BVA to include in its annual report:

  • Total number of appeals received, pending, and resolved
  • Average processing times by appeal type
  • Breakdown of outcomes (granted, denied, remanded) by issue and benefit
  • Data on representation (veterans service organizations, attorneys, self-represented)

This information will be publicly available and should be posted on the BVA website and in the VA’s annual reports. Veterans and advocates can use these statistics to better understand trends and identify potential delays or issues in the appeals process.

How Can You Use This Transparency?

With more detailed reporting, you can:

  • Estimate how long your appeal may take based on current averages
  • See which types of appeals have higher grant rates
  • Identify common reasons for remands or denials
  • Use data to advocate for faster processing or policy changes

If you are working with a VSO or attorney, ask them to review the latest BVA report with you. This can help you set realistic expectations and choose the best strategy for your appeal. For more on VA appeals and timelines, visit our explainers index.

What Should You Do Next?

If you have a pending appeal, check the BVA’s annual report for updates on processing times and outcomes. Use this information to track your case and communicate with your representative. If you are considering an appeal, review the data to decide which appeal lane may be best for your situation.

Stay informed about further changes to the appeals process by subscribing to updates from the VA or following our VA claims hub. Transparency is improving, but it’s still important to be proactive and organized with your documentation and deadlines.