In Letter To Board Of Veterans Appeals, Hochul Pushes For Immediate Hearing In Buffalo

WILLIAMSVILLE N.Y. – Today, Representative Kathy Hochul (NY-26) sent a letter to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) requesting that they schedule a travel board hearing in Buffalo immediately. This letter comes after reports that an audio recording device malfunctioned the last time the travel board visited Buffalo, preventing the BVA from completing transcripts of the proceedings. The BVA told those veterans in attendance that if they would like their case to be heard in person, they need to wait for the BVA travel board to return to the Buffalo region.

“It is unacceptable to me that a technological error is causing additional delay for these veterans, who have already waited patiently for their appeals to be heard and I am sure you would agree that the situation is unfairly prolonging a final decision regarding their cases. I urge your agency to schedule another travel board hearing in Buffalo as soon as possible, so that these Western New York veterans do not have to bear the burden of uncertainty any longer,” wrote Rep. Hochul.

This error affected approximately forty veterans, at least twelve of whom elected to be heard the next time the travel board comes to Western New York. Currently, the next travel board visit is scheduled eight months away in May 2013, but the BVA has not specified a date.

The Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) reviews benefit claims determinations made by local Veterans Affairs (VA) offices and makes final decisions on appeals. 

Click here to view Rep. Hochul’s letter to the BVA.

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