Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard anything about potential RIFs? Or do we think that won’t happen to us because the backlog is too big?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard anything about potential RIFs? Or do we think that won’t happen to us because the backlog is too big?

No need to guess, we will probably hear about the RIFs tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DOGE should consider splitting VA up. VHA and the Cemetery Administration should comprise the Department of Veterans Affairs. VBA and BVA should merge with SSA. There’s absolutely no reason for paying BVA disability decision writers more than SSA disability decision writers.

Dumb take. I’ve done both. BVA requires more intellect, more effort at staying current with the law, it’s a lot less formulaic, more complexity. Plenty of people who can stay afloat at SSA wash out quickly at the Board.

Didn’t BVA hire several judges with no VA disability experience? How complex can VA disability be when BVA hires judges with no relevant prior experience. Also, what about the VA claims examiners who initially review VA disability claims? Even though they aren’t attorneys, VA claims examiners don’t have difficulty applying VA disability law to VA disability claims.

I wonder what percentage of commenters here have never set foot inside the BVA? Many of these comments (such as the one above) make it pretty clear to me that a lot of people either spent no time or very little time at BVA and have no clue about what BVA does.

A lot of people here work remotely and have never been to the Board's office.

[Anonymous]

Anyone taking the offer? Without any guidance on when we have to rto I might…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone taking the offer? Without any guidance on when we have to rto I might…

I feel like there’s close to a zero percent chance you’ll get your full salary through the end of the FY. The union is strongly advising against taking it, too, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

I guess there’s a little more time to decide:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-workers-face-buyout-deadline-trump-presses-ahead-with-overhaul-2025-02-06/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone taking the offer? Without any guidance on when we have to rto I might…

I feel like there’s close to a zero percent chance you’ll get your full salary through the end of the FY. The union is strongly advising against taking it, too, FWIW.

Some people did take the offer, mostly people who were already eligible for retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone taking the offer? Without any guidance on when we have to rto I might…

Nope, I'm still deciding on taking a relocation package for RTO or severance to move on with life. Fork is bs

[Anonymous]

Might be but those of us who can’t relocate/ rto might have to take it. Just wish there was guidance on when and where rto would be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might be but those of us who can’t relocate/ rto might have to take it. Just wish there was guidance on when and where rto would be

We don't currently have enough space for RTO. There are only two floors for Board employees at the 425 I St building. That space can accommodate maybe 30 percent of the Board staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Might be but those of us who can’t relocate/ rto might have to take it. Just wish there was guidance on when and where rto would be

We don't currently have enough space for RTO. There are only two floors for Board employees at the 425 I St building. That space can accommodate maybe 30 percent of the Board staff.

BVA management should look into bunk cubicles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DOGE should consider splitting VA up. VHA and the Cemetery Administration should comprise the Department of Veterans Affairs. VBA and BVA should merge with SSA. There’s absolutely no reason for paying BVA disability decision writers more than SSA disability decision writers.

Dumb take. I’ve done both. BVA requires more intellect, more effort at staying current with the law, it’s a lot less formulaic, more complexity. Plenty of people who can stay afloat at SSA wash out quickly at the Board.

Didn’t BVA hire several judges with no VA disability experience? How complex can VA disability be when BVA hires judges with no relevant prior experience. Also, what about the VA claims examiners who initially review VA disability claims? Even though they aren’t attorneys, VA claims examiners don’t have difficulty applying VA disability law to VA disability claims.

I wonder what percentage of commenters here have never set foot inside the BVA? Many of these comments (such as the one above) make it pretty clear to me that a lot of people either spent no time or very little time at BVA and have no clue about what BVA does.

A lot of people here work remotely and have never been to the Board's office.

I don't think the poster meant going physically inside the BVA offices. I think the poster was saying there are clearly people commenting who have never worked at the Board and have no knowledge on how it operates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DOGE should consider splitting VA up. VHA and the Cemetery Administration should comprise the Department of Veterans Affairs. VBA and BVA should merge with SSA. There’s absolutely no reason for paying BVA disability decision writers more than SSA disability decision writers.

Dumb take. I’ve done both. BVA requires more intellect, more effort at staying current with the law, it’s a lot less formulaic, more complexity. Plenty of people who can stay afloat at SSA wash out quickly at the Board.

Didn’t BVA hire several judges with no VA disability experience? How complex can VA disability be when BVA hires judges with no relevant prior experience. Also, what about the VA claims examiners who initially review VA disability claims? Even though they aren’t attorneys, VA claims examiners don’t have difficulty applying VA disability law to VA disability claims.

I wonder what percentage of commenters here have never set foot inside the BVA? Many of these comments (such as the one above) make it pretty clear to me that a lot of people either spent no time or very little time at BVA and have no clue about what BVA does.

A lot of people here work remotely and have never been to the Board's office.

I don't think the poster meant going physically inside the BVA offices. I think the poster was saying there are clearly people commenting who have never worked at the Board and have no knowledge on how it operates.

Okay. There's definitely a troll on this thread, but it's probably someone who worked at BVA years ago. They are always posting exaggerated claims about the attys and outdated information about Board operations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DOGE should consider splitting VA up. VHA and the Cemetery Administration should comprise the Department of Veterans Affairs. VBA and BVA should merge with SSA. There’s absolutely no reason for paying BVA disability decision writers more than SSA disability decision writers.

Dumb take. I’ve done both. BVA requires more intellect, more effort at staying current with the law, it’s a lot less formulaic, more complexity. Plenty of people who can stay afloat at SSA wash out quickly at the Board.

Didn’t BVA hire several judges with no VA disability experience? How complex can VA disability be when BVA hires judges with no relevant prior experience. Also, what about the VA claims examiners who initially review VA disability claims? Even though they aren’t attorneys, VA claims examiners don’t have difficulty applying VA disability law to VA disability claims.

I wonder what percentage of commenters here have never set foot inside the BVA? Many of these comments (such as the one above) make it pretty clear to me that a lot of people either spent no time or very little time at BVA and have no clue about what BVA does.

A lot of people here work remotely and have never been to the Board's office.

I don't think the poster meant going physically inside the BVA offices. I think the poster was saying there are clearly people commenting who have never worked at the Board and have no knowledge on how it operates.

Okay. There's definitely a troll on this thread, but it's probably someone who worked at BVA years ago. They are always posting exaggerated claims about the attys and outdated information about Board operations.

BVA management always tries to characterize anyone who voices concern about working conditions at the Board as “whiners” or “trolls.” If there is something you believe is untrue or exaggerated, please point it out and let the poster respond.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody here know about RIFs? For instance, if we were considered essential so not RIFed could another lawyer from a different agency come in and take our job so that we are the ones getting fired? Even if that lawyer has no experience in veterans law?