Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 They are always posting exaggerated claims about the attys and outdated information about Board operations.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.

We can also assume that BVA management had read this thread (and may also be posting, who knows?) so, take the info here for what it is, an anonymous message board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Okay I am not going to read all the way back 20 pages. There was someone that claimed that all Board attorneys had diplomas from their crappy law schools on the wall. There point apparently was that BVA attorneys like to brag about their crappy legal educations. It is absolutely not true that all Board attorneys hang a diploma on the wall. I've known maybe one person who did this.

The person who made the claim is a troll because they are peddling a blatant lie. And I am not a management representative, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Okay I am not going to read all the way back 20 pages. There was someone that claimed that all Board attorneys had diplomas from their crappy law schools on the wall. There point apparently was that BVA attorneys like to brag about their crappy legal educations. It is absolutely not true that all Board attorneys hang a diploma on the wall. I've known maybe one person who did this.

The person who made the claim is a troll because they are peddling a blatant lie. And I am not a management representative, sorry.

This thread currently has 102 pages. There are countless comments regarding the toxic working conditions at the Board. And, your main concern is with the comment regarding the educational pedigree, or lack thereof, of Board attorneys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Okay I am not going to read all the way back 20 pages. There was someone that claimed that all Board attorneys had diplomas from their crappy law schools on the wall. There point apparently was that BVA attorneys like to brag about their crappy legal educations. It is absolutely not true that all Board attorneys hang a diploma on the wall. I've known maybe one person who did this.

The person who made the claim is a troll because they are peddling a blatant lie. And I am not a management representative, sorry.

This thread currently has 102 pages. There are countless comments regarding the toxic working conditions at the Board. And, your main concern is with the comment regarding the educational pedigree, or lack thereof, of Board attorneys?

No, that is not my "main concern." Where did I say that? Please show me. I am responding to the person claiming there are no trolls ( or that management labels everyone as trolls) by pointing out an example of an obvious troll post in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Everyone get the new email? Practically all employees of the Board are exempt from accepting the Fork. Still no real news on RTO stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/16/trump-wants-fire-federal-workers-return-office-cal/

All federal employees are to return to the office or be dismissed.

If only there were offices for 1000+ staffers to return to at the BVA...

I'm surprised a BVA attorney would use this argument when the vast majority of you came from doc review where you worked in window less boiler rooms, basement broom closets, and rooms so forgotten that biglaw summer interns would get a tour and gape at you all like exotic animals in a zoo.

ROFL. Unfortunately, a lot of BVA attorneys have forgotten their humble origins. When I worked at BVA, many of my colleagues proudly framed their Cooley Law degrees for all to see and bragged about their legal experiences. Little did they know that VA claims examiners with GEDs and high school diplomas perform similar work as them.

This is a clear troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/16/trump-wants-fire-federal-workers-return-office-cal/

All federal employees are to return to the office or be dismissed.

If only there were offices for 1000+ staffers to return to at the BVA...

I'm surprised a BVA attorney would use this argument when the vast majority of you came from doc review where you worked in window less boiler rooms, basement broom closets, and rooms so forgotten that biglaw summer interns would get a tour and gape at you all like exotic animals in a zoo.

ROFL. Unfortunately, a lot of BVA attorneys have forgotten their humble origins. When I worked at BVA, many of my colleagues proudly framed their Cooley Law degrees for all to see and bragged about their legal experiences. Little did they know that VA claims examiners with GEDs and high school diplomas perform similar work as them.

This is a clear troll

Okay, so let us assume that the poster exaggerated when he or she stated that many BVA attorneys framed their Cooley Law degrees for all to see. But, is their truth to the underlying substance of the comment, i.e., many BVA attorneys graduated from low ranked law schools such as Cooley and review the same disability cases as VA claims examiners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/16/trump-wants-fire-federal-workers-return-office-cal/

All federal employees are to return to the office or be dismissed.

If only there were offices for 1000+ staffers to return to at the BVA...

I'm surprised a BVA attorney would use this argument when the vast majority of you came from doc review where you worked in window less boiler rooms, basement broom closets, and rooms so forgotten that biglaw summer interns would get a tour and gape at you all like exotic animals in a zoo.

ROFL. Unfortunately, a lot of BVA attorneys have forgotten their humble origins. When I worked at BVA, many of my colleagues proudly framed their Cooley Law degrees for all to see and bragged about their legal experiences. Little did they know that VA claims examiners with GEDs and high school diplomas perform similar work as them.

This is a clear troll

Okay, so let us assume that the poster exaggerated when he or she stated that many BVA attorneys framed their Cooley Law degrees for all to see. But, is their truth to the underlying substance of the comment, i.e., many BVA attorneys graduated from low ranked law schools such as Cooley and review the same disability cases as VA claims examiners?

If the claims examiners were doing exactly what the Board does should we just send the SSOC to the Court and call it a day?

[Anonymous]

And if we did that how do you think the Court would respond since they take 45 page opinions and pick them apart for one or two sentences and then VA writes a big check to a firm in Providence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone get the new email? Practically all employees of the Board are exempt from accepting the Fork. Still no real news on RTO stuff.

I’m hoping this means we are unlikely to be RIFed. I heard Cheryl Mason is an advisor to the new secretary so maybe she will advocate for keeping the status quo? I hope so anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone get the new email? Practically all employees of the Board are exempt from accepting the Fork. Still no real news on RTO stuff.

I’m hoping this means we are unlikely to be RIFed. I heard Cheryl Mason is an advisor to the new secretary so maybe she will advocate for keeping the status quo? I hope so anyway.

Heard she’s the reason Scharnberger and Santoro, etc, were moved as SES. Not so sure about her.

[Anonymous]

Whatever it is, I just want to know our fate already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever it is, I just want to know our fate already.

Whose fate, the entire Board?

DOGE sees its objective as making your life miserable, why conjure your own nightmare scenarios and do the job for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever it is, I just want to know our fate already.

Whose fate, the entire Board?

DOGE sees its objective as making your life miserable, why conjure your own nightmare scenarios and do the job for them?

Thank you so much for your helpful commentary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever it is, I just want to know our fate already.

Whose fate, the entire Board?

DOGE sees its objective as making your life miserable, why conjure your own nightmare scenarios and do the job for them?

Thank you so much for your helpful commentary.

No worries, but I ask again, what do you mean by “our fate”?