Appeals Management Center (amc) Information

[Guest allanopie]

AMC Information http://www.moaa.org/magazine/March2004/answer_digest.asp

What is the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Appeals Management Center (AMC)?

The AMC was created [2003] to process appealed claims that have been remanded to the VBA by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) or the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The AMC implements the BVA’s remand instructions involving evidence development and renders a decision on the claim.

The concentration of this appeals-processing expertise in one location is intended to improve the timeliness and accuracy of decisions. The AMC was established following a federal court decision that invalidated certain regulations of the BVA that permitted it to develop evidence on its own for claims it intended to remand to the VBA.

Why is the AMC in Washington, D.C.?

By law, the VA must process remands expeditiously, so VA officials decided to centralize this function. The Washington office is located blocks from the BVA, making the physical transfer of cases easier. The location also enables the AMC to take advantage of resources within the regional office and BVA and VBA headquarters.

What other changes are being made at the Washington office as a result of the establishment of the AMC?

In November 2003, the Pittsburgh office assumed responsibility for processing claims received from veterans and their dependents living abroad. These claims formerly were processed at the Washington office.

The Washington office also will devote resources to its Operation Early Intervention program, which provides assistance to severely disabled servicemembers hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital.

APPEALS MANAGEMENT CENTER (AMC)

Department of Veterans Affairs

Appeals Management Center (AMC)

1722 Eye Street. NW

Washington, DC 20421

Toll Free Information line: 1-866-258-0341……….direct line(the one they will answer)- 1-202-565-5436

FAX- 1-202-530-9216

AMC fax line: 1-202-530-9383

Director: Keith Wilson

1-202-530-9400

Assistant Director: Keith McQuaid

1-202-530-9462