Union Calendar No. 301

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3834

[Report No. 119–349]


To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the jurisdiction and certain rules of evidence of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 9, 2025

Mr. Bost introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

October 21, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 9, 2025]

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the jurisdiction and certain rules of evidence of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Veteran’s Claim Options Act”.

SEC. 2. Board of Veterans’ Appeals: jurisdiction; evidence in certain cases.

(a) Jurisdiction over a supplemental claim.—Section 7104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)—

(1) by inserting “(1)” before “All questions”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) In an appeal of a decision under section 5108 of this title regarding a supplemental claim under section 5104C(a)(1)(B) of this title, the Board may not deny relief (including by denying review of the merits of the claim) solely on the basis that the appellant did not present or secure new and relevant evidence with respect to such supplemental claim.”.

(b) Evidence in cases remanded to the Board by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.—Section 7113 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(d) Cases remanded by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.— (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for cases remanded to the Board by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the evidentiary record before the Board shall be limited to the evidence previously considered by the Board in such case.

“(2) The evidentiary record before the Board for cases described in paragraph (1) shall include evidence submitted by the appellant and his or her representative, if any, within 90 days following such remand, which the Board shall consider in the first instance.”.

SEC. 3. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension.

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 30, 2031” and inserting “January 30, 2035”.

Union Calendar No. 301
119th CONGRESS
     1st Session
H. R. 3834
[Report No. 119–349]
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the jurisdiction and certain rules of evidence of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
October 21, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed