The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of the Department of Veterans Affairs' claims adjudication and appeals processes. It introduces several new reporting and tracking requirements to monitor the progress of veterans' claims and identify bottlenecks within the system, providing greater insight into the lifecycle of a claim.

The bill mandates annual reports on the average time claims remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) are pending, the number of cases advanced on the BVA docket, and reasons for appeal dismissals. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must also establish guidelines for advancing cases on the BVA docket and use technology to track various claim types, such as continuously pursued claims, expedited claims, and instances where adjudicators do not comply with BVA remands, with an annual report on this data.

Significant changes are proposed for the Board of Veterans' Appeals, including granting the Chairman authority to aggregate appeals that involve common questions of law or fact, aiming to streamline decision-making. The bill also requires the Secretary, through a BVA member, to ensure substantial compliance with BVA remand decisions, with provisions for waiver under specific conditions, to reduce repetitive work and ensure effective implementation of BVA decisions.

The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) is expanded to include supplemental jurisdiction over class action claims for benefits, allowing for collective resolution of common issues. Additionally, the CAVC gains new authority to issue limited remands to the BVA, specifically to address questions of law or fact the Board failed to consider or adequately explain, while retaining jurisdiction over the case to expedite resolution of specific legal or factual deficiencies.

Finally, the legislation directs the BVA Chairman to conduct a study on common questions of law or fact where precedential guidance would be beneficial, potentially utilizing artificial intelligence. It also requires an independent assessment on the feasibility of the BVA issuing precedential decisions and providing recommendations for aggregating appeals, with the Secretary developing policies based on these findings to further enhance consistency and efficiency.