Board of Veterans Appeals 90th Anniversary

Thank you Chairman Areizaga-Soto for that kind introduction, for your decades of service to our country, and for your steadfast leadership as Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.

Let me recognize Charlie Cragin—the first Presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Chairman of the Board—for his exceptional service in and out of uniform, and for being a part of today’s celebration.

I also want to take this moment to acknowledge Cheryl Mason, the first woman to hold the esteemed position of Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals. Now her tenure was historic for other reasons besides gender. Her dedication to justice for Veterans was evident in so many efforts as the nation and VA grappled with responses to the pandemic.  Although Cheryl is not here with us today, I want to applaud her exemplary leadership to the Board and let her and all of you know that I am extremely proud of all that she did for the Board, VA, and for Veterans.

And finally, I offer my deep thanks to Judge Marjorie Auer and the 90^th Anniversary Committee for doing the hard work of bringing us all together for this truly important event.

It’s a pleasure to join all of you to commemorate a significant moment in the annals of American history—the establishment of the Board of Veterans Appeals 90 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt—and its enduring legacy to VA and the nation.

Now I know you all know this history but it’s worth retelling.

Back in 1933, President Roosevelt faced a host of obstacles and challenges that must have seemed insurmountable at the time. He’d had only been in office a few months and found himself facing the devastating effects of the Great Depression and the grievances of Vets since they returned home from World War I.

Given the brutality of that fight and, let’s face it, the brutality of war, many of the brave men and women returning home from the war bore the physical and emotional scars of battle and found themselves struggling to access the care and benefits promised to them in exchange for their service and their sacrifices.

And as the Great Depression gripped our nation, Vets were not immune to its devastating impacts. They had faced unimaginable hardships on the battlefield but when they returned home, the nation was grappling with an unprecedented economic downturn, leaving no one untouched—including our Vets.

That economic devastation meant Vets had to face those hardships—unemployment, poverty,  starvation, and homelessness.

And add to that the inability to adjust to civilian life and now what do you have? A daunting, stressful, challenging environment for returning Vets that made every day living almost unbearable.

Sound familiar?

During this trying time, Vets desperately needed assistance, and our nation was faced with a critical choice: turn a blind eye to their struggles or step up and fight like hell for them.

Seeing Vets in crisis was a pivotal moment for President Roosevelt and he knew it was his responsibility to fight like hell for all those Vets who had already fought like hell for the nation—and for all of us.

So in response to their pressing needs, the President took decisive action by laying the groundwork for a system that continues to evolve and shape the way we meet the needs of Vets today. That action—that groundwork—led to the establishment of not only the Department of VA but also the Board of Veterans Appeals—a fair and impartial system that allows Vets to appeal decisions related to their claims.

Now here’s why I believe President Roosevelt created the Board. As a leader of profound compassion and foresight, he understood that Vets deserved more than gratitude, more than a passing “thank you for your service.”

He knew that our Vets deserved better care, better benefits, and better services. And he  knew that Vets deserved the kind of assistance that would help them reintegrate into civilian life—after the Great Depression and after the war.

So the Board—a comprehensive system of support—would address their needs and accomplish other important things in tandem to include protecting their rights and interests, assuring their voices would be heard, and resolving all reasonable doubts in their favor.

The Board’s creation was a turning point in our nation’s history, a  symbol of hope and justice and a shining example of what honoring our promises to Vets looks like.

What also marked a turning point—groundbreaking at the time—was President Roosevelt empowering judges of the Board to adjudicate claims.

Now in 1933 that was a bold step giving judges immense power; the power to listen, the power to understand, the power to assist Vets with compassion and with impartiality, and the power to make sure VA’s promises to Vets were not empty ones. Listening, understanding, and assisting allows judges to help Vets navigate through some of their own complex legal issues and cases.

And let’s be frank—sometimes that legalese is hard to understand. Hell, that’s why I have a team of lawyers to help me understand the team of lawyers.

A close reading of history shows what President Roosevelt demanded of the Board, and this is the point I want you to take away:

Behind every case file,  every piece of evidence, and every appeal, lies the story of a Vet who has faced adversity and has sacrificed greatly. And behind every decision rendered lies a story of a Vet whose burdens were lightened,  whose struggles were eased, and whose faith in the system was restored; all because of a judge who could step into the shoes of the Vet and see the claim from a different perspective.

And that ability to see life from another perspective ensures that justice will always prevail. That’s what the immense power bestowed upon you is all about.

It was part of your mission in 1933, and 90 years later, it’s still your mission. And that mission is rooted in the solemn promise the nation makes to the brave men and women who answer the call to protect and defend our freedoms and way of life—yours and mine.

President Biden often says that our most sacred obligation is to prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they return home.

That’s the promise that we, as a nation, make to everyone who signs up for military service.

It’s a promise that’s as simple as it is fundamental.

If you take care of us, we’ll take care of you.

If you fight for us, we’ll fight for you.

If you serve us, we’ll serve you when you come home.

The thing is our country as a whole makes that promise. But it’s us—at VA and the Board—who are most responsible for keeping that promise.

That promise is the bedrock upon which VA and the Board were founded. It is a promise of action, a promise of compassion, and it’s a promise that honors the service and sacrifice of all Vets—no matter who are they are, what they look like, or who they love. 

Thank you all for your commitment to that promise and thank you again for allowing me to share in this moment of celebration with you.

God bless you all.