WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi recently swore in four new veterans law judges for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
“As members of the board, these men and women will support important rights of veterans and their families, serving as the Department of Veterans Affairs’ final arbiter of claims for benefits,” Principi said.
The new veterans law judges sworn in May 27 to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) are Keith Allen, Marjorie Auer, Paula DiLorenzo and James March.
Attorneys face a rigorous process to be nominated and approved as a veterans law judge, a type of administrative law judge. They are appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the approval of the President. Each of the four selectees has at least nine years of experience at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
The purpose of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is to give veterans an independent review of benefit claims determinations made by local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offices and to issue decisions on appeals on behalf of the Secretary. A veteran may further appeal to an independent Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims which, unlike BVA, is independent of VA.
Types of appeals that may be decided by BVA judges include claims for service-connected disability compensation, pension, insurance benefits, educational benefits, home loan guaranties, vocational rehabilitation and employment, dependency and indemnity compensation, and health care services.
Allen served as counsel and senior counsel at BVA before being appointed a veterans law judge. He has worked at BVA since 1992. Born in Durham, N.C., he obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in December 1988 from Howard University in Washington, D.C., worked in engineering for a year, then enrolled in law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1992.
Auer was executive assistant to the board chairman before being appointed a veterans law judge. Born in a military hospital near Leghorn, Italy, she received her bachelor’s degree in political science and elementary education in 1981 from Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., and her law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1984. Auer started at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in 1987 as associate counsel and later became counsel and executive assistant to the chairman.
DiLorenzo served as special counsel for the senior deputy vice chairman before her appointment as a veterans law judge. She received a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and her law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She started at BVA in 1994 as associate counsel and later served as counsel and senior counsel.
March received a bachelor’s degree from Salisbury (Md.) State College and his law degree from the University of Maryland. He started at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals as associate counsel in 1992 and later served as counsel before being appointed a veterans law judge.
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