Third-party review of Department of Veterans Affairs appeals process

(a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with a non-Department of Veterans Affairs entity that the Secretary determines has knowledge of the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal rules of appellate procedures to carry out a review of such process. (b) Period for entering into agreement The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in subsection (a) before the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Elements Pursuant to an agreement entered into by the Secretary and an entity under subsection (a), the entity shall conduct the review covered by the agreement, including the following: (1) A review of joint motions for remand appeals decisions made by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. (2) A review of remands by the Board of decisions made by agencies of original jurisdiction. (3) Development of recommendations for legislative or administrative action to increase the quality of decisions made by agencies of original jurisdiction and the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and reduce the prevalence of remands.