Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals
The Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is a senior position within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that is responsible for the operation and policies of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which is the administrative tribunal within the department responsible for holding hearings and issuing decisions on behalf of the Secretary regarding veterans' claims for benefits and services.
| Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals | |
|---|---|
Agency Seal | |
Personal flag of the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, of which the Chairman ranks as | |
| Board of Veterans Appeals | |
| Style | Chairman (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Reports to | Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | 6 years No restriction on renewal |
| Constituting instrument | Sec 4001 of Pub. L. 85–857, H.R. 9700, 72 Stat. 1241, enacted September 2, 1958, as amended |
| Deputy | Vice Chairman |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, Level IV $176,300 USD (January 2022) |
| Website | https://www.bva.va.gov |
The Chairman ranks equivalent to a department Assistant Secretary and is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term, must be appointed as a Veterans Law Judge, and must be a licensed attorney in good standing in a state or territory.
The current Chairman is Jaime Areizaga-Soto of Virginia, who was nominated by President Joe Biden on April 25, 2022 and confirmed by the Senate on August 4, 2022. He replaced Cheryl L. Mason of Virginia, the first woman and military spouse to serve in this post and scheduled to serve until 2023, but only served through August 4, 2022 due to the confirmation of a new chairman prior to the end of her term. General Areizaga-Soto's term will expire in 2028.