[1]: 21 It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on August 23, 2017, and was one of several VA reforms moved through the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs that year.
The most significant change made by the AMA is its requirement that the Board of Veterans Affairs provide denied claimants with identification of favorable findings in its notice of a decision.
[1]: 24 However, under the new process, veterans can request for higher level review or file a supplemental claim which allows them to "develop the record .
[4]: 5 Upon appeal, veterans have three options in the new system, they can have their appeal as it is reviewed by a judge, they can submit additional evidence within 90 days of the filing, or they can have a hearing with a veterans law judge where they can submit new evidence.
"[1]: 23 The legislation failed to include a definition for "issue" and it is likely that the first requirement will be the subject of litigation to determine what it means.
[1]: 24 The fourth requirement—requiring the VA to identify favorable findings—is "the most significant change made by Congress" in the AMA.