For your info. The following is the links to the members, criteria for members of the VRAB. Read the bio's of those who adjudicate your appeal. Four of the 25 members have military experience: one as a teenager in the Militia, an ex PPCLI Maj; a ex WO Inf, a LCol Air Force Engr. Plus the VRAB consists of a Chairman and Deputy Chairman (with no military experience), When you see their pay, is it a retainer, or is it prorated depending on the number of days they work? There are possibly five vacancies on the VRAB. Not many have ever walked a day in combat boots. And why should anyone put themselves on the line ? You do not have to put yourself on the line to be a member of VRAB. You have to be connected, no matter what they say about the selection criteria. But, as a member of VRAB, you can tell someone who has been on the line he his full of it. No wonder there are problems.
http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca/EmploymentOpp/Backgrounder.html
The Appointment Process for Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) Members
Three-stage assessment process
The selection process will include an initial screening, a written examination, and an interview, including reference checks.
Screening criteria
Education: Candidates must have graduated with a degree from a recognized university or have an acceptable combination of education, job-related training and/or experience. Preference may be given to candidates with a medical or legal background.
Experience: Candidates must have experience as a decision maker in or presenting cases before a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal or an acceptable combination of relevant experience in other fields, including disability compensation and veterans’ affairs.
Assessment criteria
Knowledge: Candidates must have knowledge of principles of natural justice in a tribunal setting and knowledge of contemporary veterans’ issues as well as knowledge of the interpretation and application of legislation governing veterans’ benefits.
Skills and Abilities: Excellent analytical skills are required as well as the ability to render decisions in accordance with applicable law. Candidates will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and must be able to write clear, accurate and concise decisions on behalf of the Board. Judgement and initiative, as well as organizational skills to produce quality and timely decisions, are essential.
Screening and interview committees
Screening committees
Screening committees will include a retired legal or medical community representative, the Chair or Deputy Chair of the VRAB, and a human resources expert. These committees will assess the application form and curriculum vitae of candidates to determine who should proceed to a written assessment of specific skills and abilities. The written assessment results of each candidate will be reviewed by the same committee to determine whether the candidate should be considered further in the selection process.
Interview Committee
Interview committees will include a retired deputy head, or equivalent, and a retired medical or legal expert who are knowledgeable of medical, legal or veterans’ issues, as well as the Chair of the VRAB and a human resources expert. These committees will interview candidates identified by the screening committee to further assess the skills and abilities of each candidate.
Selection of committee members
Members of both screening committees and interview committees will be selected by the Chair of VRAB in consultation with the Minister of Veterans Affairs. The Minister will be consulted on any changes to the committees and it is anticipated that the membership will change over time to include representation from various locations in Canada. All screening and interview committee members are required to affirm their impartiality in all aspects of the Board Member selection process, and their names will be posted on the VRAB website.
Appointment process
Once the assessments are complete, the Chair of the VRAB will provide a pool of candidates found qualified by the interview committee to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. The Minister of Veterans Affairs will draw candidates from the pool that meet the Chair’s recommendations concerning VRAB operational requirements, gender, diversity, geographic needs and linguistic requirements. The Minister will then recommend candidates for appointment to the VRAB to the Governor in Council.
http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca/EmploymentOpp/Selection.htm
VETERANS REVIEW and APPEAL BOARD MEMBER SELECTION CRITERIA
Classification: GC-Q3 ($91,200 - $107,300)
Position Title: Member, Veterans Review and Appeal Board
Portfolio: Veterans Affairs
Locations: Charlottetown, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver
Education: Graduation with a degree from a recognized university or an acceptable combination of education, job related training and/or experience.
Preference may be given to candidates with a medical or legal background.
Experience: Experience as a decision maker in a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal;
or Experience in presenting cases before a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal;
or An acceptable combination of relevant experience in other fields including disability compensation and veterans' affairs.
Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles of natural justice in a tribunal setting; Knowledge of contemporary veterans' issues;
Knowledge of the interpretation and application of legislation governing veterans' benefits, specifically The Pension Act , The Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act, and other related statutes.
Skills and Abilities: Excellent analytical skills are required as well as the ability to render decisions in accordance with applicable law. To work effectively as part of an adjudicative panel, the candidates will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and must be able to write clear, accurate and concise decisions on behalf of the Board. Also required is the ability to organize their workload to ensure the rendering of quality decisions in a timely manner. Judgement and initiative are also required.
Language Requirement: Proficiency in both official languages is an asset.
Working Conditions: must be able to relocate to the area of employment or to a location within reasonable commuting distance; most positions require extensive travel throughout Canada, sometimes for periods of three weeks or more at a time.
http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca/EmploymentOpp/MemberJobDesc.htm
VETERANS REVIEW and APPEAL BOARD MEMBER JOB DESCRIPTION
Primary Focus
Adjudicate review and appeal applications made to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board which may provide financial compensation to eligible claimants
Interpret and apply the Pension Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and other related statutes.
Specific Accountabilities
Provide an independent review of disability pension and War Veterans Allowance decisions taken by Veterans Affairs Canada by hearing and adjudicating cases. This involves:
• conducting hearings in numerous locations across the country in-person and via video conference;
• deciding cases and ensuring the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act, Pension Act, War Veterans Allowance Act, and other related statutes are properly interpreted; and,
• writing clear reasons for decisions within specified time frames.
Context
The hearing process is non-adversarial. Clients are most often represented at hearings by a lawyer.
Reporting Relationship
Members are independent decision-makers.
Dimensions
Decisions rendered by Members have a direct impact on disability pension program expenditures which total $1.2B annually.
Pension recipients receive life long payments (non-taxable), as well as possible treatment benefits.
Challenges, Issues, and Initiatives
The medical issues presented are increasingly complex and are not always understood by experts in the medical field.
Clients appearing before the Board are usually represented by a lawyer.
Board Members may have to render decisions without an optimal amount of evidence.
Need to balance the demand of assisting Veterans and service members while respecting the applicable legislation.
Bio’s of members VRAB (an average of 30 full-time Governor-in-Council appointed Members who represent a diverse experience and background from the public at large)
http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca/VRAB-TACRA_Members.htm
