In our paper: Systemic Barriers facing Veterans, dated August 07, 2025 we recommended . . .

Case law – Judicial Precedent: Cases, involving veterans with cancer, are identical; when the veterans develop the same cancer from exposure to the same chemicals. So, why treat them as if they were uniquely different? Why force every veteran to present the same research papers showing that Carbon Tetrachloride, for example, causes cancer? Similarly, when the VRAB accepts that a veteran’s particular cancer was caused by their exposure to a specific chemical, why force all veterans in the same situation to present the same arguments to other VRAB members? VRAB is a Quasi-Judicial Tribunal. As such VRAB should be applying judicial precedent where appropriate.

In a letter dated: March 10, 2025 the Honourable Darren Fisher, Minister Veterans Affairs wrote . . .

"In particular, where links have been established through evidence between a military occupation or location, an environmental exposure, and a medical diagnosis, it is only necessary for a member or Veteran to demonstrate that they served in a given occupation or location for a sufficient period of time and that they have a related diagnosis in order to be eligible for disability benefits." (this is judicial precedent)

In our paper: Shocking Wait-times for Veterans' Disability Claims, dated February 28, 2025 we recommended . . .

"Improve Process Management: Establish a Management Committee to monitor the entire process, steps 1 to 15, and identify veterans who have been in the system for more than one year for special consideration. A senior manager from each of VAC, BPA, and VRAB should be permanently assigned to the committee to ensure inter-agency collaboration, which is currently lacking due to siloed operations."

In an email dated: April 02, 2025 Deputy Minister Paul Ledwell wrote . . .

"To further strengthen our efforts, a formalized approach to communication has been established between VAC, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB), and the Bureau of Pensions Advocates (BPA) at the senior management level. This collaborative committee ensures that trends and emerging issues are promptly identified and addressed. As pensions advocates, BPA’s lawyers specialize in reviews and appeals related to disability benefit claims, offering legal services to Veterans that are subject to solicitor-client privilege. VRAB, as an independent arm's-length tribunal, provides a separate avenue of appeal for disability benefits decisions made by VAC."