WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi administered the oath of office recently to five new veterans law judges for the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).
"As members of the board, these judges will support important rights of veterans and their families, serving as the department’s final arbiter of claims for benefits," Principi said.
The new judges, sworn in March 2, are Kathy Banfield, Jeanne Daley, Michael E. Kilcoyne, Cheryl L. Mason and Joy A. McDonald.
Attorneys face a rigorous process to become veterans law judges, a type of administrative law judge. They are appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the approval of the President. Each of the five selectees has at least nine years of experience at the BVA.
The board gives veterans an independent review of benefit claims determinations made by local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offices and issues decisions on appeals on behalf of the Secretary. A veteran may further appeal to an independent Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims that, unlike BVA, is independent of VA.
Types of appeals that may be decided by BVA judges include claims for service-connected disability compensation, pension, insurance benefits, educational benefits, home loan guaranties, vocational rehabilitation and employment, dependency and indemnity compensation, and health care services.
Banfield served as a deputy assistant general counsel with VA’s office of general counsel before being appointed a veterans law judge. Born in Southampton, Pa., she obtained a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1988 from the University of Delaware and her law degree from Widener University School of Law in 1994.
Daley served as counsel before being appointed a veterans law judge. Born in Albany, N.Y., she obtained her bachelor's degree in languages from Union College of Schenectady, N.Y., in 1990, and her law degree from AlbanyLawSchool in 1992.
Kilcoyne started at BVA in 1990 as associate counsel and later served as counsel and senior counsel before his appointment as a veterans law judge. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he received a bachelor's degree in history from St. Bonaventure University in 1980. Following college, he served four years with the 25th Infantry Division in the Army. He received his law degree in 1988 from the School of Law at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Mason served as associate counsel, counsel and later became senior counsel before her appointment as a veterans law judge. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, she received a bachelor's degree in political science and psychology in 1986 from OhioNorthernUniversity, and her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Neb., in 1989.
McDonald started at BVA as associate counsel in 1991 and later served as counsel and senior counsel before her appointment as a veterans law judge. Born in Kingsville, Texas, she obtained a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science from the University of Texas in 1976, and her law degree from LoyolaLawSchool in Los Angeles.
