Thank you, Mr. McNeil.
Mr. Chair and honourable members of the committee, I'm pleased to be speaking to you this morning.
I'll focus my remarks on the board's efforts to improve the veterans' experience by increasing its capacity to work, including through the implementation of a shortened or simplified process.
This approach enables us to group together cases that are less complicated and that more closely target similar concerns for which the outcomes are predictable. The shortened hearing process has generated a number of positive outcomes. We're hearing more cases in a much shorter period by using our resources more effectively.
We've also found that the decisions are predictable and consistent. As a result of the shortened process, we've heard approximately 400 cases and we expect to process 300 more cases in the near future. For example, this week, we heard 71 cases in a single day, whereas it would have taken us at least four weeks to reach that point with our usual process. Our goal is to give veterans our decisions as quickly as possible.
In summary, this shortened approach gives veterans and their families better and more timely access to justice. As we continue to simplify the shortened hearing process, we expect to receive even more claims from veterans and their families. Already this year, we're seeing a significant increase in claims received and hearings held compared to last year. To better respond to this upward trend, we must increase our capacity to process cases informally and in a less legalistic manner.
We're also pleased that the minister has supported our recent request to hire additional members of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board to help us address the increase in the number of cases. These job offers have been posted since March 2.
On behalf of Chris and myself, I would like to close by saying that the Veterans Review and Appeal Board is committed to ensuring that veterans and their families can obtain access to disability benefits while we build more capacity to further support those we serve.
Thank you for inviting us to appear before you today. We would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have.
Thank you.