Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct. There have been peaks over the years in the number of decisions. My director, Ms. Sharkey, can perhaps give you a better history of the numbers.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct, yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'll refer that to my director.

Veterans Affairs committee  The board wouldn't exist.

Veterans Affairs committee  As I stated, it's in the range of 5,000 decisions rendered per year.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct, sir.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would only say that it was a matter of my own professional development. As the chair and the leader of a national agency, a quasi-judicial tribunal, I felt that it was of benefit to me. I remain in the position that it was of benefit to me and assisted me in leading this tribun

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct.

Veterans Affairs committee  The ombudsman's report was received by the board, and we welcome the recommendations in the ombudsman's report and have taken measures to put into place responses to his recommendations. I can address four of them. We placed a priority on decisions being returned by the Federal

Veterans Affairs committee  My attendance was with respect to my professional development, personal professional development. Upon hearing that there were questions raised by veterans on whether or not it was beneficial to them, although I did feel it was beneficial to me, and with regard to the fact that t

Veterans Affairs committee  On my own behalf, yes, that's right. I did it on my own part immediately upon being informed that there were concerns by veterans that it may not have been in their interests. Although I feel that they were worthwhile for my own professional development as chair of a national tri

Veterans Affairs committee  I can shed some light on the statistics or the actual numbers. Since 1995, the board has rendered 118,000 decisions, and fewer than 1% of those decisions have gone to the Federal Court. I believe the number of decisions that have gone to the Federal Court is 140. Of the decision

Veterans Affairs committee  As I said in my opening statement, I think there were 4,900 decisions this year, and I'll ask Ms. Sharkey if she can provide the numbers.

Veterans Affairs committee  If we don't have those numbers right at hand, we can submit them to you.