Veterans Affairs committee  Well, yes, but I mean, policing....

Veterans Affairs committee  No, we don't have anyone with RCMP background at the moment, although we have the spouse of a serving RCMP member on the board.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct.

Veterans Affairs committee  With PTSD cases, our favourability rate is greater than our average rate with respect to our cases.

Veterans Affairs committee  But on the way the system works, at each level you have an opportunity to bring forward more evidence. At review, before our board, it's the first time the veteran, the member of the military, or the member of the RCMP has an opportunity to appear and give oral evidence. We are p

Veterans Affairs committee  Keep in mind that when they come before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board they've already been to the department, and the department has given them a negative decision or a decision that's not as favourable as they would like it to be. Sometimes it's because they're not happy

Veterans Affairs committee  First, I had no intention of convincing you that the training of our members...

Veterans Affairs committee  First of all, the disability must be established by credible medical evidence, and that comes from physicians, whether it's independent physicians, whether it's.... It would be in the file. The representative of the applicant would present that evidence. As far as the members ar

Veterans Affairs committee  Currently we are a complement of 24 members.

Veterans Affairs committee  We have six members who have military and medical...and that would be made up of five military, one of whom has medical. In addition, we have one individual who has a medical background, in nursing.

Veterans Affairs committee  Inasmuch as I can't comment on specific cases, in general the evidence that can be brought forward is treated in the best light. As our legislation provides, we make inferences as much as possible, and we take the evidence in the best light in support of the veteran or the forces

Veterans Affairs committee  First, the training of all board members is very intensive. Right at the outset, when they are appointed to the board, they get 12 weeks of training. This includes training with respect to medical issues, as well as the legislation, as well as decision-writing. Therefore, the i

Veterans Affairs committee  We have members on the board who are former military. I think we have five military, and one of those military also has medical training. With respect to any knowledge of conditions of anyone, that would be a privacy matter and I wouldn't be able to obtain that information.

Veterans Affairs committee  As I said in my statement, we have continuing professional development. During the year we have at least two conferences, and at each conference we have specialists address us with respect to different medical issues, as well as other issues related to administrative tribunals. A

Veterans Affairs committee  One of the nice advantages of the act is that there's no limitation, so at any time a veteran, or military forces member, or RCMP member can ask for a review and even an appeal of that review at any time. There's no time limit. Keep in mind that their first application is alway