Advance on Docket (AOD)
Some appeals are marked AOD, or Advance on Docket.
AOD cases represent the highest-priority cases. Veterans can be "advanced on the docket" due to age, financial hardship, terminal illness, etc., and therefore skip ahead in the line.
AOD status is automatic when a Veteran reaches 75 years of age, while other reasons require that the Veteran file a motion.
The logic for whether an appeal is considered AOD is mostly encapsulated in Appeal#aod? (which also looks for AdvanceOnDocketMotions, and in LegacyAppeal#aod? (which ultimately comes from VACOLS through AppealRepository).
- https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/legacy-appeals/priority-review/
- https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000139892/M21-5-Chapter-7-Section-F-Docketing-Certification-and-Claims-Folder-Transfer-to-the-Board-of-Veterans-Appeals#6
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-20#p-20.902(c)
- Log in as a user within the AodTeam Organization.
- Click the "Search" link in the top right corner of the page next to the username.
- Enter the docket number or Veteran ID , for the case that you want to mark as AOD, into the search field and click search
- Click on the docket number to bring up the case details screen
- Click the "Edit" link under the veteran id
- The Update Advanced on Docket Status modal will pop up
- For the AOD Motion Disposition field, choose grant from the drop down
- For the Reason field, choose a reason from the drop down
- Click the Submit
- After the modal closes there will be an a success banner on the top of the screen and an AOD label under the Appeal Stream Type to show that the case has been successfully placed in AOD status.
