Docket Switch - department-of-veterans-affairs/caseflow GitHub Wiki
The Docket Switch feature went live for Clerk of the Board users at the beginning of 2021 and allows for appeals to switch docket types (Direct Review, Evidence Submission, Hearings) upon submission of their 10182 form to BVA and up until providing evidence or testimony. The request to switch dockets is initiated by submitting another 10182 form and must be done either within one year of the decision that is being appealed OR 60 days from the date in which the initial 10182 is submitted, whichever provides the veteran more time.
There were three main needs that came from the Clerk of the Board's office for this feature: 1) Preserving and transferring the original appeal docket number over to the new appeal stream 2) Preserving completed or assigned tasks from the original appeal and 3) Preserving the history of the appeal. Preserving the history of the appeal is one of the factors that led to the technical decision to create multiple appeal streams when switching dockets. A precedent had been set for the need for multiple appeal streams with the Motions to Vacate work, so that relevant tasks could be connected to the appropriate appeal stream.
A docket switch request can be granted, partially_granted, or denied by a VLJ. Granted means all request issues submitted during intake will switch dockets on the new appeal stream and the old appeal stream will be closed. Partially granted is when only some of the request issues are switching dockets and those issues that are not being switched will remain on the original appeal. The partially granted docket switch was another case for the necessity of multiple appeal streams. Denied means the appeal will not switch dockets and it will remain active in its original docket.
Task Behavior
The docket switch flow begins with the creation of a DocketSwitchMailTask by a user at the Clerk of the Board. The task gets assigned to that same user whereupon they will send the request to switch dockets to a VLJ. Sending the request to a judge closes the DocketSwitchMailTask with a status of completed, closes the parent DocketSwitchMailTask assigned to the Organization as well, and creates a DocketSwitchRulingTask assigned to a VLJ. Once the VLJ decides to either grant or deny the request to switch dockets, that in turn will create either a DocketSwitchGrantedTask or DocketSwitchDeniedTask assigned back to the Clerk of the Board to take action finalizing the request and close the DocketSwitchRulingTask with a status of completed.
Docket Switch Granted Task Tree
Appeal 1627 (D 210505-1627 Original) ── │ ID │ STATUS │ ASGN_BY │ ASGN_TO │ UPDATED_AT │
└── RootTask │ 7013 │ cancelled │ │ Bva │ 2021-05-19 14:42:17 UTC │
├── DistributionTask │ 7014 │ cancelled │ │ Bva │ 2021-05-19 14:42:17 UTC │
├── DocketSwitchMailTask │ 7015 │ completed │ │ ClerkOfTheBoard │ 2021-05-19 14:43:19 UTC │
│ └── DocketSwitchMailTask │ 7016 │ completed │ COB_USER │ COB_USER │ 2021-05-19 14:43:18 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchRulingTask │ 7017 │ completed │ COB_USER │ BVAAABSHIRE │ 2021-05-19 14:46:30 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchGrantedTask │ 7018 │ completed │ BVAAABSHIRE │ ClerkOfTheBoard │ 2021-05-19 14:46:30 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchGrantedTask │ 7019 │ completed │ BVAAABSHIRE │ COB_USER │ 2021-05-19 14:46:31 UTC │
Docket Switch Denied Task Tree
Appeal 1 (E 210517-1 Original) ──────────── │ ID │ STATUS │ ASGN_BY │ ASGN_TO │ UPDATED_AT │
└── RootTask │ 1 │ on_hold │ │ Bva │ 2021-05-18 12:50:09 UTC │
├── InformalHearingPresentationTask │ 2 │ on_hold │ │ Vso │ 2021-05-18 12:50:09 UTC │
│ └── InformalHearingPresentationTask │ 4 │ assigned │ BILLIE_VSO │ BILLIE_VSO │ 2021-05-18 12:50:09 UTC │
├── TrackVeteranTask │ 3 │ in_progress │ CSS_ID4 │ Vso │ 2021-05-18 12:50:09 UTC │
├── DocketSwitchMailTask │ 7024 │ completed │ │ ClerkOfTheBoard │ 2021-05-19 14:48:56 UTC │
│ └── DocketSwitchMailTask │ 7025 │ completed │ COB_USER │ COB_USER │ 2021-05-19 14:48:56 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchRulingTask │ 7026 │ completed │ COB_USER │ BVAAABSHIRE │ 2021-05-19 14:51:18 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchDeniedTask │ 7027 │ completed │ BVAAABSHIRE │ ClerkOfTheBoard │ 2021-05-19 14:51:18 UTC │
└── DocketSwitchDeniedTask │ 7028 │ completed │ BVAAABSHIRE │ COB_USER │ 2021-05-19 14:51:18 UTC
Task Creation
Upon switching an appeal to a different docket type, and in turn creating a new appeal stream, the task creation process largely mimics when intaking a new appeal. All new appeals will have a RootTask and DistributionTask with a status of on_hold. The new appeal will also have a DocketSwitchGrantedTask with a status of complete which is shown in the Case Timeline and requires no action.
When switching to a DirectReview docket, an InformalHearingPresentation task will be created as a child of the DistributionTask if the appellant has a VSO representing them and that VSO is configured to perform IHPs.
When switching to an EvidenceSubmission docket, an EvidenceSubmissionWindowTask will be automatically created as a child of the DistributionTask and with a status of assigned. This task signifies the 90-day window during which an appellant may submit additional evidence before the appeal gets distributed to a VLJ. An InformalHearingPresentation task will also be created as a child of the DistributionTask after the 90-day evidence submission window is complete if the appellant has a VSO representing them and that VSO is configured to perform IHPs.
When switching to a Hearing docket, a Hearing task will be automatically created as a child of the DistributionTask and a ScheduleHearingTask will be automatically created as a child of the Hearing task. Once these tasks are completed by scheduling and holding a hearing, the appeal will be ready for distribution to a VLJ.
Tasks ineligible to switch dockets
Tasks listed below are ineligible to switch dockets. All other tasks will default to switching dockets but the user granting the request can remove these tasks from switching in the UI
- Open tasks with children
RootTask- Newly created for new appeal streamDistributionTask- Newly created for new appeal streamEvidenceSubmissionWindowTask& childrenHearingTask& childrenDocketSwitchtasks - NewDocketSwitchGrantedTaskcreated for new appeal stream