Veterans’ appeals of adverse disability claims decisions to the Department of Veterans Affairs can add two years to the process. In an effort to speed up the resolution process, the VA established the Decision Officer Review (DRO) process in 2003. Each DRO has the power to grant additional benefits in cases of differences of opinion, whereas the traditional avenue – the Board of Veterans Appeals – requires new evidence. Between 2003 and 2010, veterans chose DROs rather than the board to review their cases in 61 percent of all appeals, according to the VA. Between the program’s inception and 2008, DROs granted full benefits in 21 percent of all cases they reviewed, compared to 17 percent in board reviews. The percentage of total cases resolved during that time frame was identical – at about 70 percent. The Government Accountability Office recommended that the VA revise its policy manual to outline the choices available to veterans more clearly. GAO also suggested that VA outline the skills all DROs should have in order to handle veterans’ cases effectively.