COSTS AND FEES IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF VETERANS APPEALS.

SEC. 506. COSTS AND FEES IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF VETERANS APPEALS. (a) In General.— Section 2412(d)(2)(F) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the semicolon “and the United States Court of Veterans Appeals”. (b) Application to Pending Cases.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any case pending before the United States Court of Veterans Appeals on the date of the enactment of this Act, to any appeal filed in that court on or after such date, and to any appeal from that court that is pending on such date in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. (c) Fee Agreements.— Section 5904(d) of title 38, United States Code, shall not prevent an award of fees and other expenses under section 2412(d) of title 28, United States Code. Section 5904(d) of title 38, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to any such award but only if, where the claimant’s attorney receives fees for the same work under both section 5904 of title 38, United States Code, and section 2412(d) of title 28, United States Code, the claimant’s attorney refunds to the claimant the amount of the smaller fee. (d) Effective Date.— This section, and the amendment made by this section, shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.