shall include the questions to be posed to the independent medical expert providing the advisory medical opinion. . (k) Restatement of requirement for expedited treatment of returned and remanded claims (1) In general Section 5109B of such title is amended to read as follows: 5109B. Expedited treatment of returned and remanded claims The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide for the expeditious treatment by the Veterans Benefits Administration of any claim that is returned by a higher-level adjudicator under section 5104B of this title or remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 5109B and inserting the following new item: 5109B. Expedited treatment of returned and remanded claims. . (l) Effective dates of awards Section 5110 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: (a) (1) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the effective date of an award based on an initial claim, or a supplemental claim, of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension, shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of application therefor. (2) For purposes of determining the effective date of an award under this section, the date of application shall be considered the date of the filing of the initial application for a benefit if the claim is continuously pursued by filing any of the following, either alone or in succession: (A) A request for higher-level review under section 5104B of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision. (B) A supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision. (C) A notice of disagreement on or before