1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. Sec. 3. Removal or demotion of employees based on performance or misconduct. Sec. 4. Reduction of benefits for members of the Senior Executive Service within the Department of Veterans Affairs convicted of certain crimes. Sec. 5. Authority to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 6. Authority to recoup relocation expenses paid to or on behalf of employees of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 7. Expansion of personnel actions for senior executives based on performance or misconduct and establishment of Senior Executive Disciplinary Appeals Board. Sec. 8. Reform of rights and processes relating to appeals of decisions regarding claims for benefits under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 9. Limitation on awards and bonuses paid to senior executive employees of Department of Veterans Affairs. 2. References to title 38, United States Code Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 3. Removal or demotion of employees based on performance or misconduct (a) In general Chapter 7 is amended— (1) by redesignating section 715 as section 725