113 S928 IS: Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-05-09
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Claims Processing Improvement
Act of 2013
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—Agency of original jurisdiction
Sec. 101. Establishment of working group to improve employee
work credit and work management systems of Veterans Benefits
Administration.
Sec. 102. Establishment of task force on retention and training
of Department of Veterans Affairs claims processors and
adjudicators.
Sec. 103. Streamlining non-Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal records requests.
Sec. 104. Recognition of representatives of Indian tribes in
the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 105. Pilot program on participation of local and tribal
governments in improving quality of claims for disability compensation
submitted to Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 106. Quarterly reports on progress of Department of
Veterans Affairs in eliminating backlog of claims for compensation that have
not been adjudicated.
TITLE II—Board of Veterans' Appeals and Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims
Sec. 201. Modification of filing period for notice of
disagreement to initiate appellate review of decisions of Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Determination of manner of appearance for hearings
before Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Sec. 203. Disclosure of certain medical records in appellate
proceedings in certain courts.
TITLE III—Other matters
Sec. 301. Extension of authority for operations of Manila
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.
Sec. 302. Extended period for scheduling of medical exams for
veterans receiving temporary disability ratings for severe mental
disorder.
Sec. 303. Extension of marriage delimiting date for surviving
spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans to qualify for death pension.
Sec. 304. Making effective date provision consistent with
provision for benefits eligibility of a veteran's child based upon termination
of remarriage by annulment.
Sec. 305. Extension of temporary authority for performance of
medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians.
<enum>I</enum><header>Agency of
original jurisdiction</header>
<section id="idD8366E62D2034F1FAADB57487BBD4DFE"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment
of working group to improve employee work credit and work management systems of
Veterans Benefits Administration</header>
<subsection id="idAADF144A908A4D6A8205E3A47453614E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a working group to
assess and develop recommendations for the improvement of the employee work
credit and work management systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3A4A04BD9E3F451F97F291A989AD1FBB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The
working group shall be composed of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id3563E62859F348A9A7DD88D396825A7B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary or
the Secretary's designee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC4101C01EA5A4D0AB36743248DF87387"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Individuals
selected by the Secretary from among employees of the Department of Veterans
Affairs who—</text>
<subparagraph id="idFA81DCA50FCF40CF9240651BC6C36974"><enum>(A)</enum><text>handle claims for
compensation and pension benefits; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4C2A15EBDACA487EAC4AB0DCC0219794"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are recommended
to the Secretary by a labor organization for purposes of this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB778E59F431D4AA893FC23794843C35C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not fewer than
three individuals selected by the Secretary to represent different
organizations recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8B4E9D3DF614461F83BF7D7A4EC3E25D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
duties of the working group are as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="idA6E444FCEA564A4C99B43FB38943DA4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To assess and
develop recommendations for the improvement of the employee work credit and
work management systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE1C115BDDC0A4D198DAA2BFB0B4CD996"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To develop a data
based methodology to be used in revising the employee work credit system of the
Department and a schedule by which revisions to such system should be
made.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC3E1E7E1BDC94755B9278A62B062A1A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To assess and
develop recommendations for improvement of the resource allocation model of the
Veterans Benefits Administration.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4561FFC6A0EB4C00B5689F3674AEBA55"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review and
incorporation of findings from prior study</header><text>In carrying out its
duties under subsection (c), the working group shall review the findings and
conclusions of the Secretary regarding previous studies of the employee work
credit and work management systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2261C563F3DC4EAA8868F8803D1943E8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id0AA06303BFF44CCDB013EE17410F98B7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Interim
report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the
establishment of the working group, the working group shall submit to Congress
a report on the progress of the working group.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF55D8CC8115D45AC83DE5F3DC24E3041"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Final
report</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the
establishment of the working group, the working group shall submit to Congress
the methodology and schedule developed under subsection (c)(2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDD7AAB5CDD0648D6AC8D62A0D850D9F8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Implementation
of methodology and schedule</header><text>After submitting the report under
subsection (e), the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to
apply the methodology developed under subsection (c)(2) and apply such
methodology according to the schedule developed under such subsection.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idF0E4800571CB4FCD915799F8534187FA"><enum>102.</enum><header>Establishment
of task force on retention and training of Department of Veterans Affairs
claims processors and adjudicators</header>
<subsection id="idD82AE53113244E0B9A22DCD57700AAA9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a task force to assess retention and training of claims processors
and adjudicators that are employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and
other Federal agencies and departments.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idFD8D0B1C70FC410791219F86DBA30026"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The
task force shall be composed of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id294DAF2C3A8B4D78BB8A0C91D1142D06"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id480BDAA9114D432AAFDEADDE13BE850B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Director of
the Office of Personnel Management.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20CCE18685554372A51A12C088C6699D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Commissioner
of Social Security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id354015310F6241BFBC986AD3D49C68D1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An individual
selected by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who represents an organization
recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section
5902 of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5EA1F65AF9A84A64B14D69A50E086D7E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Such other
individuals selected by the Secretary who represent such other organizations
and institutions as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56C3B083462A422087314DD618159D83"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The
task force established under subsection (a) shall terminate not later than two
years after the date on which the task force is establish under such
subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC407E153A8D04805A545F8F3F83681A2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
duties of the task force are as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="id3107473df06b4881846a00106a700be3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To identify key
skills required by claims processors and adjudicators to perform the duties of
claims processors and adjudicators in the various claims processing and
adjudication positions throughout the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8eef541a8b024f87b4741660a52f9db4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To identify
reasons for employee attrition from claims processing positions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id68bd619a091343cbbf83d5202725742c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than
one year after the date of the establishment of the task force, to develop a
Government-wide strategic and operational plan for promoting employment of
veterans in claims processing positions in the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idef9d48cba5d141358ee8944739698474"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To coordinate
with educational institutions to develop training and programs of education for
members of the Armed Forces to prepare such members for employment in claims
processing and adjudication positions in the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide6d99d374d354d43b6a3a7c2934c1a27"><enum>(5)</enum><text>To identify and
coordinate offices of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans
Affairs located throughout the United States to provide information about, and
promotion of, available claims processing positions to members of the Armed
Forces transitioning to civilian life and to veterans with disabilities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ideca4b2df942947889d95f66a534c8eba"><enum>(6)</enum><text>To establish
performance measures to assess the plan developed under paragraph (3), to
assess the implementation of such plan, and revise such plan as the task force
considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5f1fb212673f4f45baf8eb138bbfec8a"><enum>(7)</enum><text>To establish
performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the task force.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF2069461CA31474FB6985FE92DA85E90"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id69EBE50446294EAE9DD4FEB981DAF5F5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Submittal of
plan</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the establishment
of the task force, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a
report on the plan developed by the task force under subsection (d)(3).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6FA72DB0E489433A8B8474325D7B2C69"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Assessment of
implementation</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the termination of
the task force, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that assesses
the implementation of the plan developed by the task force under subsection
(d)(3).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idCD02213AF68345B78026F23551A28EBC"><enum>103.</enum><header>Streamlining
non-Department of Veterans Affairs Federal records requests</header>
<subsection id="id0B481FBF4D6A4DC089240F26D1C6B398"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5103A">section 5103A(c)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5435ccd56ed040a48e534fbc60654598" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="idd4909a8fe8a04a6dbdf46f6c247a877c" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id85713D5AE75746D5B5FDA196F82C8D06"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Whenever the Secretary
attempts to obtain records from a Federal department or agency, other than the
Department, under this subsection, the Secretary shall make not fewer than two
attempts to obtain the records, unless the records are obtained or the response
to the first request makes evident that a second request for such records would
be futile.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5aa318eed15f4e1f91bb73c51cabfa7d" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The notification requirements under
subsection (b)(2) of this section shall apply if the Secretary is unable to
obtain all of the records sought from a Federal department or agency other than
the
Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id09ED3157310740CDA0FF66A01976FF9B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Subsequent
attainment of records</header><text>Such section is further amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3426EB4FFFA34DDBB205B3A9A967BB9D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id9AEE9C4BA270469586D5FDD89DF3A68D" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>If, after adjudicating a claim for a
benefit under a law administered by the Secretary, the Secretary receives a
record relevant to such claim (or associates with the file for such claim a
record) that the Secretary requested from a Federal department or agency before
the adjudication, the record received (or associated) shall be deemed to have
been in the file for such claim as of the date of the original filing of the
claim for such
benefit.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id0274c3538a3e43c6beef4739ca002638"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the
date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall
apply with respect to any claim that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idC52B5E4E0D514061A57EC98854D0F28D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is filed on or
after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id6C8A558633854AAEA126376259892AAC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>was filed before
the date of the enactment of this Act and was not final as of such date.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id271B479A6522423DB8FCE7CAD1234EA0"><enum>104.</enum><header>Recognition of
representatives of Indian tribes in the preparation, presentation, and
prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5902(a)(1) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>Indian tribes (as
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450b">25 U.S.C. 450b</external-xref>))</quote> after <quote>Foreign Wars,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id434eb4120c7643fa94c5cdbab5b086ac"><enum>105.</enum><header>Pilot program
on participation of local and tribal governments in improving quality of claims
for disability compensation submitted to Department of Veterans
Affairs</header>
<subsection id="iddb99be90b89c40aab1c13ff2edc3b4bf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program
required</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a
pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of entering into
memorandums of understanding with local governments and tribal
organizations—</text>
<paragraph id="id2149dd73d0224bff8be3d4934b185e96"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve the
quality of claims submitted to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11
and pension under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/15">chapter 15</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id58d13d51f4c442bba2b4991811227d1c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to provide
assistance to veterans who may be eligible for such compensation or pension in
submitting such claims.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida99d46e7afc042889c10ee51f76c7ad8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Minimum number
of participating tribal organizations</header><text>In carrying out the pilot
program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall enter into memorandums
of understanding with at least—</text>
<paragraph id="id47EC45E2DB264DB49406424F782EC5E7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>two tribal
organizations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7314C4E2EDAA42248CA689FF98A2D82E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>10 State or local
governments.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfd53ebc42b01472282b24247a762ef2d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Tribal
organization defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>tribal
organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 3765 of title
38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idC148C2A91D9048CE894B204E27DEC3F9"><enum>106.</enum><header>Quarterly
reports on progress of Department of Veterans Affairs in eliminating backlog of
claims for compensation that have not been adjudicated</header>
<subsection id="id8469FBE8AF5F40C98389F9287BEFF5A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than
quarterly thereafter through calendar year 2015, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on
the backlog of claims filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs for
compensation that have not been adjudicated by the Department.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCB2A4F32C61F431DB22B47029F0AB568"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each
report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id877359622B5D48DBB3D43C212E6267FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each month
through calendar year 2015, a projection of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idEBDB3EF04CA24F9BB8B3A41C45E5B341"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of
claims completed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58F55A4FB77E4533AC76DF82092D8361"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of
claims received.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9A77312DCFFC454AB232C94A444EF84D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The number of
claims backlogged at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34C936458948432DACE1D90BC4826A15"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of
claims pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9011559D6D7E43FD8408574F1FA6F034"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A description of
the status of the implementation of initiatives carried out by the Secretary to
address the backlog.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF460CA5A8A7F49229C93A3E8FEF93186"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For each quarter
through calendar year 2015, a projection of the average accuracy of disability
determinations for compensation claims that require a disability rating (or
disability decision).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id361D889829C54E7B8D02A560DF5F70B9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For each month
during the most recently completed quarter, the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id254B51C41D944C9785B400A48B8AC46A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of
claims completed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46FA07CDD59D45C997545FA552C69E16"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of
claims received.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id86A232C66BF84382AF40D2800968D2B5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The number of
claims backlogged at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBBFF91BC9D4441E3A938C54C2F3631F8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of
claims pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4FA265CBFAC44876BED3E10E43607870"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A description of
the status of the implementation of initiatives carried out by the Secretary to
address the backlog.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3073BE734D724C55848413C94D79C80C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For the most
recently completed quarter, an assessment of the accuracy of disability
determinations for compensation claims that require a disability rating (or
disability decision).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id435B5C4E2D9448DA9186B31EFA9BC54E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability to
public</header><text>The Secretary shall make each report submitted under
subsection (a) available to the public.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id5F6C9C2C70464E5C83072296D95E4A4F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id33D3AF6957574BC0859F13DBFF2327CC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Backlogged</header><text>The
term <term>backlogged</term>, with respect to a claim for compensation received
by the Secretary, means a claim that has been pending for more than 125
days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id26B848DF98C14DEABD362BADC9281E2E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Pending</header><text>The
term <term>pending</term>, with respect to a claim for compensation received by
the Secretary, means a claim that has not been adjudicated by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Board of
Veterans' Appeals and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims</header>
<section id="id0D95B9CC38904F1FA7D92BDD131DAFFA"><enum>201.</enum><header>Modification
of filing period for notice of disagreement to initiate appellate review of
decisions of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id4771eb7f1eab40a98000ca2b891cd593"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Filing of
notice of disagreement by claimants</header>
<paragraph id="ide1c623352300443eadd5245bb6dcdbbc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Paragraph (1) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7105">section 7105(b)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="ide9c6821f456f45d8a0ab19e233f3780f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>one year</quote> and inserting <quote>180 days</quote> in the first
sentence; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb9678728aada40319b87c3c061faa00a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>one-year</quote> and inserting <quote>180-day</quote> in the third
sentence.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9EEFD0B7F97E472B842C5BAB83CD2E4C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Electronic
filing</header><text>Such paragraph is further amended by inserting <quote>or
transmitted by electronic means</quote> after <quote>postmarked</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idca4261219a5c4f7ab04d6e4b0c3f73a3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Good cause
exception for untimely filing of notices of disagreement</header><text>Such
section 7105(b) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDCC0AB0492B941DE8B4562DE9C3630C6" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id914922538ebf47cb9dc3d2d1deedf352" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idADC9B13ACAFF4636ADADC1F40A0F5A8A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A notice of
disagreement not filed within the time prescribed by paragraph (1) shall be
treated by the Secretary as timely filed if—</text>
<clause id="idcd10ccced0654d6da737094b08d213ed" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary determines that the
claimant, legal guardian, or other accredited representative, attorney, or
authorized agent filing the notice had good cause for the lack of filing within
such time; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idF91E1BA79B694C73AE93772B5ACEBAD1" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the notice of disagreement is filed
not later than 186 days after the period prescribed by paragraph (1).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8e3c185e06b14b83a45600aa91942693" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For purposes of this paragraph, good
cause shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id16cf09bbbf834701b446bf319b5a31bc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Circumstances relating to any
physical, mental, educational, or linguistic limitation of the claimant, legal
guardian, representative, attorney, or authorized agent concerned (including
lack of facility with the English language).</text>
</clause><clause id="id3f9bc5bae6c647fd9d617ea209764e97"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Circumstances relating to significant
delay in the delivery of the initial decision or of the notice of disagreement
because of natural disaster or factors relating to geographic location.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3595d537c3a34ce89d56a58af90175b1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A change in financial circumstances,
including the payment of medical expenses or other changes in income or net
worth that are considered in determining eligibility for benefits and services
on an annualized basis for purposes of needs-based benefits under chapters 13,
15, and 17 of this
title.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6d8167fdea774e3194621341b58d61f9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application by
Department for review on appeal</header><text>Section 7106 of such title is
amended in the first sentence by striking <quote>one-year period described in
section 7105</quote> and inserting <quote>period described in section
7105(b)(1)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC81D938B0C9142B0AC824576870C0A39"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect
to claims for compensation and benefits under laws administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs filed with the Secretary after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id23C72729B1B84954AB622334A06CD643"><enum>202.</enum><header>Determination
of manner of appearance for hearings before Board of Veterans' Appeals</header>
<subsection id="id9531732AF2DF4874BCF450F73957DA07"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7107">Section 7107</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idE51F6760D9E34B1BB969D8015CEB81C8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (f) as subsection (g);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF16B249F62E64368B18AF0685FE761C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)(1), by striking <quote>in subsection (f)</quote> and inserting <quote>in
subsection (g)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA1D6FCB6FD404FD6AEF97E3A28BD13D3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
subsections (d) and (e) and inserting the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC4A4F3934FD74150A1D95E630D853BCF" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id2EDA1BFE8E5A4754AAE05E6826B01155"><enum>(d)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1A0961E760DF4871ADFADC55DFFC7FFC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Except as provided in
paragraph (2), a hearing before the Board shall be conducted through picture
and voice transmission, by electronic or other means, in such a manner that the
appellant is not present in the same location as the members of the Board
during the hearing.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE5719F178C114B36AC6B07363CD9BBE6" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id547241103D09433F8EC20AFAFF114452"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A hearing before the
Board shall be conducted in person upon the request of an appellant.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59669624C34B485F8701BCF7DCB29114" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In the absence of a request under
subparagraph (A), a hearing before the Board may also be conducted in person as
the Board considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc090baf7140b4c5eb11e35108e2e7225"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7F72E926FF3F475FB11872A7AD4A87D7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In a case in which a
hearing before the Board is to be held as described in subsection (d)(1), the
Secretary shall provide suitable facilities and equipment to the Board or other
components of the Department to enable an appellant located at an appropriate
facility within the area served by a regional office to participate as so
described.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida8d9883eeaca45f18d8b7c60b5946833" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any hearing conducted as described in
subsection (d)(1) shall be conducted in the same manner as, and shall be
considered the equivalent of, a personal hearing.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb3de62b3022c402a84837d782c16e318"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id134D1FC324DA42AFAC7500CF8BA79907"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In a case in which a
hearing before the Board is to be held as described in subsection (d)(2), the
appellant may request that the hearing be held at the principal location of the
Board or at a facility of the Department located within the area served by a
regional office of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9cfb926a16504e189a5729e664b980db" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A hearing to be held within an area
served by a regional office of the Department shall (except as provided in
paragraph (3)) be scheduled to be held in accordance with the place of the case
on the docket under subsection (a) relative to other cases on the docket for
which hearings are scheduled to be held within that area.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9be9d132568b4b7ba0be1c237754d3af" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A hearing to be held within an area
served by a regional office of the Department may, for cause shown, be advanced
on motion for an earlier hearing. Any such motion shall set forth succinctly
the grounds upon which the motion is based. Such a motion may be granted
only—</text>
<subparagraph id="idc90087d595d6422d91c93bfe03397862"><enum>(A)</enum><text>if the case involves interpretation of
law of general application affecting other claims;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide43f0516b29942ada541f65d48792bc5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the appellant is seriously ill or
is under severe financial hardship; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddbc40e3483754d579646a5e6ddf7a34c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for other sufficient cause
shown.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id609CE328C79D46FBAAB4E97A9928EF6F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to cases received by the Board of Veterans' Appeals pursuant to notices
of disagreement submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id0B2D999A3059461B8A99E165BB6697F6"><enum>203.</enum><header>Disclosure of
certain medical records in appellate proceedings in certain
courts</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7332(b)(2) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idEF18BCDAE0ED4B32A5A8BAE347075684"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through
(G) as subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id103135885939413D958533FB327F4A08"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following new subparagraph (E):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE092B27F9E84410081260C0F86AECF87" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idF0EA859A09844C8E8F7C087F344B901C" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To
the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit, or the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims,
and all parties of record, in a case that is appealed to such court and such
records are included in the record on appeal. Upon disclosure of such records,
the court concerned shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized
disclosure that are consistent with the provisions of section 7268 of this
title.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Other
matters</header>
<section id="id220f27b43b2e4f78b8e0f412e347bf53"><enum>301.</enum><header>Extension of
authority for operations of Manila Department of Veterans Affairs Regional
Office</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 315(b) of title
38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2013</quote>
and inserting <quote>December 31, 2014</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id11FABBE4189E4687B731B6B4F6724DA3"><enum>302.</enum><header>Extended
period for scheduling of medical exams for veterans receiving temporary
disability ratings for severe mental disorder</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1156">Section 1156(a)(3)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking <quote>six months</quote> and inserting
<quote>540 days</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id4754CE1F92E64980A5CC15608C116E5D"><enum>303.</enum><header>Extension of
marriage delimiting date for surviving spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans to
qualify for death pension</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1541">Section 1541(f)(1)(E)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking <quote>January 1, 2011</quote> and
inserting <quote>the date that is 10 years and one day after the date on which
the Persian Gulf War was terminated, as prescribed by Presidential proclamation
or by law</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idD57BDCED82EF481EB39A461859603729"><enum>304.</enum><header>Making
effective date provision consistent with provision for benefits eligibility of
a veteran's child based upon termination of remarriage by
annulment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5110(l) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>, or of an award or
increase of benefits based on recognition of a child upon termination of the
child's marriage by death or divorce,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id09686674D9AE4134924EFB8431C3CD71"><enum>305.</enum><header>Extension of
temporary authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by
contract physicians</header>
<subsection id="id2ACFF1D16449433C9071A4F9A7D7F778"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 704(c) of the
Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/183">Public Law 108–183</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5101">38 U.S.C. 5101</external-xref> note) is
amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2013</quote> and inserting
<quote>December 31, 2014</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4BC808329A324B07A8FADF8623E0B64B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report on
disability medical examinations furnished by Department of Veterans
Affairs</header>
<paragraph id="idA61698CE631441FDA78E2ADED2F5C540"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the furnishing of general medical and
specialty medical examinations by the Department of Veterans Affairs for
purposes of adjudicating claims for benefits under laws administered by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3C7EF72EDF594739BBC99B23A90975F0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id596322612f814324b2cc56c6af62e557"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of
general medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating claims for benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id457067001D2B4F65BB853A0E75F0BD56"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of
general medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which a
comprehensive joint examination was conducted, but for which no disability
relating to a joint, bone, or muscle had been asserted as an issue in the
claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id17fd5b0358d14d4395e8b160b043e18e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The number of
specialty medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3AD962B84F0C49D697CB0995DCB2E20C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of
specialty medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which
one or more joint examinations were conducted.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8dbdaf1c78bb4a84b8f676aa6eb5cd9c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A summary
(including citations of) any medical and scientific studies which provide a
scientific basis for determining that three repetitions is adequate to
determine the effect of repetitive use on functional impairments.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87c82808fe184651be4f218dd3ebb062"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The names of all
examination reports, including general medical examinations and Disability
Benefits Questionnaires, used for evaluation of compensation and pension
disability claims which require measurement of repeated ranges of motion
testing and the number of examinations requiring such measurements which were
conducted in fiscal year 2012.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28EF2950AFAF4F6899C044D66D798B13"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The average
amount of time taken by an individual conducting a medical examination to
perform the three repetitions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id256edd37923b408e9511400c116e2d77"><enum>(H)</enum><text>A discussion of
whether there are more efficient and effective scientifically reliable methods
of testing for functional loss on repetitive use of an extremity other than the
three time repetition currently used by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide2036866d10a4cf0aba7283a4cae3687"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Recommendations
as to the continuation of the practice of measuring functional impairment by
using three repetitions during the examination as a criteria for evaluating the
effect of repetitive motion on functional impairment with supporting
rationale.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5830A616788C4B84A028DCD80A38A8F5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report on
progress of Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative</header>
<paragraph id="id4AA74377312742C7A33D3B3B093CD13B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the progress of the Acceptable Clinical Evidence
initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs in reducing the necessity for
in-person disability examinations and other efforts to comply with the
provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5125">section 5125</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7F3038139F8A4EE8B506150412CE4517"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id0e48d5c11ac74326938c6de7b364625f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of
claims eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative during the
period beginning on the date of the initiation of the initiative and ending on
the date of the enactment of this Act, disaggregated by fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9DA59310A3EC46A89076CF5E42227D1B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The total number
of claims eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative that
required a medical examiner of the Department to supplement the evidence with
information obtained during a telephone interview with a claimant.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1b82d902db1a46129213464a3ab20740"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Information on
any other initiatives or efforts of the Department to further encourage the use
of private medical evidence and reliance upon reports of a medical examination
administered by a private physician if the report is sufficiently complete to
be adequate for the purposes of adjudicating a claim.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>