Improvements to program of Department of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive assistance for family caregivers of eligible veterans

(a)

In general

Section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in paragraph (4) of subsection (a)— (A)by striking An eligible veteran and inserting (A) An eligible veteran; and (B)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(B)The Secretary shall develop and implement a single digital system through which each employee of the Veterans Health Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals responsible for evaluating such applications, or appeals of decisions of the Secretary with respect to such applications, may access— (i)each such application; and (ii)all documents received or submitted with respect to each such application.

; and

(2)in subsection (c)— (A)in the heading, by inserting

; training

after

Construction

; (B)in paragraph (2)— (i)by striking construed to create— and inserting construed—; (ii)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly); (iii)by inserting before the matter so redesignated the following new subparagraph:

(A)to create—

;

(iv)in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), as added by clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (v)by inserting after subparagraph (A), as added by clause (iii), the following new subparagraph:

(B)as affecting, if an eligible veteran dies during the pendency of an appeal of a decision of the Secretary affecting the furnishing of assistance or support services under this section, the eligibility of a family caregiver to receive monthly personal caregiver stipends under subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)— (i)to which the family caregiver was entitled on the date of the death of the eligible veteran based on evidence in the file on such date; and (ii)due and unpaid as of such date.

; and

(C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3)The Secretary shall ensure that any employee of the Veterans Health Administration responsible for evaluating appeals of decisions of the Secretary affecting the furnishing of assistance or support services under this section is provided the same guidance and completes the same training as a higher-level adjudicator under section 5104B of this title.

(b)

Required considerations

(1)

Digital systems

In developing the digital system required by subsection (a)(4)(B) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, (as added by subsection (a)(1)), the Secretary shall consider— (A) lessons learned from the implementation of the Veterans Benefits Management System to process claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; and (B) whether other programs administered by the Veterans Health Administration would improve from the development of a single digital system through which applications and documents relating to such programs may be accessed by employees of the Veterans Health Administration responsible for evaluating such applications and documents. (2)

Training

In carrying out the requirement under paragraph (5) of subsection (c) of such section (as added by subsection (a)(2)), the Secretary shall consider best practices developed from efforts of the Secretary to standardize the guidance and training available to employees of the Department responsible for the delivery of disability compensation to veterans eligible for such compensation.