109 HR 5801 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the U.S. House of Representatives 2006-07-13 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.
I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5801 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 13, 2006 Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Holt, Mr. Schwarz of Michigan, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, and Ms. DeLauro) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to correct and prevent variances in disability compensation payments made by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1.
Department of Veterans Affairs reduction of variances in the adjudication and awarding of disability compensation benefits
(a)
Reduction of variances required
Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
1164.
Reduction of variances in adjudication and awarding of benefits
(a)
Reduction of variances
The Secretary shall take steps to reduce variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits under this chapter in accordance with this section. (b)
Data collection
In order to carry out subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and implement a comprehensive and systematic method for collecting data on variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits under this chapter. (c)
Matters to be included
In collecting data pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall include the following matters: (1)The percentage of claims for disability compensation that are paid and the percentage of such claims that are denied during each fiscal year. (2)The number of veterans who receive disability compensation payments during each fiscal year. (3)The amount paid to each veteran receiving a disability compensation payment. (4)The type of disability for which each such veteran receives a disability compensation payment. (5)The amount of any payment made to each such veteran as additional compensation for a dependent under section 1115 or 1135 of this title. (6)The amount of any payment made to each such veteran by reason of the veteran’s total unemployability. (7)Data reflecting any patterns of disability compensation claims submission across veteran sub-populations, including any differences in such submissions among veterans of different conflicts and veterans living in different locations. (8)Any other demographic information the Secretary determines is appropriate for evaluating and explaining variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits under this chapter.
. (b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 1164. Reduction of variances in adjudication and awarding of benefits .
2.
Department of Veterans Affairs analysis and report on variances in adjudication and awarding of disability compensation benefits
(a)
Analysis required
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an analysis of any data available to the Secretary concerning variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. (b)
Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report, which shall include the following: (1)The findings of the analysis conducted under subsection (a). (2)Recommendations for the future detection, correction, and prevention of variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits.