1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Disability Benefits Claims
Modernization Act of 2008
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title;
table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Title I—Matters
Relating to Modernizing the Disability Compensation System of Department of
Veterans Affairs
Sec. 101. Office of Survivors Assistance.
Sec. 102. Study on
readjustment of schedule for rating disabilities.
Sec. 103. Study on
employee work credit system of Veterans Benefits Administration.
Sec. 104. Study on
work management system.
Sec. 105. Certification and training of employees of Veterans
Benefits Administration responsible for processing claims.
Sec. 106. Annual
assessment of quality assurance program.
Sec. 107. Expedited
treatment of fully developed claims and requirement for checklist to be
provided to individuals submitting incomplete claims.
Sec. 108. Study and
report on employing medical professionals to assist employees of Veterans
Benefits Administration.
Sec. 109. Assignment
of partial disability ratings to qualifying veterans.
Sec. 110. Review and
enhancement of use of information technology at Veterans Benefits
Administration.
Sec. 111. Treatment
of claims upon death of claimant.
Title II—Matters
Relating to United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Sec. 201. Annual
reports on workload of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims.
Sec. 202. Modification of jurisdiction and finality of
decisions of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)At the end of fiscal year 2007, there were
nearly 24,000,000 veterans in America.
(2)According to the latest Annual Report from
the Veterans Benefits Administration, there were 3,582,255 veterans and
survivors receiving compensation and pension benefits under laws administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs at the end of fiscal year 2006.
(3)The number of veterans and survivors at the
end of fiscal year 2006 included 2,725,824 veterans receiving service-connected
disability benefits, 325,939 survivors receiving service-connected death
benefits, 329,856 veterans receiving non-service-connected disability benefits,
and 200,636 survivors receiving non-service-connected death benefits.
(4)During fiscal year 2006, almost 250,000
beneficiaries began receiving benefits with 162,805 of these being veterans
whose compensation claims were granted.
(5)Since October 7, 2001, the number of claims
for new or increased benefits has risen sharply, exceeding 838,000 in
2007.
(6)The Department of Veterans Affairs projects
that the number of claims will surpass 1,000,000 by the end of fiscal year
2008.
(7)The number of disability compensation
claims pending before the Department stands at nearly 630,000, as of the date
of the enactment of this Act, about a quarter of which have been backlogged for
over six months.
(8)Processing times have increased from an
average of 177 days in 2006 to 183 days in 2007.
(9)The paper-based, labor-intensive process
employed by the Department leaves many disabled veterans and survivors waiting
months or years to receive the benefits they have earned.
(10)The most prevalent disabilities among
veterans that are service-connected are auditory, with almost 840,000 veterans
receiving compensation for such a disability, followed by musculoskeletal
disabilities and arthritis.
(11)Post-traumatic stress disorder is the sixth
most common disability, with more than 269,399 service-connected
veterans.
(12)In 2006, the Veterans Health Administration
treated 345,713 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, which was an
increase of 27,099 over 2005.
(13)By January 2008, of the 1,600,000 veterans
who served in the Armed Forces after October 7, 2001, the Veterans Health
Administration had treated 59,838 for post-traumatic stress disorder.
(14)Disabilities are evaluated in accordance
with the Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities
(referred to in this section as the VASRD
) under title 38,
United States Code of Federal Regulations, part 4.
(15)This schedule was originally created in
1917 and was last comprehensively revised in 1945.
(16)The VASRD contains many outdated and
archaic criteria and lacks more commonly accepted medical practices and
procedures.
(17)Studies conducted by the Institute of
Medicine found it to be an inadequate instrument for compensating disabilities
for the average impairments of earning capacity, especially in areas of mental
health, unemployability, and for younger and severely injured veterans, and
recommended it be revised using more modern medical concepts.
(18)The Department of Veterans Affairs must
modernize the claims processing system of the Veterans Benefits Administration
to make it a first-class, veteran-centered system that uses 21st century
technologies and paradigms and reflects the dignity and sacrifices made by
disabled veterans, their families, and survivors.
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Matters Relating to Modernizing the
Disability Compensation System of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H298A5180041A449F95E8B78C9FDE38B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office of Survivors Assistance</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5C8747CA266E4F3E9100EA2FE4CD6DC7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54AF7B1D11384B1791B0F61312502618" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H73FFB192A3CC44F6B199815C11B5A66" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>321.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office of Survivors Assistance</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA68DACD0832406B859E4DFE4FBECD44"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish in the
Veterans Benefits Administration an Office of Survivors Assistance (in this
section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>) to provide direct assistance
regarding all benefits and services delivered by the Department—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H47EA88183D2D4422A4D1300845B00E2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to survivors and dependents of all deceased
veterans; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCF61A64C683B41369745F54ED06CBD9E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to survivors and dependents of all deceased
members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H42F3118DE8594238A653A6C9527D3B88"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3439ADCA4DBE48B0A91B50031B4C5368"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be responsible for ensuring that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7803B469980847A983124EE827DE54F8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">survivors and dependents of deceased
veterans and deceased members of the Armed Forces have access to applicable
benefits and services under this title;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD94C8B85EE314C409B6018E87267AEFA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">programs carried out by the Department
under this title for such survivors and dependents are carried out in a manner
that is responsive to such survivors and dependents and their unique
needs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAED8F4B9B9724A2EA989DFE1AF00CCE6"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">regular and consistent monitoring of
benefits delivery occurs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6204BC884F084F10ABFD9F6EE67F16C5"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appropriate referrals are being made with
respect to such survivors and dependents by, to, and within the Veterans
Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and National Cemetery
Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H439DBE00BACA43EFB5C0EDEC45A8FD00"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such survivors and dependents are treated
with dignity and respect by personnel of the Department; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12C9577378AB40A2A000941992538400"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">act as a primary advisor to the Secretary
on all matters related to the policies, programs, legislative issues, and other
initiatives affecting such survivors and dependents.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H099C703F60A440AF9874C6BC40123BD"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall identify and include
the activities of the Office in the annual report to Congress under section 529
of this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H09A9A11B449C4D6E9800B894A66F39AE"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Guidance from stakeholders</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In establishing the Office, the Secretary
shall seek guidance from interested stakeholders, including appropriate
employees, employee representatives, managers, and appropriate public and
private entities, including veteran service organizations and other service
organizations.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H18A6F7A6BD4D4151BF8C494DDB6C9CC7"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Resources</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate
personnel, funding, and other resources are provided to the Office to carry out
its
responsibilities.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF636F531A874817B6A5AF4C002BAA9B"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCC8FAA1C467F4F779ED5D3D1AFCBA58F" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">321. Office of Survivors
Assistance.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF82CD8B3193E41439CCBFBFFE1B0D2E4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study on readjustment of schedule for
rating disabilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FBEE5BC03E74DC6B060E13B94C768AB"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study on adjustment of schedule</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H265C62A1F5864D9AAB3020E857CD12F5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on adjusting the schedule for rating
disabilities adopted and applied by the Secretary under section 1155 of title
38, United States Code, so as to base the schedule on standards, practices, and
codes in common use by the medical, mental health, and disability professions
that are current as of the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05F1507582DE4CD894001261B57B73A7"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents of study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the study under this
subsection, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1CF4B5E2B144B719238A35D6C53A5F3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine how the schedule could be
adjusted to take into account the loss of quality of life and loss of earnings
that result from specific disabilities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H965D1C2998B148C7AC503CD37EA79820"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the nature of the disabilities for
which disability compensation is payable under laws other than laws
administered by the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0EFD2CA19ED74FADAFEC0009735B2D5D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine whether disparities exist between
the rating of physical and mental disabilities, especially with respect to how
the severity of mental disabilities should be adjudicated to ensure parity with
physical disabilities whereby a veteran can be rated totally disabled while
maintaining some level of employment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7A9E092E7F542AD8452659C7B25A19"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">measure the effect of disabilities on the
psychological states, physical integrity, and social adaptability of veterans
with such disabilities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD12F0264CA146EF8D99A08B4DC45D46"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the effect of a veteran’s injury or
combination of injuries on—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5688EC0D44C4C78A559A611A38E5224"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the average loss of the veteran’s earnings
capacity, including the veteran’s inability to work in certain
occupations;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3E743F64881A40B1818240CB26159B7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the veteran’s quality of life, including
activities of independent living, recreational and community activities, and
personal relationships, including the inability to participate in favorite
activities, social problems related to disfigurement or cognitive difficulties,
and the need to spend increased amounts of time performing activities of daily
living; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H70A0F9BD5F10473C8617F6058C47321E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which benefits for veterans
may be used to encourage veterans to seek and undergo vocational
rehabilitation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA89F30A5FC9248ECA3CC3C3E6DE1AADC"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the study under this
subsection, the Secretary shall consult with appropriate public and private
entities, agencies, and veterans service organizations, and shall employ
consultants.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC41EA616F4B1479A8F4C91C9E0E6A6A0"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline for completion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall complete the study
required under this subsection by not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H390ECF8EAB4C48138B26916E8CF73440"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after completing the
study required under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the study. The report shall include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2DD02BBE4FB846138866CEA7EAC22F2F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the results of the study on quality of life
and the payment of compensation for service-connected disabilities for which
the Secretary entered into a contract on January 28, 2008;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF79053FFD70C4B868FFFE22788A0CDB8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s findings and conclusions
with respect to adjusting the schedule for rating disabilities adopted and
applied by the Secretary under section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, to
account for the loss of quality of life and loss of earnings that result from
specific disabilities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6252688904A34C0C88E7A9E9761CB11C"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s findings and conclusions
with respect to—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54E6FE601E6D4809B0A109D24F329BB1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the report of the Veterans’ Disability
Benefits Commission;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4FF834ABF8943BF8082234D36C4E500"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the report of the President’s Commission on
the Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA821A98BA2484F7892FB43F3AA7900AC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the report of the Institute of Medicine
entitled <quote>A 21st Century System for Evaluating Veterans for Disability
Benefits</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA1B398BEC8A64BBBB25C22ECB341F3A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other independent or advisory
commission report on matters relating to such schedule that the Secretary
determines is appropriate;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H557FA2F514EA4AEAA9A6CA29CB95B72C"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s recommendations with
respect to the appropriate disabilities for inclusion in the schedule;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6DF42425D2E4478A8F9F5DC2ADB67605"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s recommendations with
respect to the amount of compensation payable to veterans for the loss of
quality of life and the basis for such recommendations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF50FEB7037B4960944662441C06B186"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s recommendations with
respect to the amount of compensation payable to veterans for average loss of
earnings capacity and the appropriate standards for determining whether a
disability has caused a veteran to incur a loss of earnings capacity;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26D37C3D1477426E8E88F68BAD736EE9"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s assessment of the effect of
the treatment of mental disabilities under the schedule for rating
disabilities, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3292D4EE11BD407597A764E276C3CF4B"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s determination with respect
to whether the regulations prescribed pursuant to section 1154 of title 38,
United States Code, are consistent with providing, to the maximum extent
possible, the benefit of the doubt to veterans covered by that section in the
absence of official military records pertaining to the service-connection of a
veteran’s disability, and in particular, of post-traumatic stress disorder,
when a determination of service-connection would be consistent with the duties,
conditions, and hardships of service in the Armed Forces.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E904E98EEA8454FBCD679C3563FC550"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submission of plan</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEEDD935EA81044199B80886EFD3837DD"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Plan required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date on
which the Secretary submits the report required under subsection (a)(5), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan to readjust the schedule for rating
disabilities adopted and applied by the Secretary under section 1155 of title
38, United States Code. In developing the plan required under this subsection,
the Secretary shall consider the report submitted under subsection (a)(5) and
shall provide for the readjustment of such schedule for rating disabilities
to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65BA0FB6F5FE449C87E675C52B784B54"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">align the schedule with medical concepts
considered best practices as of the date of the enactment of this Act,
including those provided in the Current Procedural Terminology Manual,
International Classification of Diseases, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, and applicable American Medical Association Guides;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC83EDE2A91B744E09DF3E0EDAC718B2B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">bridge the gap between the schedule, as in
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and medical understandings, as
of such date, of injuries and diseases and the affects of such injuries and
diseases on the ability of a person suffering from them to function;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05C4D6D4AE75407082F22BDE94F24D67"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">prioritize such readjustment with respect
to post-traumatic stress disorder, other mental disorders, neurological
disorders, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic disabilities, and digestive
disabilities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B73210037764C75A767D9863FCA998D"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure that the schedule is automated in
accordance with the review and comprehensive plan of the Secretary under
section 110 of this Act; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H81A8C75F310047BAA6436EEDF3003172"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure that a transition plan is provided
to ease the transition from the schedule for rating disabilities, as in effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act, to the implementation of the schedule
for rating disabilities, as proposed to be readjusted by the plan under this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5B23833DE2CF470CB426D2CAD74E1D5D"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Timeline for readjustment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall include in the plan
submitted under the subsection a proposed timeline for when the Secretary
intends to readjust the schedule. Such proposed timeline may not exceed three
years.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3253A035547E421FAAC040ADD39FE70"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
subsections (a) and (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69183BAACDBA4C90BC9F3074816BE58E"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory Committee on Disability
Compensation</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A9D79EA2D9C407DA8B408353861F100"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A382D9EA49A4F34A06B2F43B59373F4" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4F249CB7DA945FB8563734738A47BAD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>546.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory Committee on Disability
Compensation</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB53792554288493790CBF61E911F75C7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H423BA123EE434DE892033267D4024709"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is in the Department the Advisory
Committee on Disability Compensation (hereinafter in this section referred to
as the <quote>Committee</quote>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H19C9D34581EF40AD88449DEDB7F500CE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Committee shall consist of not more
than 18 members appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74571B10F27747A6A88DFEB5A3DEC2EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have demonstrated significant civic or
professional achievement; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3DB2B1ECD7A941CCBD20D42BADF8EC8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have experience with the provision of
disability compensation by the Department or are leading medical or scientific
experts in relevant fields.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4D2F1DDAD7D34DF5A9F5111931021F20" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall seek to ensure that
members appointed to the Committee include individuals from a wide variety of
geographic areas and ethnic backgrounds, individuals from veterans service
organizations, individuals with combat experience, and women.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD21B82DBAD914E8AA5B1486D9164FAA3" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall determine the terms of
service and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a
term of service may not exceed two years. The Secretary may reappoint any
member for additional terms of service.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E3F9C94E424445BAF71D23EF20614B"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Responsibilities of Committee</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H739865D36B234168AABD6C264FFBCBA5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, on a regular basis,
consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the
maintenance and periodic readjustment of the schedule for rating disabilities
under section 1155 of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26EA95A2E7A444F480225C4BD393BF50" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB8971B5859994ED5A3514B13C020E578"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In providing advice to the Secretary under
this subsection, the Committee shall—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAAEFC30AD4343B380B157FB83F0DDFB" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assemble and review relevant information
relating to the needs of veterans with disabilities;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF6B5C500BFB4424B913185E4847C04D3" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide information relating to the nature
and character of disabilities arising from service in the Armed Forces;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC9F5D68ED3D47569474C1E59794E690" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide an on-going assessment of the
effectiveness of the schedule for rating disabilities; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFF0AD1905DAE46D5860965B1995F0057" indent="up1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide on-going advice on the most
appropriate means of responding to the needs of veterans relating to disability
compensation in the future.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B961A4E760E4E3C87EB601E08F72110" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out its duties under
subparagraph (A), the Committee shall take into special account the needs of
veterans who have served in a theater of combat operations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H738FC7BAD2A0442C8CF22E14A27DE3D1"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H76A23CE073C64E92A0F047A523A000B3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than March 31 of each year, the
Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities
of the Department that relate to the payment of disability compensation. Each
such report shall include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5FC111750454583A4C7C9C8B0E46C46"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the needs of veterans with
respect to disability compensation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H980979F6AB134B98BB65FEE7FC0015D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a review of the programs and activities of
the Department designed to meet such needs; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F4068B810584830AA9352B78FD252C"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such recommendations (including
recommendations for administrative and legislative action) as the Committee
considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4965724CE71F4565A03FF165EBEF1EDC" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the receipt of
a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of the
report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning the report
that the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBF36816997E349EE8BFCE5DB00E4DB59" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Committee may also submit to the
Secretary such other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H94E392D180CF4795BF48ADAE6452C6A1" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall submit with each annual
report submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a
summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the
Secretary since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant
to that section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65CA963C422044C9B469ACFE37064CFA"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee
Act</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7F01CC21DAD84E6AA67CB47300D65646"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to
the activities of the Committee under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB4D585547471425C9EEFBA98BD8BB802" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to
the
Committee.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB9468BED05844FCEA14BC7797EA03BC"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to
subchapter III the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEEDBD6B7198B485CA356F56B003B5DC1" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">546. Advisory Committee on
Disability
Compensation.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8011DFFC7C9D45439E15399DF925E135" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study on employee work credit system of
Veterans Benefits Administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C0618C24370409FADB5AEF37F7DE252"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the employee work credit system of
the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
which is used to measure the work production of employees of the Veterans
Benefits Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF7D08BE15CF427CAC05237EA3F33CA4"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents of study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the study under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall consider the advisability of implementing—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F96C69A97A74B66B86000D76EA25D5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">performance standards and accountability
measures to ensure that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5ED65336D3BC4A74B19C21CA966FB970"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">claims for benefits under the laws
administered by the Secretary are processed in an objective, accurate,
consistent, and efficient manner; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H396CA8C85ED6489197445882C8D9C441"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">final decisions with respect to such claims
are consistent and issued within the average amount of time required to process
a claim, as identified by the Secretary in the most recent annual report
submitted by the Secretary under section 7734 of title 38, United States
Code;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8DA3F40470344E1395C5BD600504967"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">guidelines and procedures for the prompt
processing of such claims that are ready to rate upon submission;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEAD04006EC824862BE626E65B1D3E1E5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">guidelines and procedures for the
processing of such claims submitted by severely injured and very severely
injured veterans, as determined by the Secretary; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3DEF9DAB77FC45D79E694EFEED94C810"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requirements for assessments of claims
processing at each regional office for the purpose of producing lessons learned
and best practices.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE38F82CFDE3F42D59EE9CB4800FCACDA"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the study conducted under this section and the progress of the Secretary in
implementing the new system for evaluating employees of the Veterans Benefits
Administration required under subsection (d).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26EBDDEA56D5439FAA234D204304B626"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation of Veterans Benefits
Administration employees</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D7B6007BDA14A0DADCB46FCA0086B6"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">New system required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By not later than 180 days after the date
on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits to Congress the report
required under subsection (d), the Secretary shall establish a new system for
evaluating the work production of employees of the Veterans Benefits
Administration. Such system shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H78EB8252812244178EDC6DE9B4934B00"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be based on the findings of the study
conducted by the Secretary under this section;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE1EBE7A105C04825996DA4FB71C85325"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">focus on evaluating the accuracy and
quality of ratings decisions made by such employees; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9D10CB43DBB473DAE3816962E186D16"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not resemble or be based on any concept on
which the system in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act is
based.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H87F91057A7FA40438D40E3C99B5901A3"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Suspension of award of work
credits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs does not implement the new system for evaluating work
production as required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not award a work
credit to any employee of the Veterans Benefits Administration until the
Secretary has implemented such system.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7DF9FDF2BC13412AB0156F8BF1B47980" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study on work management system</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H767A7F4DFD3B480EAD5BB4B1C3D24F8C"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
conduct a study on the work management system of the Veterans Benefits
Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is designed to
improve accountability, quality, and accuracy, and reduce the time for
processing claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary that
are adjudicated by the Veterans Benefits Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D5743A122BA4E1797A3A17B161400BB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents of study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the study required under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2ADFD59D2E114BE19FE90500A7931CCF"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accountability for claims adjudication
outcomes;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H007AA5CCB4D64959B08FB001E94E5B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the quality of claims adjudicated;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D376609283A490D99F66902F4434427"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a simplified process to adjudicate
claims;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H48B536806310496CA9FD65E1E12683F2"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the maximum use of information technology
applications;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCB6D9962108480CB4BD0254486054DE"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rules-based applications and tools for
processing and adjudicating claims efficiently and effectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3BE52846988D4605B2396397F56B8825"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">methods of reducing the time required to
obtain information from outside sources.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFEDF4CC2864643DAA8F9B83253701009"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the study conducted under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3FB56C243C414EC5A04FDF93A7F7ACA1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Certification and training of employees of
Veterans Benefits Administration responsible for processing claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCFDAFA55A8E64F7C8DD4416B52088387"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employee certification required</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD262DC0E21DC4663B911AFD73B4478FC"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 77 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4121F1FFC544AA3A793AB517C4EECEA" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H01144D94BA91454BA134DBE7AE4B3C24" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>7735.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employee certification</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA6FFC8DE15C14F6A8F366B3747356279"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Development of certification
examination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall develop a certification examination for appropriate employees and
managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration who are responsible for
processing claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall develop such examination in consultation with examination
development experts, interested stakeholders, including such appropriate
employees, employee representatives, and managers, and appropriate public and
private entities, including veterans service organizations and other service
organizations.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3F73F853FF04739A3A5E34526C96259"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employee and manager
requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall require appropriate employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits
Administration who are responsible for processing claims for benefits under the
laws administered by the Secretary to take a certification examination.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H71543C174653422AADDFB658175E8D4C"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not satisfy any
requirement of this section through the use of any certification examination or
program that exists as of the date of the enactment of the
<short-title>Veterans Disability Benefits Claims
Modernization Act of
2008</short-title>.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCB5EA8F8F7E4C87911E60584BE62F4E"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadlines for implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69708EFA668A47AC8D4DBB00AF79E219"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop the certification examination
required to be developed under section 7735 of title 38, United States Code, as
added by subsection (a), by not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCF3D783EF6D44564B661A45900F44886"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">implement procedures for administering the
certification of employees under such section and begin administering the
certification examination required under such section by not later than 90 days
after the date on which the development of such certification examination is
complete.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H98ACB4A72A0C4516881160E07BC7031D"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to
subchapter II the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA9ED115BAF0E4E03AF00A361DF395F9B" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7735. Employee
certification.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC2C46C73E9874ED2A393F69CAF8CAB4B"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation of training</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H103531FBFDD3476A804131EABDD6EFD"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation Required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
enter into a contract with a private entity with experience evaluating training
processes, continuing education needs, and centralized training requirements,
under which that entity shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A5ADA64FBE84D2F8504B024BB72BDF8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct an evaluation of the items required
to be included in the annual report of the Secretary under section 7734 of
title 38, United States Code, that were included in the last such report
submitted before the date of the enactment of this Act, that relate to the
training and performance assessment programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration who are
responsible for matters relating to compensation or pension benefits under the
laws administered by the Secretary; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H434047FC92C44F1AA9BFA7F67177C53F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, submit to the Secretary the results of such
evaluation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53028D9875214FE29CEA118E5704FE47"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submission of Results to
Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
include the results of the evaluation required under paragraph (1) with the
first annual report required to be submitted to Congress under section 529 of
title 38, United States Code, submitted after the date on which the Secretary
receives such results.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA13146365B9A4BDDAAFB6C4EC2743600"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary submits the report referred to in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on any actions the Secretary has
taken or plans to take in response to the results of the evaluation required
under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD0E8B64612AB4FBB912100A6B7521D54" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>106.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual assessment of quality assurance
program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA93D1A432D8841FDA27837CD226D8129"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual assessment required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7731 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC002D6C01EBA4303A89E241621707713" style="USC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBBFA3025B6644C4A9660CABB7E26DBAF"><enum>(c)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H51BD7733E198404D8F703607A17D363D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall enter into a contract
with an independent third-party entity for the conduct of an annual assessment
of the quality assurance program under this section. Each such assessment
shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4913DA0C1904E0DB5BDCC4027011900" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate a statistically valid sample of
employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration and a statistically valid
sample of the work product of such employees to assess the quality and accuracy
of such work product;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF536BA316E64890B53C5206A0F1A676" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">measure the performance of each regional
office of the Veterans Benefits Administration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H895D0AAFE3F44DE2A19200F958CE2CD" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">measure the accuracy of the disability
ratings assigned under the schedule for rating disabilities under section 1155
of this title;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6FE6A1A084CD4387AF2603BC53A20800" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">compare disability ratings and evaluate
consistency between regional offices;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51D524247D7E4E61B6543CFFDE866FA5" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess the performance of employees and
managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCBB3E76463114920A34260FB88751B47" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">produce automated categorizable data to
help identify trends.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED9242A4D4A849E9B8EF69A244021DA9" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall use information
gathered through the annual assessments required under this section in
developing the employee certification required under section 7735 of this
title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA6227814348D47E19DD15398AC539B73" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to carry out the quality assurance
program under this subsection with respect to the administration of disability
compensation and to reduce the variances between ratings in the regional
offices of the Department, the Secretary shall ensure the accuracy and
consistency across different offices within the Department of the treatment of
claims for disability compensation, including determinations with respect to
disability ratings and whether a disability is service-connected.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9FD2C02136F4A1581F2687C21DF8C65" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H2F0D49036B384779BEC69234799940A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall retain, monitor, and
store in an accessible format data described in subparagraph (B), including
development of a demographic baseline.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF050107A3E9948E8B1F0BB029B518805" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The data covered by this paragraph includes
the following:</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A398C17B8CF42F4A7ED795779F96139"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each claim for disability compensation
under laws administered by the Secretary submitted by a claimant—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB532AF51D04A4315B83438AF5BB3FFCA"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the State in which the claimant resided
when the claim was submitted;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H02FEBCE2552F413AA5C8D89E4A6FAF6"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the decision of the Secretary with respect
to the claim;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H810931FCADDA49AD9C2217C5C965DCA9"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the regional office and individual employee
of the Department responsible for evaluating the claim; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54FA69B8F5E7461F9700D976DC05F994"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the sex and race of the claimant.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA7693C08C78D471E9915B180E5D6C0AA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The State of the claimant’s
residence.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74ABC73E350C46298E86B8131F24AF06"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such other data as the Secretary determines
is appropriate for monitoring the accuracy and consistency of decisions with
respect to such claims.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAD6571D23DD045E2A622969D297726E0" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall require
the Secretary to replace the quality assurance program under this section, as
in effect on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of
2008</short-title>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A3AF4EEDA71491AB9E7D56CDC00FDE2"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7734 of such title is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H676E773A0F3146B4BB9F5D7F3091D0D2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking
<quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA8999D6F12E40B1A7FF6E313E679609"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF6ADDA3A45014574B91DD6DCB6B5EC00"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following new paragraph (3):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AEE5C29DA564D9EB880E14FD300D708" style="USC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H46C9ECC709514D39AD74904748F0EABD"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the results and findings of the most recent
annual assessment conducted under section 7731(c) of this title;
and</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66C527EF4E794CC4B24383E026559186" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>107.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited treatment of fully developed
claims and requirement for checklist to be provided to individuals submitting
incomplete claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDFAEE37DDB0B4F1DA2E4E141D4F4425B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited treatment of fully developed
claims</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H29A9636C18AA4B80B69F198094E62602"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of chapter 51 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6E8F584BF2148B0B3CCD87DAF5EAD4F" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8B125B828F4417983667C00C7FB1CDE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>5109C.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited treatment of fully developed
claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1356A41EF43146D9A7D7ECEC5C566D18"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited treatment required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall take such actions as
may be necessary to provide for the expeditious treatment by the appropriate
regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration of any fully developed
claim to ensure that any such claim is adjudicated not later than 90 days after
the date on which the claim is submitted.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD27F85CDE69C4CB5913D982BFF9CA897"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notice of required information and
evidence</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this
section shall affect the responsibility of the Secretary to provide notice
under section 5103 to a claimant and a claimant’s representative of required
information and evidence that is necessary to substantiate a fully developed
claim.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC352D6EE6B14E91AE80BE953C75AFCA"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fully developed claim defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this section, the term
<quote>fully developed claim</quote> means a claim for a benefit under a law
administered by the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAB4624625AC4906A2F123C0F234ECF2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for which the claimant—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDCC6D5797EAE40CF9EA000C848712D75"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">received assistance from a veterans service
officer, a State or county veterans service officer, an agent, or an attorney;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H623B9B55D3D248A5824CC648B7006E3E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submits along with the claim an appropriate
indication that the claimant does not intend to submit any additional
information in support of the claim and does not require additional assistance
with respect to the claim; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD373495A176E4CC890D9557EE1D51F11"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for which the claimant submits a
certification in writing that is signed by the claimant stating that at the
time of signature, no additional information is available or needs to be
submitted in order for the claim to be
adjudicated.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7690242C451D4C46BA7BE325A007D5F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to
subchapter I the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCEE271468EE94F50A1F13FC2AAE9ABC0" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">5109C. Expedited treatment of
fully developed
claims.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E755FF74E264942888606CED2DBAEF3"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadlines for implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish
a process for expediting claims under section 5109C of title 38, United States
Code, as added by paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB64E6F0D5A54E6AA67C1EFA71F006D"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of checklist to individuals
submitting incomplete claims</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9DF857F7CB74C4EA36D26961932CAF2"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Checklist</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5103 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H52EFBB0B3D0A4451B8132CA500005CF9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (b) as
subsection (c); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD06AAF05D4754AD7A6CEC68392B5E99"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (a) the
following new subsection (b):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF2D87A646C614C69A6363100ADA80472" style="USC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H09325DF9EE5843B4B7E0F529EF3EF83D"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of checklist</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In providing notice of required information
and evidence to a claimant and a claimant’s representative, if any, under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to the claimant and any such
representative a checklist that includes a detailed description of information
or evidence required to be submitted by the claimant to substantiate the
claim.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7AEDCEBF3964477AA94CA6600F317F4"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b) of
section 5103 of title 38, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to notice provided after the date that is one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3625C79902F42CFACB92B5500FD904C"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline for creation of
checklist</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall create the checklist required under such subsection, as so
added.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H298788C86D794904AF21B4D430CA651E"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submittal to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the Secretary
creates the checklist required by such subsection, as so added, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress the checklist.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9DD371EB75B4590B2DE33A75B11A1C1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>108.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study and report on employing medical
professionals to assist employees of Veterans Benefits Administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA1316A76C724DE2BB43EB99E848EA68"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
conduct a study to evaluate the need of the Veterans Benefits Administration of
the Department of Veterans Affairs to employ, in addition to medical
professionals of the Veterans Health Administration, including medical
professionals who are not physicians, to act as a medical reference for
employees of the Administration so that such employees may accurately assess
medical evidence submitted in support of claims for benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary. In no case shall any such medical professional
be employed to rate any disability or evaluate any claim. In conducting the
study, the Secretary shall conduct statistically significant surveys of
employees of the Administration to ascertain whether, how, and to what degree
medical professionals could provide assistance to such employees.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDDD61DACEB8948868CC900AAFDF280AF"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the study conducted under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6347B1B8D2B24ED6A7808FCFA876CC8D"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Access to medical
professionals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the
Secretary hires medical professionals pursuant to the study conducted under
this section, the Secretary shall ensure that employees employed by all
regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration have access to such
medical professionals.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1051E077C7C140EC8400F2C636AE0004" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>109.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assignment of partial disability ratings to
qualifying veterans</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H80D3DED10DF4409CB100E35111BF3AA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after section 1155 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5AEB9BB739C64015B53B5400B986EFBA" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8666CC9F139C44A3AD420072C098DE01" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1156.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Partial disability ratings</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H61B5834DC6A04D608B40E0CFA2268B93"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assignment of partial ratings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of providing disability
compensation under this chapter to a qualifying veteran, the Secretary shall
assign a partial disability rating to the veteran as follows:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFE3E8EB09FF94EB8A69FC3768263DC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a qualifying veteran
described in subsection (b)(3)(A), a rating of 100 percent.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H29F624947E7549A5BB24EEAF729BB2A6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a qualifying veteran
described in subsection (b)(3)(B), a rating of 50 percent.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64748B0D27E34F07B508CBF84023C614"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Qualifying veteran</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of this section, a
qualifying veteran is a veteran—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE10B613601304DD984A554A00E4BB30"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who has been discharged from active duty
service for 365 days or less;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD6E11253A5914CAFBEA070BAA415932D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom a permanent disability rating is
not immediately assignable under the regular provisions of the schedule for
rating disabilities under section 1155 of this title or on the basis of
individual unemployability; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE83B9E3C27C24A778036D8556017001E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who has—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC71AC58A0074CC3B7DCCF82CCBDAF5F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a severe disability for whom substantially
gainful employment is not feasible or advisable; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E1D705E19174C1CA1846686C3A6E00"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a wound or injury, whether healed, unhealed
or incompletely healed for whom material impairment of employability is
likely.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4901E12387254283999D21A42BA84E1"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Examinations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A medical examination of a qualifying
veteran is not required to be performed before assigning a partial disability
rating to the veteran under this section, but the fact that such an examination
is conducted shall not prevent the Secretary from assigning such a
rating.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD1BBC24793614BAC903DB32050EB009E"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of partial rating</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H0957C2769C524FB995DBE345B617F8CD"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
partial disability rating assigned to a veteran under this section shall remain
in effect until the earlier of the following dates:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40F1D9243F5C41769FFA46F042CB5EC9" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The date on which the veteran receives a
permanent disability rating based on the schedule for rating disabilities under
section 1155 of this title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA51468AF2ECF4BF5AA6DE215179F08D1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The date that is 365 days after the date of
the veteran’s last separation or release from active duty.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93EEF76905F347DD959B05002073F01E" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may extend a partial
disability rating assigned to a veteran under this section beyond the
applicable termination date under paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines
that such an extension is
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9200767F50E42FFA0A85FC04FCF6F4B"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1156 of title
38, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB73FF305088E4A628E99D6EDB533B228"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1155
the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58D8A2105CA542E1B938005CB1AB58F2" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1156. Partial disability
ratings.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE0FB8ADBDD4440F863EB02360F9DDA3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>110.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review and enhancement of use of
information technology at Veterans Benefits Administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5D9D811C6884C619498A6D6178270D0"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review and comprehensive plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a
review of the use of information technology at the Veterans Benefits
Administration and develop a comprehensive plan for the use of such technology
in processing claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs that would reduce subjectivity, avoidable remands, and
regional office variances in disability ratings.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEB0B15357DCC49E0BA6F7817EC82FF36"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Information technology</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan developed under subsection (a)
shall include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H01DF9D28D87D47979CAD8C40BC8DD150"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the use of rules-based processing and
information technology systems and automated decision support software at all
levels of processing claims;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF389072E569486593F72808A8B8058"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the enhancement of the use of information
technology for all aspects of the claims process;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H03460D2F7CA5419B008BC880469DF1F3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a technological platform that allows for
the use of information that members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and
dependents have submitted electronically, including uploaded military records,
medical evidence, and other appropriate documentation, and the capability to
view applications for benefits submitted online;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF8737F0837D849E6BC95DC0800593CF3"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the use of electronic examination templates
in conjunction with the schedule for rating disabilities under section 1155 of
title 38, United States Code;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA93057D5DB3A4B6FA2E5933F175E78F3"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">making such changes as may be required to
the information technology system of the Department so as to ensure that users
of such system are able to access the service medical records of the Department
of Defense by not later than one year after the date on which the plan is
implemented;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCECB98E9A618487095DF36B22EAE3BAE"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the provision of bi-directional access to
medical records and service records between the Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Department of Defense; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC455EF1B8C8040C88F1ED819864594E5"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the availability, on the Internet website
of the Department, of a mechanism that can be used by a claimant to check on
the status of any claim submitted by that claimant and that provides
information on—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6AC3B3372A934EC58CB03005413005F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether a decision has been reached with
respect to such a claim, notice of the decision; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H876CCE7C49694A9E927E9EFBD6CDAC3C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if no such decision has been reached,
notice of—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0470B93E435B47BF842C4B322B941BA1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the application submitted by the
claimant is complete;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2586133E1142445284009096C5D693CF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the Secretary requires additional
information or evidence to process the claim;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5192F4ACE6EE419BA12B9D87D49FA73E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the estimated date on which a decision with
respect to the claim is expected to be made; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD8F2A270EC7D4B529565FFCD8C18ADC1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the stage at which the claim is being
processed as of the date on which such status is checked.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B5832F3F8BF401B9BB89F08A098DF49"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review of best practices and lessons
learned</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall review best practices and lessons learned within
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the use of the technology known as
<quote>VistA</quote> by other Government entities and private sector
organizations who employ information technology and automated decision support
software</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC5378AF1066460EB78840B02740FB1C"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reduction of claims processing
time</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall ensure that a plan is developed that, within three
years of implementation, would reduce the processing time for each claim
processed by the Veterans Benefits Administration to not longer than the
average amount of time to required to process a claim, as identified by the
Secretary in the most recent annual report submitted by the Secretary under
section 7734 of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9CF3D29662A945348F1B18C91871D6CB"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this section, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall consult with information technology designers at the
Veterans Health Administration, VistA managers, the Secretary of Defense,
appropriate officials of other Government agencies, appropriate individuals in
the private and public sectors, veterans service organizations, and other
relevant service organizations.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H77D6FC5920B74332BE9E255100A77F74"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By not later than January 1, 2009, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the review and comprehensive
plan required under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3BC7441B42214616002241BCC56D6912" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>111.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Treatment of claims upon death of
claimant</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD14BE2C6D12B4B74AB276CBC929B58E9"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Treatment of Beneficiary of Veteran’s
Accrued Benefits as Claimant for Purposes of Incomplete Claims Upon Death of
Veteran</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 51 of title
38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5121 the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB340C22EEC224F9CB91BB4790000E196" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3F4374D412B49C3B0A538122485D8B1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>5121A.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Substitution in case of death of
claimant</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B7004B73CDF49EB93087C2702ED6C71"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Substitution</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a veteran who is a claimant dies while a
claim for any benefit under a law administered by the Secretary, or an appeal
of a decision with respect to such a claim, is pending and awaiting
adjudication, the person who would receive any accrued benefits due to the
veteran under section 5121(a)(2) of this title shall be treated as the claimant
for the purposes of processing the claim to completion, except that such person
may only submit new evidence in support of the claim during the one-year period
beginning on the date of the death of the veteran.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5EE0FBDC3DD4246B533687463001FF0"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Only one person may be treated as the
claimant under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC02F55B82E54DCC8492745526FA9C"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Designation of third party</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the person who would be eligible to be
treated as the claimant under subsection (a) certifies to the Secretary that
the person does not want to be treated as the claimant for such purposes, such
person may designate the person who would receive the benefits under section
5121(a)(2) upon the death of the person who would otherwise be treated as the
claimant under subsection (a) to be treated as the claimant for the purposes of
processing the claim to completion.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFADEC7A62F3E4FDCB1CF0874C2C88BFF"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5121
the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9FDD85B43834F0F8F3971602784D231" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">5121A. Death of
claimant.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8BDCB57486D4428F8EE7784F71F3DEF9"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
Date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by
this section shall apply with respect to the claim of any veteran who dies on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Matters Relating to United States Court of
Appeals for Veterans Claims</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA1A8C8C2CE1400198DBF68F002C4F4F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual reports on workload of United States
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5DC9D48980DC4E9BB1F3C69D33C4608C"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of chapter 72 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H617DAF0B83B84DC78686A63FF8324449" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D6B6910CAE641BE94CFAC41A8F6AA61" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>7288.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The chief judge of the Court shall annually
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the
workload of the Court during the last fiscal year that ended before the
submission of such report. Such report shall include, with respect to such
fiscal year, the following information:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED3960358828434CB3D1DBC502AE8088"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of appeals filed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5EA6DD06676E487E9288984CEC1DBBF6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of petitions filed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5F5B3179FE4140F5B1F88E51641152E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of applications filed under
section 2412 of title 28.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7C086B99FAD842D4ADF627E3DD67F484"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number and type of dispositions,
including settlements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3162E452D79743289974465B8F8500CE"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The median time from filing to
disposition.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37A874B32B06484C80DA45D68CA74BFC"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of oral arguments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FF509AEFBAF4535A220A031B654D310"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number and status of pending appeals
and petitions and of applications described in paragraph (3).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66331F3671D846D796F6649037A0477F"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A summary of any service performed by
recalled retired judges during the fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H80613C136A804053A68F164B3CDEE8A0"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of decisions or dispositions
rendered by a single judge, multi-judge panels and the full Court.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9BE22E659314633B599D4007E1EF011"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of cases pending longer than 18
months.</text>
</paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H005A79427A9F4929B1D1A25C5B0E032"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 7287 the
following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB6015055A16C4E68B1547EB1032677D" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7288. Annual
report.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H67E395E8662B499EBB65AEBE6001FAB1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Modification of jurisdiction and finality
of decisions of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F10ECBE28EB4340ABF6B60E2DDC47E"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Modification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7252(a) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3F28ED8B6F9E4A6FB5CB25C31E8099B2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the third sentence; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA60EA15EA5FD46608B97CD39DCBD277"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following new
sentence: <quote>The Court shall have power to affirm, modify, reverse, remand,
or vacate and remand a decision of the Board after deciding all relevant
assignments of error raised by an appellant for each particular claim for
benefits. In a case in which the Court reverses a decision on the merits of a
particular claim and orders an award of benefits, the Court need not decide any
additional assignments of error with respect to that claim.</quote></text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H099F5F3AC7144A3AA3B4F08CFDD08100"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a decision of the Board of Veterans’
Appeals made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>