Service-Connected Death, Disability, or Injury Exception for Transferability of Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance benefits

Section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (b)— (A)by striking

(b) Eligible individuals.—

An individual, and inserting the following:

(b)

Eligible Individuals

(1)

In general

An individual

;

(B)by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B) and moving them two ems to the right; and (C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)

Approval after death in line of duty

Notwithstanding the service requirements under paragraph (1), an individual referred to in subsection (a) shall also include an individual who elected to transfer educational assistance as described in subsection (a) but whose application for such transfer was not approved before such individual died in line of duty.

; and

(2)in subsection (f)— (A)by striking

(1) Time for transfer.—

Subject to and inserting the following:

(1)

Time for transfer

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and subject to

; and

(B)by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Exception

(i)

Time for transfer for service-connected disability or injury in line of duty

The limitation under subparagraph (A) with respect to the time to transfer entitlement benefits under this section shall not apply if an individual is discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces in accordance with section 3311(c)— (I)due to a service-connected disability; or (II)after sustaining an injury in line of duty that requires hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care or treatment. (ii)

Extended period of eligibility

Such individuals may transfer entitlement benefits under this section— (I)before the end of the 36-month period beginning on the date of discharge or release from active duty in the Armed Forces; or (II)before the end of the 48-month period beginning on the date of such discharge or release if the Secretary concerned determines special circumstances exist. (iii)

Alternative period of eligibility

For individuals described in subparagraph (B)(i) who were discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces after August 1, 2009 but before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the extended periods of eligibility described in subparagraph (ii) shall begin on the date of the enactment of this subparagraph. (C)

Additional opportunity to make election

An individual described in subparagraph (B)(i) may elect to transfer the individual’s entitlement under subsection (a), or to make changes to the dependent or dependents designated as the transferee or transferees of the individual’s entitlement under this section, one or more times during the time period referred to in subparagraph (B)(ii).