    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-187
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
    study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the
    National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by
    the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Identifying Barriers and Best
    Practices Study Act''.
    SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DISABILITY AND PENSION
    BENEFITS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
    GUARD AND MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE
    ARMED FORCES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
    AFFAIRS.

    (a) <>  In General.--Not later than 36 months after
    the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
    United States shall complete a study on disability and pension benefits
    provided to members of the National Guard and members of reserve
    components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In
    conducting such study, <>  the Comptroller
    General shall review, for the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and
    ending on December 31, 2018, each of the following:
    (1) The number of members of the National Guard and the
    number of members of reserve components of the Armed Forces who
    received disability compensation or pension provided by the
    Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (2) A comparison of each of the following between veterans
    who served only in the National Guard or reserve components and
    veterans who served in the regular components of the Armed
    Forces:
    (A) The percentage of each group of such veterans
    with service-connected disabilities.
    (B) The number of veterans in each group with each
    disability rating.
    (C) The number of veterans in each group with a
    service-connected disability, including the number of
    each of the following types of such veterans in each
    group:
    (i) Pilots.
    (ii) Veterans who served in the special
    forces.
    (iii) Veterans who participated in the
    Personnel Reliability Program.

    [[Page 904]]

    (iv) Veterans who underwent diving or flight
    physicals as a regular component of their service
    in the Armed Forces and who have a muscular-
    skeletal or mental health condition.
    (D) The number of total claims for disability
    compensation and pension submitted, approved, and
    disapproved for each group of veterans.
    (3) An identification of common barriers for members of the
    National Guard and members of reserve components in obtaining
    disability benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary
    of Veterans Affairs, including barriers relating to
    documentation of injuries incurred while serving, such as line
    of duty letters.

    (b) Reports.--
    (1) Preliminary report.--Not later than 18 months after the
    date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
    submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and
    House of Representatives a preliminary report on the findings of
    the study required by subsection (a).
    (2) Final report.--Upon completion of the study, the
    Comptroller General shall submit to such Committees a final
    report on such study.

    Approved October 30, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4183:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019):
    Dec. 16, 17, considered and passed
    House.
    Vol. 166 (2020):
    Oct. 1, considered and passed
    Senate.