,,ib  ,union ,calendar ,no4 #cjh  #aadth
 ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #fgg
  ,report ,no4 #aad-dje  ,,in ,,the     
,,house ,,of ,,representatives          
,february #c1 #bjae ,mr4 ,abraham 7for  
himself and ,ms4 ,titus7 introduced the 
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs   
,february #a1 #bjaf ,reported with an   
amendment1 committed to the ,committee  
of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of   
the ,union1 and ordered to be printed   
,strike out all after the enacting      
clause and insert the part printed in   
italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see
 copy of bill as introduced on ,february
 #c1 #bjae  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide  
for annual cost-of-living adjustments to
 be made automatically by law each year 
in the rates of disability compensation 
for veterans with service-connected     
disabilities and the rates of dependency
 and indemnity compensation for         
survivors of certain service-connected  

disabled veterans4  #a4 ,short title2   
table of contents  7a7 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the ,american
 ,heroes ,,cola ,act of #bjae4  7b7     
,table of contents ,the table of        
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,expansion of       
eligibility for medallions4 ,sec4 #c4   
,definitions relating to claims for     
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4 
#d4 ,quarterly reports on formal and    
informal claims for benefits under laws 
administered by ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs4 ,sec4 #e4 ,expedited payment  
of survivor's benefits4 ,sec4 #f4       
,priority for processing claims of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #g4 ,treatment of medical evidence     
provided by non-,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs medical professionals in      
support of claims for disability        
compensation4 ,sec4 #h4 ,automatic      
annual increase in rates of disability  

compensation and dependency and         
indemnity compensation4 ,sec4 #i4       
,improvement of fiduciaries for         
veterans4 ,sec4 #aj4 ,board of          
,veterans' ,appeals video hearings4     
,sec4 #aa4 ,improvements to authority   
for performance of medical disabilities 
examinations by contract physicians4    
,sec4 #ab4 ,pilot program on fully      
developed appeals4 ,sec4 #ac4 ,deadline 
for certification of appeals forms by   
regional offices of the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4 #ad4          
,evaluation of backlog of disability    
claims and appeals of claims of         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #ae4 ,methods for validating certain   
,world ,war ,,ii ,merchant ,mariner     
service considered to be active service 
by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4
 ,sec4 #af4 ,designation of ,american   
,world ,war ,,ii ,cities4 ,sec4 #ag4    
,sense of ,congress regarding ,american 
veterans disabled for life4  #b4        
,expansion of eligibility for medallions

 ,section #bcjf7;d77#d7 of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code1 is amended to    
read as follows3  7#d7 7,a7 ,in lieu of 
furnishing a headstone or marker under  
this subsection to a deceased individual
 described in subparagraph 7,b71 the    
,secretary may furnish1 upon request1 a 
medallion or other device of a design   
determined by the ,secretary to signify 
the deceased individual's status as a   
veteran1 to be attached to a headstone  
or marker furnished at private expense4 
7,b7 ,a deceased individual described in
 this subsection is an individual who-- 
7i7 served in the ,armed ,forces on or  
after ,april #f1 #aiag2 and  7ii7 is    
eligible for a headstone or marker      
furnished under paragraph 7#a7 7or would
 be so eligible but for the date of the 
death of the individual74  4  #c4       
,definitions relating to claims for     
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7   
,definitions  7#a7 ,in general ,section 
#eajj of title #ch1 ,united ,states     

,code1 is amended to read as follows3   
#eajj4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3   
7#a7 ,the term claimant means any       
individual applying for1 or submitting a
 claim for1 any benefit under the laws  
administered by the ,secretary4  7#b7   
,the term claim means a communication in
 writing requesting a determination of  
entitlement or evidencing a belief in   
entitlement to a benefit under the laws 
administered by the ,secretary4  7#c7   
,the term formal claim means a claim    
submitted on an application form        
prescribed by the ,secretary4  4  7#b7  
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter #ea
 of such title is further amended by    
striking the item relating to section   
#eajj and inserting the following new   
item3  #eajj4 ,definitions4  4  7b7     
,effective date ,section #eajj of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended  
by subsection 7a71 shall take effect on 
the date of the enactment of this ,act  
and shall apply with respect to a claim 

submitted on or after such date4  #d4   
,quarterly reports on formal and        
informal claims for benefits under laws 
administered by ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs  7a7 ,quarterly reports ,during
 the five-year period beginning on the  
date of the enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives quarterly reports on   
formal and informal claims submitted to 
the ,secretary4 ,each such report shall 
include1 for the three-month period     
covered by the report-- 7#a7 the total  
number of claims submitted to the       
,secretary2  7#b7 the total number of   
informal claims submitted to the        
,secretary2  7#c7 the total number of   
formal claims submitted to the          
,secretary2  7#d7 the total number of   
forms indicating an intent to file a    
claim for benefits submitted to the     
,secretary2  7#e7 the total number of   
claims notification letters that        

included an invitation to the claimant  
to submit an additional formal claim    
that was reasonably raised during the   
adjudication of the claim for which the 
notification letter is sent2  7#f7 of   
the claimants who received notification 
letters described in paragraph 7#e71 the
 total number who submitted a formal    
claim in response to the invitation     
included in the letter2  7#g7 the total 
number of electronically filed claims   
submitted to the ,secretary2 and  7#h7  
the total number of fully-developed     
claims submitted to the ,secretary4  7b7
 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of
 ,congress that the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs should develop a     
designated form for an increase or      
reopening of a claim that does not      
require the resubmittal of information  
previously submitted on a formal claim  
form4  7c7 ,definitions ,in this        
section3 7#a7 ,the terms claim1         
claimant1 and formal claim have the     
meanings given such terms in section    

#eajj of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 as amended by section #d4  7#b7  
,the term informal claim means a        
communication in writing requesting a   
determination of entitlement or         
evidencing a belief in entitlement1 to a
 benefit under the laws administered by 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
that-- 7,a7 is submitted in a format    
other than on an application form       
prescribed by the ,secretary2  7,b7     
indicates an intent to apply for one or 
more benefits under the laws            
administered by the ,secretary2  7,c7   
identifies the benefit sought2  7,d7 is 
made or submitted by a claimant1 his or 
her duly authorized representative1 a   
,member of ,congress1 or another person 
acting on behalf of a claimant who meets
 the requirements established by the    
,secretary for such purpose2 and  7,e7  
may include a report of examination or  
hospitalization1 if the report relates  
to a disability which may establish such
 an entitlement4  7#c7 ,the term        

reasonably raised with respect to a     
claim means that evidence of an         
entitlement to a benefit under the laws 
administered by the ,secretary is       
inferred or logically placed at issue   
upon a sympathetic reading of another   
claim and the record developed with     
respect to that claim4  #e4 ,expedited  
payment of survivor's benefits  7a7 ,in 
general ,section #eaja7;a77#a7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--
  7#a7 by striking ,a specific and      
inserting 7,a7 ,except as provided in   
subparagraph 7,b71 a specific2 and  7#b7
 by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph3  7,b7  7i7 ,the ,secretary
 may pay benefits under chapters #ac and
 #ae and sections #bcjb1 #bcjg1 and     
#eaba of this title to a survivor of a  
veteran who has not filed a formal claim
 if the ,secretary determines that the  
record contains sufficient evidence to  
establish the entitlement of the        
survivor to such benefits4  7ii7 ,for   
purposes of this subparagraph and       

section #eaaj of this title1 the earlier
 of the following dates shall be treated
 as the date of the receipt of the      
survivor's application for benefits     
described in clause 7i73  7,i7 ,the date
 on which the survivor of a veteran 7or 
the representative of such a survivor7  
notifies the ,secretary of the death of 
the veteran through a death certificate 
or other relevant medical evidence      
indicating that the death was due to a  
service-connected or compensable        
disability4  7,,ii7 ,the head of any    
other department or agency of the       
,federal ,government notifies the       
,secretary of the death of the veteran4 
7iii7 ,in notifying the ,secretary of   
the death of a veteran as described in  
clause 7ii77,i71 the survivor 7or the   
representative of such a survivor7 may  
submit to the ,secretary additional     
documents relating to such death without
 being required to file a formal claim4 
4  7b7 ,report  7#a7 ,in general ,not   
later than one year after the date of   

the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
benefits paid pursuant to covered       
claims4  7#b7 ,contents ,the report     
under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the  
following3 7,a7 ,the number of covered  
claims adjudicated during the one-year  
period preceding the date of the report1
 disaggregated by the following3  7i7   
,claims in which the claimant claimed   
entitlement to compensation on the basis
 of the claimant's status as the spouse 
of a deceased veteran4  7ii7 ,claims in 
which the claimant claimed entitlement  
to compensation on the basis of the     
claimant's status as the child of a     
deceased veteran4  7iii7 ,claims in     
which the claimant claimed entitlement  
to compensation on the basis of the     
claimant's status as the parent of a    
deceased veteran4  7,b7 ,the number of  

covered claims that were adjudicated    
during such period and for which        
compensation was not awarded1           
disaggregated by clauses 7i7 through    
7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,a    
comparison of the accuracy and          
timeliness of covered claims adjudicated
 during such period with non-covered    
claims filed by survivors of a veteran4 
7,d7 ,the findings of the ,secretary    
with respect to adjudicating covered    
claims4  7,e7 ,such recommendations as  
the ,secretary may have for legislative 
or administrative action to improve the 
adjudication of claims submitted to the 
,secretary for benefits under chapters  
#ac and #ae and sections #bcjb1 #bcjg1  
and #eaba of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code4  7#c7 ,covered claim defined ,in 
this subsection1 the term covered claim 
means a claim covered by section        
#eaja7;a77#a77;,b7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 as added by subsection  
7a74  7c7 ,effective date ,the          
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 

apply with respect to claims for        
benefits based on a death occurring on  
or after the date of the enactment of   
this ,act4  #f4 ,priority for processing
 claims of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,i
 of chapter #ea of title #ch1 ,united   
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new section3      
#eaji;,c4 ,priority for processing      
claims  7a7 ,priority ,in processing    
claims for compensation under this      
chapter1 the ,secretary shall provide   
the following claimants with priority   
over other claimants3 7#a7 ,veterans who
 have attained the age of #gj4  7#b7    
,veterans who are terminally ill4  7#c7 
,veterans with life-threatening         
illnesses4  7#d7 ,homeless veterans 7as 
defined in section #bjjb of this title74
  7#e7 ,veterans who were awarded the   
,medal of ,honor4  7#f7 ,veterans who   
are former prisoners of war4  7#g7      
,veterans whose claims are being        
reviewed again in relation to a         

previously denied claim relating to     
military sexual trauma4  7#h7 ,veterans 
whom the ,secretary determines1 on a    
case-by-case basis1 are seriously or    
very seriously injured4  7#i7 ,veterans 
whom the ,secretary determines1 on a    
case-by-case basis1 should be given     
priority under this section based on an 
application for good cause established  
by the ,secretary4  7b7 ,regulations    
,the ,secretary shall prescribe         
regulations to carry out subsection 7a74
  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table 
of sections at the beginning of such    
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #eaji;,b   
the following new item3  #eaji;,c4      
,priority for processing claims4  4  #g4
 ,treatment of medical evidence provided
 by non-,department of ,veterans        
,affairs medical professionals in       
support of claims for disability        
compensation  7a7 ,acceptance of reports
 of private physician examinations      
,section #eabe of title #ch1 ,united    

,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by     
striking ,for purposes and inserting 7a7
 ,in general4--,for purposes2 and  7#b7 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsections3  7b7 ,sufficiency of       
evidence ,if a veteran has submitted a  
medical opinion or report of a medical  
examination administered by a private   
physician in support of the veteran's   
claim1 the ,secretary may not order a   
medical examination to be administered  
by a ,department physician unless the   
,secretary provides the veteran with a  
thorough explanation of why the medical 
opinion or report submitted by the      
veteran was not sufficiently complete   
and the reason why additional medical   
evidence is necessary4  7c7             
,sufficiently complete defined ,for     
purposes of a medical opinion or report 
described in subsection 7a71 the term   
sufficiently complete means competent1  
credible1 probative1 and containing such
 information as may be required to make 
a decision on the claim for which the   

medical opinion or report is provided4  
4  7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment   
made by subsection 7a7 shall apply with 
respect to medical evidence submitted   
after the date that is one year after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
#h4 ,automatic annual increase in rates 
of disability compensation and          
dependency and indemnity compensation   
7a7 ,indexing to social security        
increases ,section #ecab of title #ch1  
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7d7 7#a7 ,whenever there is
 an increase in benefit amounts payable 
under title ,,ii of the ,social         
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja et   
seq47 as a result of a determination    
made under section #bae7;i7 of such ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dae7;i771 the          
,secretary shall1 effective on the date 
of such increase in benefit amounts1    
increase the dollar amounts in effect   
for the payment of disability           
compensation and dependency and         

indemnity compensation by the           
,secretary1 as specified in paragraph   
7#b71 as such amounts were in effect    
immediately before the date of such     
increase in benefit amounts payable     
under title ,,ii of the ,social         
,security ,act1 by the same percentage  
as the percentage by which such benefit 
amounts are increased4  7#b7 ,the dollar
 amounts to be increased pursuant to    
paragraph 7#a7 are the following3 7,a7  
,wartime disability compensation ,each  
of the dollar amounts in effect under   
section #aaad of this title4  7,b7      
,additional compensation for dependents 
,each of the dollar amounts in effect   
under section #aaae7a7 of this title4   
7,c7 ,clothing allowance ,the dollar    
amount in effect under section #aafb of 
this title4  7,d7 ,dependency and       
indemnity compensation to surviving     
spouse ,each of the dollar amounts in   
effect under subsections 7a7 through 7d7
 of section #acaa of such title4  7,e7  
,dependency and indemnity compensation  

to children ,each of the dollar amounts 
in effect under sections #acac7;a7 and  
#acad of such title4  7#c7 ,whenever    
there is an increase under paragraph    
7#a7 in amounts in effect for the       
payment of disability compensation and  
dependency and indemnity compensation1  
the ,secretary shall publish such       
amounts1 as increased pursuant to such  
paragraph1 in the ,federal ,register at 
the same time as the material required  
by section #bae7;i77#b77;,d7 of the     
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#dae7;i77#b77;,d77 is published by      
reason of a determination under section 
#bae7;i7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#dae7;i774  7#d7 ,each dollar amount    
increased under paragraph 7#a71 if not a
 whole dollar amount1 shall be rounded  
to the next lower whole dollar amount4  
7#e7 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs may adjust administratively1   
consistent with the increases made under
 subsection 7a71 the rates of disability
 compensation payable to persons under  

section #aj of ,public ,law #he-heg 7#gb
 ,stat4 #abfc7 who have not received    
compensation under chapter #aa of this  
title4  4  7b7 ,effective date          
,subsection 7d7 of section #ecab of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsection 7a7 of this section1
 shall take effect on ,december #a1     
#bjae4  #i4 ,improvement of fiduciaries 
for veterans  7a7 ,appointment and      
supervision  7#a7 ,section #eejb of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended to read as follows3  #eejb4     
,appointment of fiduciaries  7a7        
,appointment ,where it appears to the   
,secretary that the interest of the     
beneficiary would be served thereby1    
payment of benefits under any law       
administered by the ,secretary may be   
made directly to the beneficiary or to a
 relative or some other fiduciary for   
the use and benefit of the beneficiary1 
regardless of any legal disability on   
the part of the beneficiary4  7b7       
,appeals  7#a7 ,if the ,secretary       

determines a beneficiary to be mentally 
incompetent for purposes of appointing a
 fiduciary under this chapter1 the      
,secretary shall provide such           
beneficiary with a written statement    
detailing the reasons for such          
determination4  7#b7 ,a beneficiary whom
 the ,secretary has determined to be    
mentally incompetent for purposes of    
appointing a fiduciary under this       
chapter may appeal such determination4  
7c7 ,modification  7#a7 ,a beneficiary  
for whom the ,secretary appoints a      
fiduciary under this chapter may1 at any
 time1 request the ,secretary to-- 7,a7 
remove the fiduciary so appointed2 and  
7,b7 have a new fiduciary appointed4    
7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall comply with a
 request under paragraph 7#a7 if the    
,secretary determines that the request  
is made in good faith and--  7,a7 the   
fiduciary requested to be removed       
receives a fee from the beneficiary and 
a suitable volunteer fiduciary is       
available to assist the beneficiary2 or 

7,b7 the beneficiary provides credible  
information that the fiduciary requested
 to be removed is--  7i7 not acting in  
the interest of the beneficiary2 or     
7ii7 unable to effectively serve the    
beneficiary because of an irreconcilable
 personality conflict or disagreement4  
7#c7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that  
any removal or new appointment of a     
fiduciary under paragraph 7#a7 does not 
delay or interrupt the beneficiary's    
receipt of benefits administered by the 
,secretary4  7d7 ,independence ,a       
fiduciary appointed by the ,secretary   
shall operate independently of the      
,department to determine the actions    
that are in the interest of the         
beneficiary4  7e7 ,predesignation ,a    
veteran may predesignate a fiduciary    
by-- 7#a7 submitting written notice to  
the ,secretary of the predesignated     
fiduciary2 or  7#b7 submitting a form   
provided by the ,secretary for such     
purpose4  7f7 ,appointment of           
non-,predesignated fiduciary ,if a      

beneficiary designates an individual to 
serve as a fiduciary under subsection   
7e7 and the ,secretary appoints an      
individual not so designated as the     
fiduciary for such beneficiary1 the     
,secretary shall notify such beneficiary
 of--  7#a7 the reason why such         
designated individual was not appointed2
 and  7#b7 the ability of the           
beneficiary to modify the appointed     
fiduciary under subsection 7c74  7g7    
,priority of appointment ,in appointing 
a fiduciary under this chapter1 if a    
beneficiary does not designate a        
fiduciary pursuant to subsection 7e71 to
 the extent possible the ,secretary     
shall appoint a person who is-- 7#a7 a  
relative of the beneficiary2  7#b7      
appointed as guardian of the beneficiary
 by a court of competent jurisdiction2  
or  7#c7 authorized to act on behalf of 
the beneficiary under a durable power of
 attorney4  4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment 
,the table of sections at the beginning 
of chapter #ee of title #ch1 ,united    

,states ,code1 is amended by striking   
the item relating to section #eejb and  
inserting the following3  #eejb4        
,appointment of fiduciaries4  4  7b7    
,supervision  7#a7 ,in general ,chapter 
#ee of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1
 is amended by inserting after section  
#eejb1 as amended by subsection 7a77#a71
 the following new section3  #eejb;,a4  
,supervision of fiduciaries  7a7        
,commission  7#a7  7,a7 ,in a case in   
which the ,secretary determines that a  
commission is necessary in order to     
obtain the services of a fiduciary in   
the best interests of a beneficiary1 the
 ,secretary may authorize a fiduciary   
appointed by the ,secretary to obtain   
from the monthly benefits provided to   
the beneficiary a reasonable commission 
for fiduciary services rendered1 but the
 commission for any month may not exceed
 the lesser of the following amounts3   
7i7 ,the amount that equals three       
percent of the monthly monetary benefits
 under laws administered by the         

,secretary paid on behalf of the        
beneficiary to the fiduciary4  7ii7 #ce4
  7,b7 ,a commission paid under this    
paragraph may not be derived from any   
award to a beneficiary regarding back   
pay or retroactive benefits payments4   
7,c7 ,a commission may not be authorized
 for a fiduciary who receives any other 
form of remuneration or payment in      
connection with rendering fiduciary     
services for benefits under this title  
on behalf of the beneficiary4  7,d7 ,in 
accordance with section #fajf of this   
title1 a commission may not be paid to a
 fiduciary if the ,secretary determines 
that the fiduciary misused any benefit  
payments of a beneficiary4  7,e7 ,if the
 ,secretary determines that the         
fiduciary has misused any benefit or    
payments of a beneficiary1 the          
,secretary may revoke the fiduciary     
status of the fiduciary4  7#b7 ,where1  
in the opinion of the ,secretary1 any   
fiduciary receiving funds on behalf of a
 ,department beneficiary is acting in   

such a number of cases as to make it    
impracticable to conserve properly the  
estates or to supervise the persons of  
the beneficiaries1 the ,secretary may   
refuse to make future payments in such  
cases as the ,secretary may deem proper4
  7b7 ,court ,whenever it appears that  
any fiduciary1 in the opinion of the    
,secretary1 is not properly executing or
 has not properly executed the duties of
 the trust of such fiduciary or has     
collected or paid1 or is attempting to  
collect or pay1 fees1 commissions1 or   
allowances that are inequitable or in   
excess of those allowed by law for the  
duties performed or expenses incurred1  
or has failed to make such payments as  
may be necessary for the benefit of the 
ward or the dependents of the ward1 then
 the ,secretary may appear1 by the      
,secretary's authorized attorney1 in the
 court which has appointed such         
fiduciary1 or in any court having       
original1 concurrent1 or appellate      
jurisdiction over said cause1 and make  

proper presentation of such matters4    
,the ,secretary1 in the ,secretary's    
discretion1 may suspend payments to any 
such fiduciary who shall neglect or     
refuse1 after reasonable notice1 to     
render an account to the ,secretary from
 time to time showing the application of
 such payments for the benefit of such  
incompetent or minor beneficiary1 or who
 shall neglect or refuse to administer  
the estate according to law4 ,the       
,secretary may require the fiduciary1 as
 part of such account1 to disclose any  
additional financial information        
concerning the beneficiary 7except for  
information that is not available to the
 fiduciary74 ,the ,secretary may appear 
or intervene by the ,secretary's duly   
authorized attorney in any court as an  
interested party in any litigation      
instituted by the ,secretary or         
otherwise1 directly affecting money paid
 to such fiduciary under this section4  
7c7 ,payment of certain expenses        
,authority is hereby granted for the    

payment of any court or other expenses  
incident to any investigation or court  
proceeding for the appointment of any   
fiduciary or other person for the       
purpose of payment of benefits payable  
under laws administered by the          
,secretary or the removal of such       
fiduciary and appointment of another1   
and of expenses in connection with the  
administration of such benefits by such 
fiduciaries1 or in connection with any  
other court proceeding hereby           
authorized1 when such payment is        
authorized by the ,secretary4  7d7      
,temporary payment of benefits ,all or  
any part of any benefits the payment of 
which is suspended or withheld under    
this section may1 in the discretion of  
the ,secretary1 be paid temporarily to  
the person having custody and control of
 the incompetent or minor beneficiary1  
to be used solely for the benefit of    
such beneficiary1 or1 in the case of an 
incompetent veteran1 may be apportioned 
to the dependent or dependents1 if any1 

of such veteran4 ,any part not so paid  
and any funds of a mentally incompetent 
or insane veteran not paid to the chief 
officer of the institution in which such
 veteran is a patient nor apportioned to
 the veteran's dependent or dependents  
may be ordered held in the ,treasury to 
the credit of such beneficiary4 ,all    
funds so held shall be disbursed under  
the order and in the discretion of the  
,secretary for the benefit of such      
beneficiary or the beneficiary's        
dependents4 ,any balance remaining in   
such fund to the credit of any          
beneficiary may be paid to the          
beneficiary if the beneficiary recovers 
and is found competent1 or if a minor1  
attains majority1 or otherwise to the   
beneficiary's fiduciary1 or1 in the     
event of the beneficiary's death1 to the
 beneficiary's personal representative1 
except as otherwise provided by law2    
however1 payment will not be made to the
 beneficiary's personal representative  
if1 under the law of the beneficiary's  

last legal residence1 the beneficiary's 
estate would escheat to the ,state4 ,in 
the event of the death of a mentally    
incompetent or insane veteran1 all      
gratuitous benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary deposited
 before or after ,august #g1 #aiei1 in  
the personal funds of patient's trust   
fund on account of such veteran shall   
not be paid to the personal             
representative of such veteran1 but     
shall be paid to the following persons  
living at the time of settlement1 and in
 the order named3 ,the surviving spouse1
 the children 7without regard to age or 
marital status7 in equal parts1 and the 
dependent parents of such veteran1 in   
equal parts4 ,if any balance remains1   
such balance shall be deposited to the  
credit of the applicable current        
appropriation2 except that there may be 
paid only so much of such balance as may
 be necessary to reimburse a person     
7other than a political subdivision of  
the ,united ,states7 who bore the       

expenses of last sickness or burial of  
the veteran for such expenses4 ,no      
payment shall be made under the two     
preceding sentences of this subsection  
unless claim therefor is filed with the 
,secretary within five years after the  
death of the veteran1 except that1 if   
any person so entitled under said two   
sentences is under legal disability at  
the time of death of the veteran1 such  
five-year period of limitation shall run
 from the termination or removal of the 
legal disability4  7e7 ,escheatment ,any
 funds in the hands of a fiduciary      
appointed by a ,state court or the      
,secretary derived from benefits payable
 under laws administered by the         
,secretary1 which under the law of the  
,state wherein the beneficiary had last 
legal residence would escheat to the    
,state1 shall escheat to the ,united    
,states and shall be returned by such   
fiduciary1 or by the personal           
representative of the deceased          
beneficiary1 less legal expenses of any 

administration necessary to determine   
that an escheat is in order1 to the     
,department1 and shall be deposited to  
the credit of the applicable revolving  
fund1 trust fund1 or appropriation4  7f7
 ,assistance ,the ,secretary shall      
provide to a fiduciary appointed under  
section #eejb of this title materials   
and tools to assist the fiduciary in    
carrying out the responsibilities of the
 fiduciary under this chapter1          
including-- 7#a7 handbooks1 brochures1  
or other written material that explain  
the responsibilities of a fiduciary     
under this chapter2  7#b7 tools located 
on an ,internet website1 including forms
 to submit to the ,secretary required   
information2 and  7#c7 assistance       
provided by telephone4  4  7#b7         
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter #ee
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended by inserting after the item    
relating to section #eejb the following 
new item3  #eejb;,a4 ,supervision of    

fiduciaries4  4  7c7 ,definition of     
fiduciary ,section #eejf of title #ch1  
,united ,states ,code1 is amended--     
7#a7 by striking ,for purposes and      
inserting 7a7 ,for purposes2 and  7#b7  
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7b7  7#a7 ,for purposes of 
subsection 7a71 the term person includes
 any-- 7,a7 ,state or local government  
agency whose mission is to carry out    
income maintenance1 social service1 or  
health care-related activities2  7,b7   
any ,state or local government agency   
with fiduciary responsibilities2 or     
7,c7 any nonprofit social service agency
 that the ,secretary determines--  7i7  
regularly provides services as a        
fiduciary concurrently to five or more  
individuals2 and  7ii7 is not a creditor
 of any such individual4  7#b7 ,the     
,secretary shall maintain a list of     
,state or local agencies and nonprofit  
social service agencies under paragraph 
7#a7 that are qualified to act as a     
fiduciary under this chapter4 ,in       

maintaining such list1 the ,secretary   
may consult the lists maintained under  
section #hjg7;h7 of the ,social         
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#ajjg7;h774  4  7d7 ,qualifications     
,section #eejg of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended to read as    
follows3  #eejg4 ,inquiry1              
investigations1 and qualification of    
fiduciaries  7a7 ,investigation ,any    
certification of a person for payment of
 benefits of a beneficiary to that      
person as such beneficiary's fiduciary  
under section #eejb of this title shall 
be made on the basis of-- 7#a7 an       
inquiry or investigation by the         
,secretary of the fitness of that person
 to serve as fiduciary for that         
beneficiary to be conducted in advance  
of such certification and in accordance 
with subsection 7b72  7#b7 adequate     
evidence that certification of that     
person as fiduciary for that beneficiary
 is in the interest of such beneficiary 
7as determined by the ,secretary under  

regulations72  7#c7 adequate evidence   
that the person to serve as fiduciary   
protects the private information of a   
beneficiary in accordance with          
subsection 7d77#a72 and  7#d7 the       
furnishing of any bond that may be      
required by the ,secretary in accordance
 with subsection 7f74  7b7 ,elements of 
investigation  7#a7 ,in conducting an   
inquiry or investigation of a proposed  
fiduciary under subsection 7a77#a71 the 
,secretary shall conduct--  7,a7 a      
face-to-face interview with the proposed
 fiduciary by not later than #cj days   
after the date on which such inquiry or 
investigation begins2 and  7,b7 a       
background check of the proposed        
fiduciary to--  7i7 in accordance with  
paragraph 7#b71 determine whether the   
proposed fiduciary has been convicted of
 a crime2 and  7ii7 determine whether   
the proposed fiduciary will serve the   
best interest of the beneficiary1       
including by conducting a credit check  
of the proposed fiduciary and checking  

the records under paragraph 7#e74  7#b7 
,the ,secretary shall request           
information concerning whether that     
person has been convicted of any offense
 under ,federal or ,state law4 ,if that 
person has been convicted of such an    
offense1 the ,secretary may certify the 
person as a fiduciary only if the       
,secretary finds that the person is an  
appropriate person to act as fiduciary  
for the beneficiary concerned under the 
circumstances4  7#c7 ,the ,secretary    
shall conduct the background check      
described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7--  7,a7
 each time a person is proposed to be a 
fiduciary1 regardless of whether the    
person is serving or has served as a    
fiduciary2 and  7,b7 at no expense to   
the beneficiary4  7#d7 ,each proposed   
fiduciary shall disclose to the         
,secretary the number of beneficiaries  
that the fiduciary acts on behalf of4   
7#e7 ,the ,secretary shall maintain     
records of any person who has--  7,a7   
previously served as a fiduciary2 and   

7,b7 had such fiduciary status revoked  
by the ,secretary4  7#f7  7,a7 ,if a    
fiduciary appointed by the ,secretary is
 convicted of a crime described in      
subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall 
notify the beneficiary of such          
conviction by not later than #ad days   
after the date on which the ,secretary  
learns of such conviction4  7,b7 ,a     
crime described in this subparagraph is 
a crime--  7i7 for which the fiduciary  
is convicted while serving as a         
fiduciary for any person2  7ii7 that is 
not included in a report submitted by   
the fiduciary under section #eeji7;a7 of
 this title2 and  7iii7 that the        
,secretary determines could affect the  
ability of the fiduciary to act on      
behalf of the beneficiary4  7c7         
,investigation of certain persons  7#a7 
,in the case of a proposed fiduciary    
described in paragraph 7#b71 the        
,secretary1 in conducting an inquiry or 
investigation under subsection 7a77#a71 
may carry out such inquiry or           

investigation on an expedited basis that
 may include giving priority to         
conducting such inquiry or              
investigation4 ,any such inquiry or     
investigation carried out on such an    
expedited basis shall be carried out    
under regulations prescribed for        
purposes of this section4  7#b7         
,paragraph 7#a7 applies with respect to 
a proposed fiduciary who is-- 7,a7 the  
parent 7natural1 adopted1 or stepparent7
 of a beneficiary who is a minor2  7,b7 
the spouse or parent of an incompetent  
beneficiary2  7,c7 a person who has been
 appointed a fiduciary of the           
beneficiary by a court of competent     
jurisdiction2  7,d7 being appointed to  
manage an estate where the annual amount
 of veterans benefits to be managed by  
the proposed fiduciary does not exceed  
#c1fjj1 as adjusted pursuant to section 
#ecab of this title2 or  7,e7 a person  
who is authorized to act on behalf of   
the beneficiary under a durable power of
 attorney4  7d7 ,protection of private  

information  7#a7 ,a fiduciary shall    
take all reasonable precautions to--    
7,a7 protect the private information of 
a beneficiary1 including personally     
identifiable information2 and  7,b7     
securely conducts financial             
transactions4  7#b7 ,a fiduciary shall  
notify the ,secretary of any action of  
the fiduciary that compromises or       
potentially compromises the private     
information of a beneficiary4  7e7      
,potential misuse of funds  7#a7 ,if the
 ,secretary has reason to believe that a
 fiduciary may be misusing all or part  
of the benefit of a beneficiary1 the    
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 conduct a       
thorough investigation to determine the 
veracity of such belief2 and  7,b7 if   
such veracity is established1 transmit  
to the officials described in paragraph 
7#b7 a report of such investigation4    
7#b7 ,the officials described in this   
paragraph are the following3  7,a7 ,the 
,attorney ,general4  7,b7 ,each head of 
a ,federal department or agency that    

pays to a fiduciary or other person     
benefits under any law administered by  
such department of agency for the use   
and benefit of a minor1 incompetent1 or 
other beneficiary4  7f7 ,bond ,in       
determining whether a proposed fiduciary
 is required to furnish a bond under    
subsection 7a77#d71 the ,secretary shall
 consider-- 7#a7 the existence of any   
familial or other personal relationship 
between the proposed fiduciary and the  
beneficiary2 and  7#b7 the care the     
proposed fiduciary has taken to protect 
the interests of the beneficiary4  7g7  
,list of fiduciaries ,each regional     
office of the ,veterans ,benefits       
,administration shall maintain a list of
 the following3  7#a7 ,the name and     
contact information of each fiduciary1  
including address1 telephone number1 and
 email address4  7#b7 ,with respect to  
each fiduciary described in paragraph   
7#a7--  7,a7 the date of the most recent
 background check and credit check      
performed by the ,secretary under this  

section2  7,b7 the date that any bond   
was paid under this section2  7,c7 the  
name1 address1 and telephone number of  
each beneficiary the fiduciary acts on  
behalf of2 and  7,d7 the amount that the
 fiduciary controls with respect to each
 beneficiary described in subparagraph  
7,c74  4  7e7 ,annual receipt of        
payments  7#a7 ,in general ,section     
#eeji of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection  
7a7--  7i7 by striking may require a    
fiduciary to file a and inserting shall 
require a fiduciary to file an annual2  
and  7ii7 by adding at the end the      
following new sentence3 ,the ,secretary 
shall transmit such annual report or    
accounting to the beneficiary and any   
legal guardian of such beneficiary42    
7,b7 by adding at the end the following 
new subsections3  7c7 ,matters included 
,except as provided by subsection 7f71  
an annual report or accounting under    
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following3  7#a7 ,for each beneficiary  

that a fiduciary acts on behalf of--    
7,a7 the amount of the benefits of the  
beneficiary provided under any law      
administered by the ,secretary accrued  
during the year1 the amount spent1 and  
the amount remaining2 and  7,b7 if the  
fiduciary serves the beneficiary with   
respect to benefits not administered by 
the ,secretary1 an accounting of all    
sources of benefits or other income the 
fiduciary oversees for the beneficiary4 
7#b7 ,a list of events that occurred    
during the year covered by the report   
that could affect the ability of the    
fiduciary to act on behalf of the       
beneficiary1 including--  7,a7 the      
fiduciary being convicted of any crime2 
7,b7 the fiduciary declaring bankruptcy2
 and  7,c7 any judgments entered against
 the fiduciary4  7d7 ,random audits ,the
 ,secretary shall annually conduct      
random audits of fiduciaries who receive
 a commission pursuant to subsection    
#eejb;,a7a77#a7 of this title4  7e7     
,status of fiduciary ,if a fiduciary    

includes in the annual report events    
described in subsection 7c77#b71 the    
,secretary may take appropriate action  
to adjust the status of the fiduciary as
 the ,secretary determines appropriate1 
including by revoking the fiduciary     
status of the fiduciary4  7f7           
,caregivers and certain other           
fiduciaries  7#a7 7,a7 ,in carrying out 
this section1 the ,secretary shall      
ensure that a caregiver fiduciary is    
required only to file an annual report  
or accounting under subsection 7a7 with 
respect to the amount of the benefits of
 the beneficiary provided under any law 
administered by the ,secretary--  7i7   
spent on-- 7,i7 food and housing for the
 beneficiary2 and  7,,ii7 clothing1     
health-related expenses1 recreation1 and
 other personal items for the           
beneficiary2 and  7ii7 saved for the    
beneficiary4  7,b7 ,the ,secretary shall
 coordinate with the ,under ,secretary  
for ,benefits and the ,under ,secretary 
for ,health to-- 7i7 minimize the       

frequency with which employees of the   
,department visit the home of a         
caregiver fiduciary and beneficiary2 and
  7ii7 limit the extent of supervision  
by such ,under ,secretaries with respect
 to such a fiduciary and beneficiary4   
7,c7 ,in this paragraph1 the term       
caregiver fiduciary means a fiduciary   
who--  7i7 in addition to acting as a   
fiduciary for a beneficiary1 is approved
 by the ,secretary to be a provider of  
personal care services for the          
beneficiary under paragraph 7#c77;,a77i7
 of section #agbj;,g7a7 of this title2  
7ii7 in carrying out such care services 
to such beneficiary1 has undergone not  
less than four home visits under        
paragraph 7#i77;,a7 of such section2 and
  7iii7 has not been required by the    
,secretary to take corrective action    
pursuant to paragraph 7#i77;,c7 of such 
section4  7#b7 ,in carrying out this    
section1 the ,secretary may adjust the  
matters required under an annual report 
or accounting under subsection 7a7 with 

respect to a fiduciary whom the         
,secretary determines to have           
effectively protected the interests of  
the beneficiary over a sustained period4
  2 and  7,c7 by striking the section   
heading and inserting the following3    
,annual reports and accountings of      
fiduciaries4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment  
,the table of sections at the beginning 
of chapter #ee of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended by striking   
the item relating to section #eeji and  
inserting the following new item3       
#eeji4 ,annual reports and accountings  
of fiduciaries4  4  7f7 ,repayment of   
misused benefits ,section               
#fajg7;a77#b77;,c7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting 
before the period the following3 1      
including by the ,secretary not acting  
in accordance with section #eejg of this
 title4  7g7 ,annual reports ,section   
#eeaj of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended by striking ,the      
,secretary shall include in the ,annual 

,benefits ,report of the ,veterans      
,benefits ,administration or the        
,secretary's ,annual ,performance and   
,accountability ,report and inserting   
,not later than ,july #a of each year1  
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a separate report containing4   
7h7 ,report ,not later than two years   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to the ,committee 
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate   
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives a comprehensive report 
on the implementation of the amendments 
made by this ,act1 including-- 7#a7     
detailed information on the             
establishment of new policies and       
procedures pursuant to such amendments  
and training provided on such policies  
and procedures2 and  7#b7 a discussion  
of whether the ,secretary should provide

 fiduciaries with standardized financial
 software to simplify reporting         
requirements4  7i7 ,effective date ,the 
amendments made by this section shall   
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  #aj4 ,board of ,veterans'       
,appeals video hearings ,section #gajg  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d71 by    
amending paragraph 7#a7 to read as      
follows3  7#a7  7,a7 ,upon request for a
 hearing1 the ,board shall determine1   
for purposes of scheduling the hearing  
for the earliest possible date1 whether 
a hearing before the ,board will be held
 at its principal location or at a      
facility of the ,department or other    
appropriate ,federal facility located   
within the area served by a regional    
office of the ,department4 ,the ,board  
shall also determine whether to provide 
a hearing through the use of the        
facilities and equipment described in   
subsection 7e77#a7 or by the appellant  

personally appearing before a ,board    
member or panel4  7,b7 ,the ,board shall
 notify the appellant of the            
determinations of the location and type 
of hearing made under subparagraph 7,a74
 ,upon notification1 the appellant may  
request a different location or type of 
hearing as described in such            
subparagraph4 ,if so requested1 the     
,board shall grant such request and     
ensure that the hearing is scheduled at 
the earliest possible date without any  
undue delay or other prejudice to the   
appellant4  2 and  7#b7 in subsection   
7e71 by amending paragraph 7#b7 to read 
as follows3  7#b7 ,any hearing provided 
through the use of the facilities and   
equipment described in paragraph 7#a7   
shall be conducted in the same manner   
as1 and shall be considered the         
equivalent of1 a personal hearing4  4   
#aa4 ,improvements to authority for     
performance of medical disabilities     
examinations by contract physicians  7a7
 ,extension of temporary authority      

,subsection 7c7 of section #gjd of the  
,veterans ,benefits ,act of #bjjc 7#ch  
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7 is amended by     
striking ,december #ca1 #bjae and       
inserting ,december #ca1 #bjag4  7b7    
,licensure of contract physicians  7#a7 
,temporary authority ,such section #gjd 
is further amended--  7,a7 by           
redesignating subsection 7d7 as         
subsection 7e72 and  7,b7 by inserting  
after subsection 7c7 the following new  
subsection 7d73  7d7 ,licensure of      
contract physicians  7#a7 ,in general   
,notwithstanding any law regarding the  
licensure of physicians1 a physician    
described in paragraph 7#b7 may conduct 
an examination pursuant to a contract   
entered into under subsection 7b7 at any
 location in any ,state1 the ,district  
of ,columbia1 or a ,commonwealth1       
territory1 or possession of the ,united 
,states1 so long as the examination is  
within the scope of the authorized      
duties under such contract4  7#b7       
,physician described ,a physician       

described in this paragraph is a        
physician who--  7,a7 has a current     
unrestricted license to practice the    
health care profession of the physician2
  7,b7 is not barred from practicing    
such health care profession in any      
,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 or a
 ,commonwealth1 territory1 or possession
 of the ,united ,states2 and  7,c7 is   
performing authorized duties for the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
pursuant to a contract entered into     
under subsection 7b74  4  7#b7 ,pilot   
program ,section #ejd of the ,veterans' 
,benefits ,improvement ,act of #aiif    
7#ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7 is amended-- 
7,a7 by redesignating subsections 7c7   
and 7d7 as subsections 7d7 and 7e71     
respectively2 and  7,b7 by inserting    
after subsection 7b7 the following new  
subsection 7c73  7c7 ,licensure of      
contract physicians  7#a7 ,in general   
,notwithstanding any law regarding the  
licensure of physicians1 a physician    
described in paragraph 7#b7 may conduct 

an examination pursuant to a contract   
entered into under subsection 7a7 at any
 location in any ,state1 the ,district  
of ,columbia1 or a ,commonwealth1       
territory1 or possession of the ,united 
,states1 so long as the examination is  
within the scope of the authorized      
duties under such contract4  7#b7       
,physician described ,a physician       
described in this paragraph is a        
physician who--  7,a7 has a current     
unrestricted license to practice the    
health care profession of the physician2
  7,b7 is not barred from practicing    
such health care profession in any      
,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 or a
 ,commonwealth1 territory1 or possession
 of the ,united ,states2 and  7,c7 is   
performing authorized duties for the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
pursuant to a contract entered into     
under subsection 7a74  4  #ab4 ,pilot   
program on fully developed appeals  7a7 
,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall carry out a pilot       

program to provide the option of an     
alternative appeals process that shall  
more quickly determine such appeals in  
accordance with this section4  7b7      
,election  7#a7 ,filing ,in accordance  
with paragraph 7#b71 a claimant may     
elect to file a fully developed appeal  
under the pilot program under subsection
 7a7 by filing with the ,secretary the  
following3 7,a7 ,the notice of          
disagreement under chapter #ga of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 along with  
the written election of the claimant to 
have the appeal determined under the    
pilot program4  7,b7 ,all evidence that 
the claimant believes is needed for the 
appeal as of the date of the filing4    
7,c7 ,a statement of the argument in    
support of the claim1 if any4  7#b7     
,timing ,a claimant shall make an       
election under paragraph 7#a7 as part of
 the notice of disagreement filed by the
 claimant in accordance with paragraph  
7#a77;,a74  7#c7 ,reversion  7,a7 ,at   
any time1 a claimant who makes an       

election under paragraph 7#a7 may elect 
to revert to the standard appeals       
process4 ,such a reversion shall be     
final4  7,b7 ,a claimant described in   
subparagraph 7,a71 or a claimant who    
makes an election under paragraph 7#a7  
but is later determined to be ineligible
 for the pilot program under subsection 
7a71 shall revert to the standard       
appeals process without any penalty to  
the claimant other than the loss of the 
docket number associated with the fully 
developed appeal4  7#d7 ,outreach ,in   
providing claimants with notices of the 
determination of a claim during the     
period in which the pilot program under 
subsection 7a7 is carried out1 the      
,secretary shall conduct outreach as    
follows3  7,a7 ,the ,secretary shall    
provide to the claimant 7and to the     
representative of record of the         
claimant1 if any7 information           
regarding-- 7i7 the pilot program1      
including the advantages and            
disadvantages of the program2  7ii7 how 

to make an election under paragraph     
7#a72  7iii7 the limitation on the use  
of new evidence described in paragraph  
7#c7 of subsection 7c7 and the          
development of information under        
paragraph 7#d7 of such subsection2 and  
7iv7 the ability of the claimant to seek
 advice and education regarding such    
process from veterans service           
organizations1 attorneys1 and claims    
agents recognized under chapter #ei of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7,b7 
,the ,secretary shall collaborate1      
partner with1 and give weight to the    
advice of the three veterans service    
organizations with the most members to  
publish on the ,internet website of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs an    
online tutorial explaining the          
advantages and disadvantages of the     
pilot program4  7c7 ,treatment by       
,department and ,board  7#a7 ,process   
,upon the election of a claimant to file
 a fully developed appeal pursuant to   
subsection 7b77#a71 the ,secretary      

shall-- 7,a7 not provide the claimant   
with a statement of the case nor require
 the claimant to file a substantive     
appeal2 and  7,b7 transfer jurisdiction 
over the fully developed appeal directly
 to the ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals4  
7#b7 ,docket  7,a7 ,the ,board of       
,veterans' ,appeals shall--  7i7        
maintain fully developed appeals on a   
separate docket than standard appeals2  
7ii7 decide fully developed appeals in  
the order that the fully developed      
appeals are received on the fully       
developed appeal docket2  7iii7 except  
as provided by subparagraph 7,b71 decide
 not more than one fully developed      
appeal for each four standard appeals   
decided2 and  7iv7 to the extent        
practicable1 decide each fully developed
 appeal by the date that is one year    
following the date on which the claimant
 files the notice of disagreement4  7,b7
 ,beginning one year after the date on  
which the pilot program under subsection
 7a7 commences1 the ,board may adjust   

the number of standard appeals decided  
for each fully developed appeal under   
subparagraph 7,a77iii7 if the ,board    
determines that such adjustment is fair 
for both standard appeals and fully     
developed appeals4  7#c7 ,limitation on 
use of new evidence  7,a7 ,except as    
provided by subparagraphs 7,b7 and      
7,c7--  7i7 a claimant may not submit or
 identify to the ,board of ,veterans'   
,appeals any new evidence relating to a 
fully developed appeal after filing such
 appeal unless the claimant reverts to  
the standard appeals process pursuant to
 subsection 7b77#c72 and  7ii7 if a     
claimant submits or identifies any such 
new evidence1 such submission or        
identification shall be deemed to be an 
election to make such a reversion       
pursuant to subsection 7b77#c74  7,b7   
,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not apply to   
evidence developed pursuant to          
paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e74 ,the ,board   
shall consider such evidence in the     
first instance without consideration by 

the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration4
  7,c7 ,the representative of record of 
a claimant for appeals purposes1 if any1
 shall be provided an opportunity to    
review the fully developed appeal of the
 claimant and submit any additional     
arguments or evidence that the          
representative determines necessary     
during a period specified by the ,board 
for purposes of this subparagraph4  7#d7
 ,prohibition on remand for additional  
development ,if the ,board of ,veterans'
 ,appeals determines that a fully       
developed appeal requires ,federal      
records1 independent medical opinions1  
or new medical examinations1 the ,board 
shall-- 7,a7 in accordance with         
paragraph 7#e71 take such actions as may
 be necessary to develop such records1  
opinions1 or examinations in accordance 
with section #eajc;,a of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code2  7,b7 retain     
jurisdiction of the fully developed     
appeal without requiring a determination
 by the ,veterans ,benefits             

,administration based on such records1  
opinions1 or examinations2  7,c7 ensure 
the claimant1 and the representative of 
record of a claimant1 if any1 receives a
 copy of such records1 opinions1 or     
examinations2 and  7,d7 provide the     
claimant a period of #ij days after the 
date of mailing such records1 opinions1 
or examinations during which the        
claimant may provide the ,board any     
additional evidence without requiring   
the claimant to make a reversion        
pursuant to subsection 7b77#c74  7#e7   
,development unit  7,a7 ,the ,board of  
,veterans' ,appeals shall establish an  
office to develop ,federal records1     
independent medical opinions1 and new   
medical examinations pursuant to        
paragraph 7#d77;,a7 that the ,board     
determines necessary to decide a fully  
developed appeal4  7,b7 ,the ,secretary 
shall-- 7i7 ensure that the ,veterans   
,benefits ,administration cooperates    
with the ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals  
in carrying out subparagraph 7,a72 and  

7ii7 transfer employees of the ,veterans
 ,benefits ,administration who1 prior to
 the enactment of this ,act1 were       
responsible for processing claims       
remanded by the ,board of ,veterans'    
,appeals to positions within the office 
of the ,board established under         
subparagraph 7,a7 in a number the       
,secretary determines sufficient to     
carry out such subparagraph4  7#f7      
,hearings ,notwithstanding section #gajg
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1   
the ,secretary may not provide hearings 
with respect to fully developed appeals4
 ,if a claimant requests to hold a      
hearing pursuant to such section #gajg1 
such request shall be deemed to be an   
election to revert to the standard      
appeals process pursuant to subsection  
7b77#c74  7d7 ,duration2 application    
,the ,secretary shall carry out the     
pilot program under subsection 7a7 for a
 five-year period beginning one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4 ,this section shall apply only to 

fully developed appeals that are filed  
during such period4  7e7 ,reports       
,during each year in which the pilot    
program under subsection 7a7 is carried 
out1 the ,secretary shall submit to the 
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate a report on the pilot program4  
,the first such report shall be         
submitted by not later than #ahj days   
after the date on which the pilot       
program commences4 ,each report shall   
include the following3  7#a7 ,for the   
period covered by the report-- 7,a7 the 
number of claimants who filed a fully   
developed appeal under the pilot        
program2  7,b7 the average processing   
time for each such appeal1 measured by  
each phase of the appeal1 and1 if the   
processing time for appeals exceed one  
year1 the reasons for such processing   
time2  7,c7 a summary of reasons for    
which the development of evidence was   
required under subsection 7c77#e72  7,d7
 the number of issues decided1 listed by

 the disposition of the issue2  7,e7 of 
the number identified in subparagraph   
7,d71 the number of issues for which    
evidence was not so developed1 listed by
 the disposition of the issue2  7,f7 of 
the number of fully developed appeals   
decided by the ,board of ,veterans'     
,appeals1 the number of cases from each 
agency of original jurisdiction1 listed 
by the disposition of the issue2  7,g7  
the number of fully developed appeals   
appealed to the ,court of ,appeals for  
,veterans ,claims1 listed by the        
disposition of the case2  7,h7 the      
number of reversions made under         
subsection 7b77#c72 and  7,i7 any       
reasons for why a claimant was          
determined to be ineligible to          
participate in the pilot program4  7#b7 
,a review1 made in conjunction with     
veterans service organizations1 of the  
efforts of the ,secretary to provide    
clear rating decisions and improve      
disability rating notification letters1 
including with respect to-- 7,a7 the    

opinions of veterans service            
organizations regarding such efforts2   
and  7,b7 how the pilot program improves
 such efforts4  7#c7 ,a recommendation  
for any changes to improve the pilot    
program4  7#d7 ,an assessment of the    
feasibility and advisability of         
expanding the pilot program4  7f7       
,regulations ,not later than one day    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary shall publish      
interim guidance on the pilot program   
under subsection 7a74 ,not later than   
#ij days after such date of enactment1  
the ,secretary shall prescribe          
regulations to carry out such pilot     
program4  7g7 ,definitions ,in this     
section3 7#a7 ,the term claimant has the
 meaning given that term in section     
#eajj of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code4  7#b7 ,the term compensation has 
the meaning given that term in section  
#aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states      
,code4  7#c7 ,the term fully developed  
appeal means an appeal of a claim for   

disability compensation that is--  7,a7 
filed by a claimant in accordance with  
subsection 7b77#a72 and  7,b7 considered
 in accordance with this section4  7#d7 
,the term standard appeal means an      
appeal of a claim for disability        
compensation that is not a fully        
developed appeal4  #ac4 ,deadline for   
certification of appeals forms by       
regional offices of the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs ,the ,secretary of   
,veterans ,affairs shall take such steps
 as may be necessary to ensure that when
 a regional office of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs receives a form     
known as ,,va ,form #i1 ,appeal to      
,board of ,veterans' ,appeals1 or any   
successor form1 submitted by a veteran  
to appeal a decision relating to a      
claim1 the regional office certifies    
such form by not later than one year    
after the date of the receipt of the    
form4  #ad4 ,evaluation of backlog of   
disability claims and appeals of claims 
of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs    

7a7 ,in general ,there is established a 
commission or task force to evaluate the
 backlog of claims within the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
the appeals process of claims4  7b7     
,studies  7#a7 ,backlog study  7,a7 ,in 
general ,the ,commission or ,task       
,force1 acting through the subcommittee 
described in subsection 7d77#b77;,a71   
shall carry out a study on the backlog  
of claims1 including the current process
 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
uses to evaluate claims and appeals and 
the laws and regulations applicable to  
such claims and appeals4 ,such study    
shall be a comprehensive evaluation and 
assessment of the backlog of claims1 an 
analysis of possible improvements to the
 procedures used to process such claims1
 and any related issues that the        
,commission or ,task ,force considers   
relevant4  7,b7 ,matters included ,in   
carrying out the study under            
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission or   
,task ,force shall examine the          

following3 7i7 ,the backlog of claims1  
including an analysis of--  7,i7 the    
most effective means to quickly and     
accurately resolve all claims pending as
 of the date of the study2 and  7,,ii7  
with respect to the ,department1 the    
annual funding1 number of full-time     
employees1 workload management          
practices1 and the progress1 as of the  
date of the study1 of the strategic     
plan4  7ii7 ,possible improvements to   
the claims process1 including an        
evaluation and recommendations with     
respect to whether substantive and      
structural changes to the overall claims
 process are required4  7iii7 ,in       
carrying out the evaluation and         
recommendations under subparagraph 7,b71
 an examination of--  7,i7 options that 
make no major substantive changes to the
 claims process2  7,,ii7 options that   
maintain the process but make minor     
changes2 and  7,,iii7 options that make 
broad changes to the process4  7#b7     
,appeals process study  7,a7 ,in general

 ,the ,commission or ,task ,force1      
acting through the subcommittee         
described in subsection 7d77#b77;,b71   
shall carry out a study on the          
anticipated increase of appeals of      
claims1 including the current appeals   
process and the laws and regulations    
applicable to such appeals4 ,such study 
shall be a comprehensive evaluation and 
assessment of such anticipated increase 
of appeals claims1 an analysis of       
possible improvements to the procedures 
used to process such appeals1 and any   
related issues that the ,commission or  
,task ,force considers relevant4  7,b7  
,matters included ,in carrying out the  
study under subparagraph 7,a71 the      
,commission or ,task ,force shall       
examine the following3 7i7 ,the         
anticipated surge in appeals of claims1 
including an analysis of--  7,i7 the    
most effective means to quickly and     
accurately resolve pending appeals and  
future appeals2  7,,ii7 with respect to 
both the ,board and the ,court of       

,appeals for ,veterans ,claims1 the     
annual funding1 number of full-time     
employees1 workload management          
practices1 and the progress1 as of the  
date of the study1 of the strategic     
plan2 and  7,,iii7 the efficiency1      
effectiveness1 and utility of the       
,veterans ,benefits ,management ,system 
with respect to appeals operations1     
including an identification of key      
changes that may need to be implemented 
to such system4  7ii7 ,possible         
improvements to the appeals process1    
including an evaluation and             
recommendations with respect to whether 
substantive and structural changes to   
the overall appeals process are         
required4  7iii7 ,in carrying out the   
evaluation and recommendations under    
clause 7ii71 an examination of-- 7,i7   
options that make no major substantive  
changes to the appeals process2  7,,ii7 
options that maintain the process but   
make minor changes2  7,,iii7 options    
that make broad changes to the process2 

7,,iv7 the necessity of the multi-tiered
 levels of appeals at the regional      
office level1 including filing a notice 
of disagreement1 receipt of a statement 
of the case1 supplemental statement of  
the case 7if applicable71 and           
substantive appeal 7,,va ,form #i72     
7,v7 the role of the ,board and the     
,appeals ,management ,center1           
including--  7aa7 the effectiveness of  
the workload management of the ,board   
and the ,center2  7bb7 whether the      
,board and ,center should be            
regionalized or maintain the centralized
 structure in the ,district of          
,columbia2  7cc7 whether ,board members 
should be required to pass the          
administrative law judges certification 
examination2 and  7dd7 whether the      
,board should continue to require de    
novo review of appeals2 and  7,,vi7 the 
role of the ,court of ,appeals for      
,veterans ,claims and the ,united       
,states ,court of ,appeals for the      
,federal ,circuit1 including-- 7aa7 the 

continued effectiveness and necessity of
 a multi-tiered structure of judicial   
review2  7bb7 whether the ,court of     
,appeals for ,veterans ,claims should   
have ,article ,i or ,article ,,iii      
status2  7cc7 expansion of either the   
,court of ,appeals for ,veterans ,claims
 or the ,united ,states ,court of       
,appeals for the ,federal ,circuit      
jurisdiction1 including by allowing such
 courts to hear class action lawsuits   
with respect to claims2 and  7dd7 the   
possibility of expanding judicial review
 of claims to all ,federal circuit      
courts of appeals or allowing judicial  
review beyond the ,court of ,appeals for
 ,veterans ,claims only by the ,supreme 
,court4  7#c7 ,consideration ,in        
carrying out the studies under paragraph
 7#a77;,a7 and 7#b77;,a7 and making any 
recommendations under this section1 the 
,commission or ,task ,force shall       
consider the following3  7,a7 ,the      
interests of veterans1 including with   
respect to accuracy1 fairness1 and      

transparency in the claims process of   
the ,department4  7,b7 ,the values and  
requirements of the ,constitution1      
including with respect to compliance    
with procedural and substantive due     
process4  7,c7 ,the public interest1    
including with respect to the           
responsible use of available resources4 
7,d7 ,with respect to the study         
conducted under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 the
 importance of the claimant friendly1   
nonadversarial nature of the claims     
process4  7,e7 ,with respect to the     
study conducted under paragraph         
7#b77;,a71 the importance of an appeals 
process that is efficient and easily    
understandable by a claimant4  7#d7     
,role of ,secretary1 ,chairman of the   
,board1 and ,chief ,judge  7,a7         
,information ,in carrying out each study
 under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 and          
7#b77;,a71 at times that the ,commission
 or ,task ,force determines appropriate1
 the ,commission or ,task ,force shall  
submit to the ,secretary of ,veterans   

,affairs1 the ,chairman of the ,board1  
and the ,chief ,judge of the ,court of  
,appeals for ,veterans ,claims1 as the  
case may be1 information with respect to
 remedies and solutions that the        
,commission or ,task ,force identifies  
pursuant to such a study4  7,b7         
,implementation ,the ,secretary1 the    
,chairman of the ,board1 and the ,chief 
,judge shall each-- 7i7 fully consider  
the remedies and solutions submitted to 
the ,secretary1 the ,chairman1 or the   
,chief ,judge1 as the case may be1 under
 subparagraph 7,a72  7ii7 implement such
 remedies and solutions as the          
,secretary1 the ,chairman1 or the ,chief
 ,judge1 respectively1 determines       
appropriate2 and  7iii7 submit to       
,congress justification for failing to  
implement any such remedy or solution4  
7,c7 ,plan ,the ,commission or ,task    
,force shall submit to the ,secretary1  
the ,chairman of the ,board1 and the    
,chief ,judge a feasible1 timely1 and   
cost-effective plan to eliminate the    

backlog of appeals of claims based on   
the remedies and solutions identified   
pursuant to the study under paragraph   
7#b77;,a7 and the information submitted 
under subparagraph 7,a74  7c7           
,comprehensive reports  7#a7 ,initial   
comprehensive report ,not later than #fj
 days after the date on which the       
,commission or ,task ,force first meets1
 the ,commission or ,task ,force shall  
submit to the ,president and ,congress  
an initial comprehensive report on the  
studies conducted under paragraphs      
7#a77;,a7 and 7#b77;,a7 of subsection   
7b71 including--  7,a7 the findings of  
the causes of the backlog of claims2    
7,b7 a proposed plan to handle the      
anticipated surge in appeals of claims2 
and  7,c7 the level of cooperation the  
,commission or ,task ,force has received
 from the ,secretary and the heads of   
other departments or agencies of the    
,federal ,government4  7#b7 ,interim    
comprehensive reports ,not later than   
#ij days after the date on which the    

,commission or ,task ,force first meets1
 and each #cj-;day period thereafter    
ending on the date on which the         
,commission or ,task ,force submits the 
final comprehensive report under        
paragraph 7#c71 the ,commission or ,task
 ,force shall submit to the ,president  
and ,congress a comprehensive report    
on--  7,a7 the progress of the          
,secretary with respect to implementing 
solutions to expedite the elimination of
 the backlog of claims pursuant to      
subsection 7b77#d77;,b77ii72  7,b7 the  
progress of the ,secretary1 the         
,chairman of the ,board1 and the ,chief 
,judge of the ,court of ,appeals for    
,veterans ,claims with respect to       
implementing solutions to complete      
appeals of claims in a timely manner in 
a timely manner pursuant to such        
subsection2 and  7,c7 the level of      
cooperation the ,commission or ,task    
,force has received from the ,secretary 
and the heads of other departments or   
agencies of the ,federal ,government4   

7#c7 ,final comprehensive report ,not   
later than #ahj days after the date on  
which the ,commission or ,task ,force   
first meets1 the ,commission or ,task   
,force shall submit to the ,president   
and ,congress a comprehensive report on 
the following3  7,a7 ,with respect to   
the study conducted under subsection    
7b77#a77;,a7-- 7i7 ,the findings1       
conclusions1 and recommendations of the 
,commission or ,task ,force with respect
 to the matters referred to in such     
subsection4  7ii7 ,the recommendations  
of the ,commission or ,task ,force for  
revising and improving the backlog of   
claims and the procedures used to       
process claims4  7iii7 ,the progress of 
the ,secretary with respect to          
implementing solutions to expedite the  
elimination of the backlog of claims    
pursuant to subsection 7b77#d77;,b77ii74
  7iv7 ,other information and           
recommendations with respect to claims  
as the ,commission or ,task ,force      
considers appropriate4  7,b7 ,with      

respect to the study conducted under    
subsection 7b77#b77;,a7--  7i7 ,the     
findings1 conclusions1 and              
recommendations of the ,commission or   
,task ,force with respect to the matters
 referred to in such subsection4  7ii7  
,the recommendations of the ,commission 
or ,task ,force for revising and        
improving the appeals process2  7iii7   
,the information described in subsection
 7b77#d77;,a74  7iv7 ,the feasible1     
timely1 and cost effective plan         
described in subsection 7b77#d77;,c74   
7v7 ,the progress of the ,secretary1 the
 ,chairman of the ,board1 and the ,chief
 ,judge of the ,court of ,appeals for   
,veterans ,claims with respect to       
implementing solutions to provide timely
 appeals of claims4  7vi7 ,other        
information and recommendations with    
respect to the appeals process as the   
,commission or ,task ,force considers   
appropriate4  7d7 ,membership  7#a7     
,number and appointment ,the ,commission
 or ,task ,force shall be composed of   

#ae members1 appointed as follows3 7,a7 
,two members appointed by the ,speaker  
of the ,house of ,representatives1 one  
of whom shall be designated to serve    
upon the ,subcommittee on the ,backlog  
of ,claims and one of whom shall be     
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on ,appeals4  7,b7 ,two   
members appointed by the minority leader
 of the ,house of ,representatives1 one 
of whom shall be designated to serve    
upon the ,subcommittee on the ,backlog  
of ,claims and one of whom shall be     
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on ,appeals4  7,c7 ,two   
members appointed by the majority leader
 of the ,senate1 one of whom shall be   
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on the ,backlog of ,claims
 and one of whom shall be designated to 
serve upon the ,subcommittee on         
,appeals4  7,d7 ,two members appointed  
by the minority leader of the ,senate1  
one of whom shall be designated to serve
 upon the ,subcommittee on the ,backlog 

of ,claims and one of whom shall be     
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on ,appeals4  7,e7 ,three 
members appointed by the ,president1 two
 of whom shall be designated to serve   
upon the ,subcommittee on the ,backlog  
of ,claims and one of whom shall be     
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on ,appeals4  7,f7 ,one   
member appointed by the ,secretary of   
,defense1 whom shall be designated to   
serve upon the ,subcommittee on the     
,backlog of ,claims4  7,g7 ,two members 
appointed by the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs1 one of whom shall be         
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on the ,backlog of ,claims
 and one of whom shall be designated to 
serve upon the ,subcommittee on         
,appeals4  7,h7 ,one member appointed by
 the ,chief ,judge of the ,court of     
,appeals for ,veterans ,claims1 whom    
shall be designated to serve upon the   
,subcommittee on ,appeals4  7#b7        
,subcommittees ,the ,commission or ,task

 ,force shall have two subcommittees as 
follows3  7,a7 ,a ,subcommittee on the  
,backlog of ,claims consisting of the   
eight members designated in accordance  
with paragraph 7#a74  7,b7 ,a           
,subcommittee on ,appeals consisting of 
the seven members designated in         
accordance with paragraph 7#a74  7#c7   
,qualifications ,each member appointed  
under paragraph 7#a7 shall be appointed 
based on the experience of the member as
 a veteran or on the subject matter     
expertise or other relevant experience  
of the member4  7#d7 ,advisors  7,a7 ,in
 general ,in addition to the #ae members
 appointed under paragraph 7#a71 the    
,commission or ,task ,force shall--  7i7
 have five nonvoting1 nonmember         
advisors1 appointed by a majority of the
 ,commission or ,task ,force1 each from 
a different organization that represents
 the interests of veterans2 and  7ii7   
seek advice from experts from           
nongovernmental organizations 7including
 veterans service organizations and     

military organizations71 the ,internet  
technology industry1 and the insurance  
industry4  7,b7 ,advice ,individuals    
described in clause 7i7 and 7ii7 of     
subparagraph 7,a7 shall provide advice  
to both subcommittees described in      
paragraph 7#b74  7#e7 ,chairman ,the    
,president shall designate a member of  
the ,commission or ,task ,force who is  
appointed by the ,president and         
designated to serve upon the            
,subcommittee on the ,backlog of ,claims
 to serve as the chairman of the        
,commission or ,task ,force4 ,the       
chairman may designate a member to serve
 as the chairman of the ,subcommittee on
 the ,backlog of ,claims and a member to
 serve as the chairman of the           
,subcommittee on ,appeals to chair such 
subcommittees as the designee of the    
chairman of the ,commission or ,task    
,force4  7#f7 ,period of ,appointment   
,members of the ,commission or ,task    
,force shall be appointed for the life  
of the ,commission or ,task ,force4 ,a  

vacancy shall not affect its powers4    
7#g7 ,vacancy ,a vacancy on the         
,commission or ,task ,force shall be    
filled in the manner in which the       
original appointment was made4  7#h7    
,appointment deadline ,the appointment  
of members of the ,commission or ,task  
,force established in this section shall
 be made not later than #ae days after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
7e7 ,meetings  7#a7 ,initial meeting    
,the ,commission or ,task ,force shall  
hold its first meeting not later than   
#ae days after the date on which a      
majority of the members are appointed4  
7#b7 ,meetings ,the ,commission or ,task
 ,force shall meet at the call of the   
chairman4  7#c7 ,quorum ,a majority of  
the members of the ,commission or ,task 
,force shall constitute a quorum1 but a 
lesser number may hold hearings4  7f7   
,powers of the ,commission or ,task     
,force  7#a7 ,hearings ,the ,commission 
or ,task ,force may hold such hearings1 
sit and act at such times and places1   

take such testimony1 and receive such   
evidence as the ,commission or ,task    
,force considers advisable to carry out 
the purposes of this section4  7#b7     
,information from ,federal ,agencies    
,the ,commission or ,task ,force may    
secure directly from any department or  
agency of the ,federal ,government such 
information as the ,commission or ,task 
,force considers necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this section4 ,upon   
request of the chairman1 the head of    
such department or agency shall furnish 
such information to the ,commission or  
,task ,force4  7#c7 ,postal ,services   
,the ,commission or ,task ,force may use
 the ,united ,states mails in the same  
manner and under the same conditions as 
other departments and agencies of the   
,federal ,government4  7#d7 ,gifts ,the 
,commission or ,task ,force may accept1 
use1 and dispose of gifts or donations  
of service or property4  7g7 ,personnel 
,matters  7#a7 ,compensation of ,members
 ,each member of the ,commission or     

,task ,force who is not an officer or   
employee of the ,united ,states shall be
 compensated at a rate equal to the     
daily equivalent of the annual rate of  
basic pay prescribed for level ,,iv of  
the ,executive ,schedule under section  
#ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states      
,code1 for each day 7including travel   
time7 during which the member is engaged
 in the performance of the duties of the
 ,commission or ,task ,force4 ,all      
members of the ,commission or ,task     
,force who are officers or employees of 
the ,united ,states shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that        
received for their services as officers 
or employees of the ,united ,states4    
7#b7 ,travel ,expenses ,the members of  
the ,commission or ,task ,force shall be
 allowed travel expenses1 including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates   
authorized for employees of agencies    
under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of   
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while  
away from their homes or regular places 

of business in the performance of       
service of the ,commission or ,task     
,force4  7#c7 ,staff  7,a7 ,appointment 
,the chairman of the ,commission or     
,task ,force may1 without regard to the 
civil service laws and regulations1     
appoint an executive director and such  
other personnel as may be necessary to  
enable the ,commission or ,task ,force  
to perform its duties4 ,the appointment 
of an executive director shall be       
subject to the approval of the          
,commission or ,task ,force4  7,b7      
,compensation ,the chairman of the      
,commission or ,task ,force may fix the 
compensation of the executive director  
and other personnel without regard to   
the provisions of chapter #ea and       
subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of title
 #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to 
classification of positions and ,general
 ,schedule pay rates1 except that the   
rate of pay for the executive director  
and other personnel may not exceed the  
rate payable for level ,v of the        

,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf
 of such title4  7#d7 ,detail of        
,government ,employees ,upon request of 
the chairman of the ,commission or ,task
 ,force1 the head of any department or  
agency of the ,federal ,government may  
detail1 on a nonreimbursable basis1 any 
personnel of that department or agency  
to the ,commission or ,task ,force to   
assist it in carrying out its duties4   
7#e7 ,procurement of ,temporary and     
,intermittent ,services ,the chairman of
 the ,commission or ,task ,force may    
procure temporary and intermittent      
services under section #caji7;b7 of     
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 at     
rates for individuals which do not      
exceed the daily equivalent of the      
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule    
under section #ecaf of such title4  7h7 
,termination of ,commission or ,task    
,force ,the ,commission or ,task ,force 
shall terminate #fj days after the date 
on which the ,commission or ,task ,force

 submits the final comprehensive report 
under subsection 7c77#c74  7i7 ,funding 
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall1 
upon the request of the chairman of the 
,commission or ,task ,force1 make       
available to the ,commission or ,task   
,force such amounts as the ,commission  
or ,task ,force may require to carry out
 the duties of the ,commission or ,task 
,force under this section4  7#b7        
,availability ,any sums made available  
to the ,commission or ,task ,force shall
 remain available1 without fiscal year  
limitation1 until the termination of the
 ,commission or ,task ,force4  7j7      
,definitions ,in this section3  7#a7    
,the term appeals process means the     
process to appeal the determination by  
the ,secretary of a claim beginning with
 the notice of disagreement filed       
pursuant to section #gaje of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 and ending with  
the review of a decision by the ,supreme
 ,court pursuant to section #gbib7;c7 of
 such title4  7#b7 ,the term ,board     

means the ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals4
  7#c7 ,the term strategic plan means   
the ,strategic ,plan to ,eliminate the  
,compensation ,claims ,backlog1         
published by the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs on ,january #be1 #bjac4  7k7  
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #ae4 ,methods for validating     
certain ,world ,war ,,ii ,merchant      
,mariner service considered to be active
 service by the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,for the      
purposes of verifying that an individual
 performed service under honorable      
conditions that satisfies the           
requirements of a coastwise merchant    
seaman who is recognized pursuant to    
section #dja of the ,,gi ,bill          
,improvement ,act of #aigg 7,public ,law
 #ie-bjb2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #ajf note7 as   
having performed active duty service for
 the purposes described in subsection   
7c77#a71 the ,secretary of ,homeland    

,security shall accept the following3   
7#a7 ,in the case of an individual who  
served on a coastwise merchant vessel   
seeking such recognition for whom no    
applicable ,coast ,guard shipping or    
discharge form1 ship logbook1 merchant  
mariner's document or ,z-card1 or other 
official employment record is available1
 the ,secretary shall provide such      
recognition on the basis of applicable  
,social ,security ,administration       
records submitted for or by the         
individual1 together with validated     
testimony given by the individual or the
 primary next of kin of the individual  
that the individual performed such      
service during the period beginning on  
,december #g1 #aida1 and ending on      
,december #ca1 #aidf4  7#b7 ,in the case
 of an individual who served on a       
coastwise merchant vessel seeking such  
recognition for whom the applicable     
,coast ,guard shipping or discharge     
form1 ship logbook1 merchant mariner's  
document or ,z-card1 or other official  

employment record has been destroyed or 
otherwise become unavailable by reason  
of any action committed by a person     
responsible for the control and         
maintenance of such form1 logbook1 or   
record1 the ,secretary shall accept     
other official documentation            
demonstrating that the individual       
performed such service during period    
beginning on ,december #g1 #aida1 and   
ending on ,december #ca1 #aidf4  7#c7   
,for the purpose of determining whether 
to recognize service allegedly performed
 during the period beginning on         
,december #g1 #aida1 and ending on      
,december #ca1 #aidf1 the ,secretary    
shall recognize masters of seagoing     
vessels or other officers in command of 
similarly organized groups as agents of 
the ,united ,states who were authorized 
to document any individual for purposes 
of hiring the individual to perform     
service in the merchant marine or       
discharging an individual from such     
service4  7b7 ,treatment of other       

documentation ,other documentation      
accepted by the ,secretary of ,homeland 
,security pursuant to subsection 7a77#b7
 shall satisfy all requirements for     
eligibility of service during the period
 beginning on ,december #g1 #aida1 and  
ending on ,december #ca1 #aidf4  7c7    
,benefits allowed  7#a7 ,burial benefits
 eligibility ,service of an individual  
that is considered active duty pursuant 
to subsection 7a7 shall be considered as
 active duty service with respect to    
providing burial benefits under chapters
 #bc and #bd of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code1 to the individual4  7#b7 
,medals1 ribbons1 and decorations ,an   
individual whose service is recognized  
as active duty pursuant to subsection   
7a7 may be awarded an appropriate medal1
 ribbon1 or other military decoration   
based on such service4  7#c7 ,status of 
veteran ,an individual whose service is 
recognized as active duty pursuant to   
subsection 7a7 shall be honored as a    
veteran but shall not be entitled by    

reason of such recognized service to any
 benefit that is not described in this  
subsection4  7d7 ,determination of      
coastwise merchant seaman ,the          
,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall 
verify that an individual performed     
service under honorable conditions that 
satisfies the requirements of a         
coastwise merchant seaman pursuant to   
this section without regard to the sex1 
age1 or disability of the individual    
during the period in which the          
individual served as such a coastwise   
merchant seaman4  7e7 ,definition of    
primary next of kin ,in this section1   
the term primary next of kin with       
respect to an individual seeking        
recognition for service under this      
section means the closest living        
relative of the individual who was alive
 during the period of such service4  7f7
 ,effective date ,this section shall    
take effect #ij days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act4  #af4       
,designation of ,american ,world ,war   

,,ii ,cities  7a7 ,in general ,the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
designate at least one city in the      
,united ,states each year as an         
,american ,world ,war ,,ii ,city4  7b7  
,criteria for designation ,after the    
designation made under subsection 7c71  
the ,secretary1 in consultation with the
 ,secretary of ,defense1 shall make each
 designation under subsection 7a7 based 
on the following criteria3 7#a7         
,contributions by a city to the war     
effort during ,world ,war ,,ii1         
including those related to defense      
manufacturing1 bond drives1 service in  
the ,armed ,forces1 and the presence of 
military facilities within the city4    
7#b7 ,efforts by a city to preserve the 
history of the city's contributions     
during ,world ,war ,,ii1 including      
through the establishment of            
preservation organizations or museums1  
restoration of ,world ,war ,,ii         
facilities1 and recognition of ,world   
,war ,,ii veterans4  7c7 ,first         

,american ,world ,war ,,ii ,city ,the   
city of ,wilmington1 ,north ,carolina1  
is designated as an ,american ,world    
,war ,,ii ,city4  #ag4 ,sense of        
,congress regarding ,american veterans  
disabled for life  7a7 ,findings        
,congress makes the following findings3 
7#a7 ,there are at least #c1fjj1jjj     
veterans currently living with          
service-connected disabilities4  7#b7   
,as a result of their service1 many     
veterans are permanently disabled       
throughout their lives and in many cases
 must rely on the support of their      
families and friends when these visible 
and invisible burdens become too much to
 bear alone4  7#c7 ,october #e1 which is
 the anniversary of the dedication of   
the ,american ,veterans ,disabled for   
,life ,memorial1 has been recognized as 
an appropriate day on which to honor    
,american veterans disabled for life    
each year4  7b7 ,sense of ,congress     
,congress-- 7#a7 expresses its          
appreciation to the men and women left  

permanently wounded1 ill1 or injured as 
a result of their service in the ,armed 
,forces2  7#b7 supports the annual      
recognition of ,american veterans       
disabled for life each year2 and  7#c7  
encourages the ,american people to honor
 ,american veterans disabled for life   
each year with appropriate programs and 
activities4  ,february #a1 #bjaf        
,reported with an amendment1 committed  
to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house  
on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered
 to be printed