,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #hcc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #e 7legislative 
day1 ,april #d71 #bjag ,mr4 ,te/] 7=    
himself1 ,ms4 ,murk[ski1 ,ms4 ,h>ris1   
,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,mrs4 ,mc,caskill1 ,mrs4 
,murray1 ,mr4 ,k+1 & ,mr4 ,blum5?al7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to exp& 
heal? c>e & b5efits f ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs = milit>y sexual      
trauma1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort    
title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !        
,s]vicememb]s & ,vet]ans ,emp[]m5t &    
,support ,act ( #bjag4  #b4 ,expansion (
 cov]age by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs ( c\nsel+ & treatm5t = sexual  
trauma  7a7 ,cov]age ( cyb] h>assm5t ( a
 sexual nature ,p>agraph 7#a7 ( section 
#agbj;,d7a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ cyb] h>assm5t 
( a sexual nature1 aft] batt]y ( a      
sexual nature14  7b7 ,expansion (       

availability = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces   
,p>agraph 7#b77;,a7 ( su* section is    
am5d$--  7#a7 by /rik+ on active duty2 &
  7#b7 by ins]t+ t 0 suff]$ by ! memb]  
:ile s]v+ on active duty1 active duty = 
tra9+1 or inactive duty tra9+ be=e !    
p]iod at ! end4  #c4 ,/&>d ( pro( =     
s]vice-connection ( m5tal heal?         
conditions relat$ to milit>y sexual     
trauma  7a7 ,/&>d ( pro( ,section #aaed 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
subsection3  7c7 7#a7 ,9 ! case ( any   
vet]an :o claims t a cov]$ m5tal heal?  
condition 0 incurr$ 9 or aggravat$ by   
milit>y sexual trauma dur+ active       
milit>y1 naval1 or air s]vice1 !        
,secret>y %all accept z suffici5t pro( (
 s]vice-connection a diagnosis ( su*    
m5tal heal? condition by a m5tal heal?  
pr(essional toge!r ) satisfactory lay or
 o!r evid5ce ( su* trauma & an op9ion by
 ! m5tal heal? pr(essional t su* cov]$  
m5tal heal? condition is relat$ to su*  
milit>y sexual trauma1 if consi/5t ) !  

circum/ances1 conditions1 or h>d%ips (  
su* s]vice1 not)/&+ ! fact t !re is no  
(ficial record ( su* incurr5ce or       
aggravation 9 su* s]vice1 &1 to t end1  
%all resolve e reasonable d\bt 9 favor (
 ! vet]an4 ,s]vice-connection ( su*     
cov]$ m5tal heal? condition may be      
rebutt$ by cle> & conv9c+ evid5ce to !  
contr>y4 ,! reasons = grant+ or d5y+    
s]vice-connection 9 ea* case %all be    
record$ 9 full4  7#b7 ,9 ?is subsection3
 7,a7 ,! t]m cov]$ m5tal heal? condition
 means po/-traumatic /ress disord]1     
anxiety1 depression1 or o!r m5tal heal? 
diagnosis describ$ 9 ! curr5t v]sion ( !
 ,diagno/ic & ,/ati/ical ,manual (      
,m5tal ,disord]s publi%$ by ! ,am]ican  
,psy*iatric ,association t ! ,secret>y  
det]m9es to be relat$ to milit>y sexual 
trauma4  7,b7 ,! t]m milit>y sexual     
trauma means1 ) respect to a vet]an1 a  
physical assault ( a sexual nature1     
batt]y ( a sexual nature1 cyb] h>assm5t 
( a sexual nature1 or sexual h>assm5t   
:i* occurr$ dur+ active milit>y1 naval1 

or air s]vice4  4  7b7 ,use ( evid5ce 9 
evaluat+ disability claims involv+      
milit>y sexual trauma  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
,sub*apt] ,,vi ( *apt] #aa ( su* title  
is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new  
section3  #aafd4 ,evaluation ( claims   
involv+ milit>y sexual trauma  7a7      
,nonmilit>y s\rces ( evid5ce  7#a7 ,9   
c>ry+ out section #aaed7;c7 ( ?is title1
 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t if a claim = 
comp5sation "u ?is *apt] is receiv$ by !
 ,secret>y = po/-traumatic /ress disord]
 bas$ on a physical assault ( a sexual  
nature1 batt]y ( a sexual nature1 cyb]  
h>assm5t ( a sexual nature1 or sexual   
h>assm5t exp]i5c$ by a vet]an dur+      
active milit>y1 naval1 or air s]vice1   
evid5ce f s\rces o!r ?an (ficial records
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se reg>d+ !       
vet]an's s]vice may corroborate !       
vet]an's acc\nt ( ! assault1 batt]y1 or 
h>assm5t4  7#b7 ,examples ( evid5ce     
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 include !      
foll[+3 7,a7 ,records f law en=cem5t    
au?orities1 rape crisis c5t]s1 m5tal    

heal? c\nsel+ c5t]s1 hospitals1 &       
physicians4  7,b7 ,pregnancy te/s & te/s
 = sexually transmitt$ diseases4  7,c7  
,/atem5ts f family memb]s1 roommates1   
o!r memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces or vet]ans1 &
 cl]gy4  7b7 ,behavior *anges           
corroborat+ evid5ce  7#a7 ,9 c>ry+ out  
section #aaed7;c7 ( ?is title1 !        
,secret>y %all ensure t evid5ce ( a     
behavior *ange foll[+ an assault1       
batt]y1 or h>assm5t describ$ 9          
subsection 7a77#a7 is "o type ( relevant
 evid5ce t may be f\nd 9 s\rces describ$
 9 su* subsection4  7#b7 ,examples (    
behavior *anges t may be relevant       
evid5ce ( an assault1 batt]y1 or        
h>assm5t describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a7  
include ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,a reque/ = a   
transf] to ano!r milit>y duty assignm5t4
  7,b7 ,det]ioration 9 "w p]=mance4     
7,c7 ,sub/ance abuse4  7,d7 ,episodes ( 
depression1 panic attacks1 or anxiety   
)\t an id5tifiable cause4  7,e7         
,unexpla9$ economic or social behavior  
*anges4  7c7 ,notice & opportunity ,to  

supply evid5ce ,! ,secret>y may n d5y a 
claim ( a vet]an = comp5sation "u ?is   
*apt] = a po/-traumatic /ress disord] t 
is bas$ on an assault1 batt]y1 or       
h>assm5t describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a7  
)\t fir/--  7#a7 advis+ ! vet]an t      
evid5ce describ$ 9 subsections 7a7 & 7b7
 may con/itute cr$ible corroborat+      
evid5ce ( ! assault1 batt]y1 or         
h>assm5t2 &  7#b7 all[+ ! vet]an an     
opportunity to furni% su* corroborat+   
evid5ce or advise ! ,secret>y ( pot5tial
 s\rces ( su* evid5ce4  7d7 ,review (   
evid5ce ,9 review+ a claim = comp5sation
 describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a71 = any   
evid5ce receiv$ ) su* claim t is        
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 or 7b71 !     
,secret>y may submit su* evid5ce to su* 
m$ical or m5tal heal? pr(essional z !   
,secret>y consid]s appropriate1 includ+ 
cl9ical & c\nsel+ exp]ts employ$ by !   
,dep>tm5t1 to obta9 a cr$ible op9ion z  
to :e!r ! evid5ce indicates t an        
assault1 batt]y1 or h>assm5t describ$ 9 
subsection 7a77#a7 occurr$4  7e7 ,po9t (

 contact ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t ea* 
docum5t provid$ to a vet]an relat+ to a 
claim = comp5sation describ$ 9          
subsection 7a77#a7 includes contact     
in=mation = an appropriate po9t (       
contact ) ! ,dep>tm5t4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical
 am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+
 ( su* *apt] is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new item3  #aafd4 ,evaluation ( 
claims involv+ milit>y sexual trauma4  4
  7c7 ,annual reports  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
,sub*apt] ,,vi ( *apt] #aa ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by         
subsection 7b71 is fur!r am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+ new section3  #aafe4  
,reports on claims = disabilities       
incurr$ or aggravat$ by milit>y sexual  
trauma  7a7 ,reports ,n lat] ?an ,m>*   
#a1 #bjah1 & n less frequ5tly ?an once  
ea* ye> !reaft] ?r\gh #bjbg1 ! ,secret>y
 %all submit to ,congress a report on   
cov]$ claims submitt$ dur+ ! previ\s    
fiscal ye> to id5tify & track !         
consi/5cy ( decisions across regional   
(fices4  7b7 ,elem5ts ,ea* report "u    

subsection 7a7 %all include ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,! numb] ( cov]$ claims submitt$ to
 or consid]$ by ! ,secret>y dur+ !      
fiscal ye> cov]$ by ! report4  7#b7 ,( !
 cov]$ claims li/$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 !  
numb] & p]c5tage ( su* claims--  7,a7   
submitt$ by ea* sex2  7,b7 t 7 approv$1 
includ+ ! numb] & p]c5tage ( su* approv$
 claims submitt$ by ea* sex2 &  7,c7 t 7
 d5i$1 includ+ ! numb] & p]c5tage ( su* 
d5i$ claims submitt$ by ea* sex4  7#c7  
,( ! cov]$ claims li/$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 
t 7 approv$1 ! numb] & p]c5tage1        
disaggregat$ by sex1 ( claims assign$ to
 ea* rat+ p]c5tage4  7#d7 ,( ! cov]$    
claims li/$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 t 7 d5i$-- 
7,a7 ! ?ree mo/ common reasons giv5 by !
 ,secret>y "u section #eajd7;b77#a7 (   
?is title = su* d5ials2 &  7,b7 ! numb] 
( d5ials t 7 bas$ on ! failure ( a      
vet]an to report = a m$ical exam9ation4 
7#e7 ,! numb] ( cov]$ claims t1 z ( !   
end ( ! fiscal ye> cov]$ by ! report1   
are p5d+ &1 sep>ately1 ! numb] ( su*    
claims on appeal4  7#f7 ,= ! fiscal ye> 

cov]$ by ! report1 ! av]age numb] ( days
 t cov]$ claims take to complete1 beg9n+
 on ! date on :i* ! claim is submitt$4  
7#g7 ,a description ( ! tra9+ t !       
,secret>y provides to employees ( !     
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration         
specifically ) respect to cov]$ claims1 
includ+ ! frequ5cy1 l5g?1 & cont5t ( su*
 tra9+4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ claims means claims =
 disability comp5sation submitt$ to !   
,secret>y bas$ on a cov]$ m5tal heal?   
condition alleg$ to h be5 incurr$ or    
aggravat$ by milit>y sexual trauma4     
7#b7 ,! t]ms cov]$ m5tal heal? condition
 & milit>y sexual trauma h ! mean+s giv5
 su* t]ms 9 section #aaed7;c77#c7 ( ?is 
title4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!     
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su*      
*apt]1 z am5d$ by subsection 7b71 is    
fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+   
new item3  #aafe4 ,reports on claims =  
disabilities incurr$ or aggravat$ by    
milit>y sexual trauma4  4  7d7          
,effective date ,subsection 7c7 (       

section #aaed ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 z add$ by subsection 7a71 %all  
apply ) respect to any claim =          
disability comp5sation "u laws adm9i/]$ 
by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs = :i*
 no f9al decision has be5 made be=e !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #d4      
,in=mation = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces     
reg>d+ availability ( s]vices at ,vet   
,c5t]s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (     
,def5se %all in=m memb]s ( ! ,arm$      
,=ces1 us+ me*anisms available to !     
,secret>y1 ( ! eligibility ( su* memb]s 
= s]vices at ,vet ,c5t]s4  7b7          
,in=mation f ,sexual ,assault ,response 
,coord9ators ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t 
,sexual ,assault ,response ,coord9ators 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se advise memb]s ( 
! ,arm$ ,=ces :o report in/ances (      
milit>y sexual trauma reg>d+ !          
eligibility ( su* memb]s = s]vices at   
,vet ,c5t]s4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is    
section3 7#a7 ,milit>y sexual trauma ,! 
t]m milit>y sexual trauma means         
psy*ological trauma describ$ 9 section  

#agbj;,d7a77#a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code4  7#b7 ,vet ,c5t] ,! t]m   
,vet ,c5t] has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9     
section #agab;,a7h7 ( su* title4