,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cgd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #g1 #bjai ,mr4
 ,te/] 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,murk[ski1 ,mr4 
,blum5?al1 ,ms4 ,s9ema1 ,ms4 ,baldw91   
,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4 ,k+1 ,ms4
 ,duckwor?1 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 & ,mrs4      
,murray7 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 ( #bjai4  #b4             
,te*nological abuse def9$ ,section #aja 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
p>agraph3  7#cg7 ,! t]m te*nological    
abuse means behavior int5d$ to h>m1     
?reat51 intimidate1 control1 /alk1      
h>ass1 imp]sonate1 or monitor ano!r     
p]son1 except z o!rwise p]mitt$ by law1 

t occurs via ! ,int]net1 social network+
 sites1 comput]s1 mobile devices1       
cellul> telephones1 apps1 location      
track+ devices1 in/ant messages1 text   
messages1 or o!r =ms ( te*nology4       
,te*nological abuse may include--  7,a7 
unwant$1 repeat$ telephone calls1 text  
messages1 in/ant messages1 or social    
m$ia po/s2  7,b7 non-cons5sual access ( 
email acc\nts1 texts or in/ant messag+  
acc\nts1 social network+ acc\nts1 or    
cellul> telephone logs2  7,c7 attempt+  
to control or re/rict a p]son's ability 
to access te*nology ) ! int5t to isolate
 !m f support & social connection2  7,d7
 us+ track+ devices or location track+  
s(tw>e = ! purpose ( monitor+ or /alk+  
ano!r p]son's location2  7,e7           
imp]sonation ( a p]son ) ! int5t to     
deceive or cause h>m ?r\gh ! use ( spo(+
 te*nology or ! creation ( fake email or
 social m$ia acc\nts2 or  7,f7 pressur+ 
= or %>+ ( ano!r p]son's private        
in=mation1 photographs1 or videos )\t _!
 cons5t4  4  #c4 ,expansion ( cov]age by

 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs (      
c\nsel+ & treatm5t = sexual trauma to   
include te*nological abuse ( a sexual   
nature ,section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
ins]t+ te*nological abuse ( a sexual    
nature1 aft] batt]y ( a sexual nature14 
#d4 ,/&>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 ) !  

facts ( 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 te*nological  
abuse ( a sexual nature1 or sexual      
h>assm5t 9 l9e ( duty4  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 = a cov]$ m5tal  
heal? condition 7z def9$ 9 su* section7 
bas$ on milit>y sexual trauma 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[+ milit>y sexual    
trauma 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 (      
milit>y sexual trauma 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 cov]$ m5tal heal? condition t 
is bas$ on milit>y sexual trauma )\t    
fir/--  7#a7 advis+ ! vet]an t evid5ce  
describ$ 9 subsections 7a7 & 7b7 may    

con/itute cr$ible corroborat+ evid5ce ( 
! milit>y sexual trauma2 &  7#b7 all[+ !
 vet]an an opportunity to furni% su*    
corroborat+ evid5ce or advise !         
,secret>y ( pot5tial s\rces ( su*       
evid5ce4  7d7 ,review ( evid5ce ,9      
review+ a claim = comp5sation describ$ 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 milit>y sexual      
trauma 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  7f7 ,specializ$ teams  7#a7 
,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% specializ$    
teams to process claims = comp5sation   

describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a74  7#b7 ,! 
,secret>y %all ensure t memb]s ( teams  
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 are tra9$ to  
id5tify m>k]s indicat+ milit>y sexual   
trauma4  7#c7 ,9 any case 9 :i* !       
,secret>y obta9s conflict+ evid5ce      
relat+ to ! sub/antiation ( a claim =   
comp5sation describ$ 9 subsection       
7a77#a71 ! ,secret>y %all give m cr$5ce 
to ! evid5ce t is m b5eficial to !      
claimant4  7g7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is       
section1 ! t]ms cov]$ m5tal heal?       
condition & milit>y sexual trauma has ! 
mean+s giv5 su* t]ms 9 section #aaed7;c7
 ( ?is title4  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 ,annual     
reports on claims = disabilities incurr$

 or aggravat$ by milit>y sexual trauma  
7a7 ,reports ,n lat] ?an ,m>* #a1 #bjbj1
 & 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$4  
7#g7 ,a description ( ! tra9+ t !       
,secret>y provides to employees ( !     
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration1 or su* 
contractors or o!r individuals z !      
,secret>y consid]s appropriate1         
specifically ) respect to cov]$ 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;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 ,annual 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  #e4      
,in=mation = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces     
reg>d+ availability ( s]vices at !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  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 ! 

,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  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 ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7c7     
,milit>y sexual trauma def9$ ,9 ?is     
section1 ! t]m milit>y sexual trauma    
means psy*ological trauma describ$ 9    
section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 ( title #ch1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #f4 ,s5se (       
,congress on access to ,dep>tm5t (      
,vet]ans ,affairs facilities by res]vi/s
 = c\nsel+ & treatm5t relat+ to milit>y 
sexual trauma  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,x is ! s5se
 ( ,congress t memb]s ( ! res]ve        
compon5ts ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 includ+      
memb]s ( ! ,national ,gu>d1 %\ld be able
 to access all heal? c>e facilities ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to receive
 c\nsel+ & treatm5t relat+ to milit>y   
sexual trauma & n j at ,vet ,c5t]s4  7b7

 ,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