,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #giai  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,april #aj1 #bjbd,mr4 
,luttrell 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,/efanik1 &  
,mr4 ,bilirakis7 introduc$ ! foll[+     
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
provide = c]ta9 revisions to ! manual ( 
! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration & to  
improve ! quality ( ! adjudication (    
claims = b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans ,claims ,quality  
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbd4  #b4 ,review (
 c]ta9 revisions to manuals ( ,vet]ans  
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration requir$2 tra9+   
program = c]ta9 employees ( ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section
 #caa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ ,!re is 9 !    
,dep>tm5t & ins]t+ 7a7 ,9 g5]al4--,!re  
is 9 ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7#b7 by add+ at !  
end ! foll[+ new subsections3  7b7      

,review ( revisions to c]ta9 manuals ,) 
respect to any revisions to ! manuals ( 
! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration = !   
adjudication ( a claim = b5efits "u !   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y t w\ld h a 
mat]ial effect on su* adjudication1 !   
,g5]al ,c\nsel %all review su* revision4
  7c7 ,program = tra9+ ,! ,g5]al ,c\nsel
 %all develop & c>ry out a program to   
provide employees ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits 
,adm9i/ration :o are responsible =      
draft+ rules1 guidance1 or o!r issuances
 ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration    
tra9+ on su* rules1 guidance1 or o!r    
issuances t-- 7#a7 w\ld h a mat]ial     
effect on ! adjudication ( a claim =    
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y2 or  7#b7 require review by ! 
,g5]al ,c\nsel4  4  7b7 ,/udy & report  
on c]ta9 ,,ogc op9ions  7#a7 ,/udy ,n   
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs1 9 consultation ) ! ,g5]al     
,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs & ! ,*airman ( ! ,bo>d (       

,vet]ans' ,appeals1 %all complete a /udy
 to id5tify issues ab\t :i* an op9ion f 
! ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t w\ld fo/]
 consi/5cy 9 ! decisions ( ! ,secret>y )
 respect to claims = b5efits "u ! laws  
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7 ,report  
,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit to !      
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report t      
conta9s ! f9d+s ( ! /udy requir$ by     
p>agraph 7#a74  #c4 ,improvem5ts to     
sy/em = adjudication ( claims = b5efits 
"u laws adm9i/]$ by ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs  7a7 ,program = quality       
assurance 9 decisions ( ,bo>d (         
,vet]ans' ,appeals2 p]=mance reviews    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #gaja ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subsection3  
7f7 7#a7 ,! ,*airman %all c>ry out a    
program to ensure quality 9 ! decisions 
( ! ,bo>d4 ,"u su* program1 ! ,*airman  
%all-- 7,a7 develop policies & proc$ures

 =-- 7i7 measur+ quality 9 su*          
decisions2  7ii7 ma9ta9+ data on-- 7,i7 
errors 9 su* decisions2 &  7,,ii7 errors
 9 decisions rem&$ or return$ to ! ,bo>d
 by ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans       
,claims2 &  7iii7 ensur+ any su*        
decision ( ! ,bo>d to rem& a claim = a  
b5efit "u a law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
is necess>y "u any applicable law or    
regulation2  7,b7 ) respect to a claim =
 su* a b5efit t is rem&$ to ! ,bo>d by !
 ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims--  
7i7 in=m any employee ( ! ,bo>d         
responsible = draft+ ! decision ( !     
,bo>d ) respect to su* claim t su*      
decision 0 rem&$2  7ii7 provide any su* 
employee ) a copy ( ! relevant ord] ( ! 
,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims     
7includ+ a copy ( any accompany+ jo9t   
motion = rem&72 &  7iii7 provide        
inc5tives to su* employees to review su*
 relevant ord]s & jo9t motions = rem&2 &
  7,c7 ensure1 to ! maximum ext5t       
practicable1 t any error id5tifi$ by !  
,bo>d "u su* program is correct$ be=e ! 

date on :i* ! ,bo>d issues ! f9al       
decision associat$ ) su* error4  7#b7 ,!
 ,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees 
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an annual    
report on ! program requir$ by ?is      
subsection t includes1 ) respect to !   
p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 an             
id5tification (-- 7,a7 elem5ts1 if any (
 ! process ( ! ,bo>d = review+ an appeal
 "u ?is *apt] t lead to errors 9        
decisions ( ! ,bo>d2 &  7,b7 ! mo/      
common reasons t a claim = a b5efit "u a
 law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 0 rem&$ to 
su* ,bo>d by ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals =       
,vet]ans ,claims4  4  7#b7 ,deadl9e ,!  
,secret>y %all submit ! fir/ report     
requir$ by p>agraph 7#b7 ( su* section  
7z add$ by p>agraph 7#a77 by n lat] ?an 
"o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act4  7b7 ,tra9+ program = c]ta9       
employees ( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals2 
p]=mance reviews  7#a7 ,tra9+ program   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga ( su* title 7z 
am5d$ by subsection 7a77 is fur!r am5d$ 

by ins]t+ aft] section #gaja;,a ! foll[+
 new section3  #gaja;,b4 ,tra9+ program 
= ,memb]s ( ,bo>d on timely & correct   
adjudication ( appeals  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
,secret>y1 9 conjunction ) ! ,*airman ( 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 %all      
develop & c>ry out a program to provide 
,memb]s ( ! ,bo>d tra9+ on timely &     
correct adjudication ( appeals "u ?is   
*apt]4  7b7 ,requir$ consid]ations ,9   
c>ry+ out ! program requir$ by          
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all consid]
 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,fe$back1 if any1 f     
memb]s ( ! ,bo>d & cov]$ employees )    
respect to su* program4  7#b7 ,data on  
errors 9 decisions ( ! ,bo>d ma9ta9$    
pursuant to ! program = quality         
assurance requir$ by subsection 7f7 (   
section #gaja ( ?is title4  7#c7 ,any   
decision ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans
 ,claims to rem& a claim = b5efits "u ! 
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to ! ,bo>d 
= fur!r action1 includ+ a jo9t motion to
 rem& su* claim4  7c7 ,report ,!        
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  

on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an annual    
report on ! program requir$ by          
subsection 7a7 t includes a /atem5t ( ! 
topics ( tra9+ provid$ pursuant to ?is  
section1 disaggregat$ by-- 7#a7 m&atory 
tra9+2 &  7#b7 non-m&atory tra9+4  7d7  
,cov]$ employee def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! 
t]m cov]$ employee means an employee ( !
 ,bo>d :o is-- 7#a7 n a memb] ( ! ,bo>d2
 &  7#b7 responsible = draft+ decisions 
( ! ,bo>d4  4  7,b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! 
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt]
 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+  
to section #gaja;,a ! foll[+ new item3  
#gaja;,b4 ,tra9+ program = ,memb]s (    
,bo>d on timely & correct adjudication (
 appeals4  4  7#b7 ,p]=mance reviews (  
,memb]s ( ! ,bo>d ,section #gaja;,a (   
su* title 7z am5d$ by p>agraph 7#a77 is 
am5d$-- 7,a7 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 (       
subsection 7c77#a7 by /rik+ n less (t5  
?an once e ?ree ye>s & ins]t+ n less (t5
 ?an annually2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subsection3  7h7 7#a7 ,)   

respect to any p]=mance review ( a cov]$
 employee1 ! ,secret>y may n consid] !  
timel9ess or quality ( "w ( any ,memb] (
 ! ,bo>d4  7#b7 ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m   
cov]$ employee has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 
9 section #gaja;,b ( ?is title4  4  7c7 
,decisions ( ,bo>d ,to rem&  7#a7       
,in=mation relat+ to decisions to rem&  
,section #gajd ( su* title is am5d$ 9   
subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by r$esignat+     
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 z p>agraphs   
7#b7 ?r\gh 7#d71 respsectively2 &  7,b7 
by ins]t+ be=e p>agraph 7#b7 7z s       
r$esignat$71 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3     
7#a7 ) respect to a claim t ! ,bo>d     
rem&s = fur!r action1 a /atem5t ( !     
specific reasons su* claim 0 rem&$1     
includ+ any failure on ! "p ( !         
,secret>y to comply )-- 7,a7 !          
,secret>y's duty to assi/ "u section    
#eajc;,a ( ?is title2 &  7,b7 !         
,secret>y's duty to notify "u section   
#eajc ( ?is title4  4  7#b7 ,notice (   
rem&$ decision = c]ta9 employees ,su*   
section is fur!r am5d$ 9-- 7,a7         

subsection 7e7-- 7i7 by r$esignat+      
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 z subp>agraphs
 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c71 respectively2  7ii7 by
 /rik+ ,aft] & ins]t+ 7#a7 ,aft]2 &     
7iii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
p>agraph3  7#b7 ,if1 pursuant to a      
decision on an appeal1 ! ,bo>d rem&s a  
claim = a b5efit "u a law adm9i/]$ by ! 
,secret>y = fur!r action1 ! ,secret>y   
%all1 to ! maximum ext5t practicable1   
issue a copy ( su* decision to ea*      
employee ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits          
,adm9i/ration :o committ$ ! error       
result+ 9 ! decision ( ! ,bo>d to rem&1 
:5 applicable4  2 &  7,b7 9 subsection  
7f71 by /rik+ "u subsection 7e7 & ins]t+
 "u p>agraph 7#a7 ( subsection 7e74  7d7
 ,annual reports = ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'    
,appeals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga ( su*
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is     
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section #gaac !    
foll[+ new section3  #gaad4 ,annual     
reports on ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals   
7a7 ,report on reasons = rem&s ,!       
,*airman ( ! ,bo>d %all submit to !     

,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate an   
annual report t includes1 = ea* decision
 ( ! ,bo>d to rem& a claim = a b5efit "u
 a law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to !     
,secret>y = fur!r adjudication dur+ !   
p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 a /atem5t ( !  
reasons = su* decision ( ! ,bo>d1       
disaggregat$ by decisions on-- 7#a7     
claims ) a relevant decision dat$ on or 
aft] ,febru>y #ai1 #bjai2 &  7#b7 claims
 ) a relevant decision dat$ be=e su*    
date4  7b7 ,report on unnecess>y rem&s  
,! ,secret>y1 9 consultation ) !        
,*airman ( ! ,bo>d & ! head ( ! ,(fice (
 ,adm9i/rative ,review ( ! ,vet]ans     
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration1 %all submit to  
,congress an annual report t includes a 
/atem5t ( ! numb] ( decisions ( ! ,bo>d 
to rem& a claim = a b5efit "u a law     
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to ! ,secret>y =
 fur!r action t ! ,secret>y det]m9es 7  
unnecess>y dur+ ! p]iod cov]$ by !      
report4  4  7#b7 ,deadl9es ,! ,secret>y 
%all submit ! fir/ reports requir$ by   

subsections 7a7 & 7b7 ( section #gaad ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7z add$  
by p>agraph 7#a77 by n lat] ?an "o ye>  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4    
7e7 ,plan = improvem5ts to quality 9    
decisions ( ,bo>d  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]
 ?an six mon?s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs1 9 consultation ) ! ,*airman ( 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals & ! head ( 
! ,(fice ( ,adm9i/rative ,review ( !    
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration1 %all   
develop a plan to-- 7,a7 improve !      
quality ( decisions ( ! ,bo>d to rem&1  
pursuant to section #gajd ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 claims = a b5efit  
"u a law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y to !   
,secret>y = fur!r action2 &  7,b7       
mitigate ! numb] ( su* decisions t are  
unnecess>y "u any applicable law or     
regulation4  7#b7 ,report ,! ,secret>y  
%all submit to ! ,committees on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a report on  
su* plan by n lat] ?an six mon?s aft] ! 

date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4