#aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4    
#beac  ,,an ,,act  ,to am5d title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve b5efits 
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title2 table ( cont5ts ,?is ,act may be 
cit$ z ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,improvem5t  
,act ( #bjbd4  #b4 ,improvem5t (        
publication ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs disability b5efit que/ionnaire 
=ms ,section #eaja ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9         
subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph        
7#a77;,a71 by ins]t+ 1 includ+ 7except z
 provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#d77;,a77 all      
disability b5efit que/ionnaire =ms      
available to p]sonnel ( ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration & cov]$            
non-,dep>tm5t provid]s = ! completion ( 
exam9ations ) respect to m$ical         
disability ( applicants = b5efits "u    
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y be=e !     
semicolon2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end !   
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#d7 7,a7 ,!      
,secret>y may exclude f publication "u  

clauses 7i7 & 7ii7 ( p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 
any =m describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 ( ?is
 p>agraph t ! ,secret>y det]m9es c\ld n 
reasonably be complet$ to a cl9ically   
acceptable /&>d by someone n an employee
 or a contractor ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,a
 =m describ$ 9 ?is subp>agraph is a =m  
t-- 7i7 0 available or 9 use at any "t  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ! ,vet]ans   
,b5efits ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbd2 &    
7ii7 has n be5 publi%$ "u p>agraph 7#a74
  7,c7 ,! ,secret>y %all include on !   
same int]net website z ! website on :i* 
=ms are publi%$ "u p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 a 
li/ ( =ms t h be5 exclud$ f publication 
pursuant to subp>agraph 7,a71 & = ea*   
su* =m1 a ju/ification = ! exclusion ( !
 =m f publication4  2 &  7#b7 9         
subsection 7e71 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#c7 ,! t]m cov]$ 
non-,dep>tm5t provid] means a m$ical    
provid] :o is n an employee ( !         
,dep>tm5t & :o provides exam9ations )   
respect to m$ical disability (          
applicants = b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by

 ! ,secret>y pursuant to a contract ) ! 
,dep>tm5t4  4  #c4 ,improvem5t (        
provision ( m$ical disability           
exam9ations by contractors  7a7 ,report 
on improv+ reimbursem5t = travel relat+ 
to m$ical disability exam9ations ,n lat]
 ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (  
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs1 aft] consult+ ) ! ,secret>y ( 
,/ate & ! ,commission] ( ! ,social      
,security ,adm9i/ration1 %all submit to 
! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! 
,s5ate & ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a    
report on ! ef=ts ( ! ,secret>y to      
reimburse vet]ans = exp5ses incurr$     
travel+ to a facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t or (
 a cov]$ non-,dep>tm5t provid] incid5t  
to an exam9ation ) respect to ! m$ical  
disability ( ! vet]an = purposes (      
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y1 reg>dless ( :e!r ! facility  
is locat$ inside or outside ! ,unit$    
,/ates4  7b7 ,communication by          
non-,dep>tm5t provid]s provid+ m$ical   
disability exam9ations ) individuals &  

organizations designat$ = prep>ation1   
pres5tation1 & prosecution ( claims ,any
 contract ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act "u :i* a cov]$      
non-,dep>tm5t provid] agrees to provide 
exam9ations ) respect to m$ical         
disability = applicants = b5efits "u !  
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 %all      
include a requirem5t t e communication f
 ! cov]$ non-,dep>tm5t provid] to su* an
 applicant reg>d+ ! s*$ul+ ( a cov]$    
m$ical disability exam9ation be         
contemporane\sly transmitt$ to any p]son
 or organization-- 7#a7 designat$ by !  
applicant by a p[] ( attorney fil$ ) !  
,secret>y2 &  7#b7 recogniz$ "u sections
 #eijb1 #eijc1 & #eijd ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = ! prep>ation1    
pres5tation1 & prosecution ( claims4    
7c7 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs       
outrea* reg>d+ contact in=mation =      
contractors provid+ cov]$ m$ical        
disability exam9ations ,n lat] ?an #abj 
days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 

! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 9      
p>tn]%ip ) vet]ans s]vice organizations 
& su* o!r /akehold]s z ! ,secret>y      
consid]s relevant & appropriate1 %all   
implem5t an outrea* program to provide  
vet]ans ) ! foll[+ in=mation3 7#a7      
,contact in=mation = cov]$ non-,dep>tm5t
 provid]s t provide exam9ations )       
respect to m$ical disability (          
applicants = b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by
 ! ,secret>y1 includ+ ! telephone numb]s
 su* provid]s may use to contact        
vet]ans4  7#b7 ,notice ( ! requirem5t = 
a vet]an to provide p]sonally           
id5tifiable in=mation to su* a provid]  
:5 contact$ 9 ord] to v]ify ! id5tity ( 
! vet]an4  7d7 ,cov]$ non-,dep>tm5t     
provid] ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m cov]$     
non-,dep>tm5t provid] means a m$ical    
provid] :o is n an employee ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & :o      
provides exam9ations ) respect to m$ical
 disability ( applicants = b5efits "u   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs pursuant to a contract ) !     

,dep>tm5t4  #d4 ,report on support+     
gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic]s :o     
prep>e1 pres5t1 & prosecute b5efits     
claims be=e ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs  7a7 ,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye>
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act &  
aft] consult+ vet]ans s]vice            
organizations & su* o!r /akehold]s z !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs consid]s  
relevant & appropriate1 ! ,secret>y %all
 submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,h\se (         
,repres5tatives a report on improv+ !   
support by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs ( cov]$ gov]nm5tal vet]ans     
s]vice (fic]s4  7b7 ,elem5ts ,! report  
submitt$ "u subsection 7a7 %all include 
! foll[+3 7#a7 ,an assessm5t ( !        
feasibility1 advisability1 & curr5t     
te*nical limitations ( provid+ cov]$    
gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic]s enhanc$
 access to c]ta9 ,dep>tm5t sy/ems to    
bett] s]ve vet]ans ^? gov]nm5tal s]vice 
(fic]s may n h au?orization to repres5t4
  7#b7 ,an assessm5t z to :e!r !        

,dep>tm5t w\ld b5efit f ! e/abli%m5t or 
designation ( an (fice or work+ gr\p )9 
! ,dep>tm5t to s]ve z an int]gov]nm5tal 
liaison betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t & gov]nm5tal 
vet]ans s]vice (fic]s4  7#c7 ,any o!r   
recomm5dations to improve h[ ! ,dep>tm5t
 monitors1 coord9ates )1 or provides    
support to cov]$ gov]nm5tal vet]ans     
s]vice (fic]s4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is  
section3 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ gov]nm5tal   
vet]ans s]vice (fic] means an employee (
 a ,/ate1 c\nty1 municipal1 or ,tribal  
gov]nm5t-- 7,a7 :o is recogniz$ by !    
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs z a       
repres5tative ( a vet]ans s]vice        
organization to s]ve z a vet]ans s]vice 
(fic]2 &  7,b7 ^: prim>y                
responsibilities include prep>+1        
pres5t+1 & prosecut+ be=e ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs claims = b5efits "u   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7 ,!  
t]m vet]ans s]vice organization means an
 organization recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y =
 ! repres5tation ( vet]ans "u section   
#eijb ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 

#e4 ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals int]n%ip 
program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new section3     
#gaad4 ,int]n%ip program ,! ,secret>y   
%all e/abli% a competitive int]n%ip     
program ( ! ,bo>d = individuals enroll$ 
9 ! fir/ or second ye> ( law s*ools     
accr$it$ by ! ,am]ican ,b> ,association4
  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (    
sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ga ( su*  
title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+
 new item3  #gaad4 ,int]n%ip program4  4
  7c7 ,deadl9e ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs %all e/abli% ! int]n%ip program
 requir$ by section #gaad ( su* title1 z
 add$ by subsection 7a71 n lat] ?an "o  
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4
  #f4 ,b5efits = p>ticipants 9 c]ta9    
programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all c>ry out a program to furni% c]ta9 
b5efits to cov]$ p>ticipants4  7b7      

,b5efits3 /ud5t loan repaym5t2          
reimbursem5ts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to
 an agreem5t "u p>agraph 7#b71 !        
,secret>y %all provide to ea* cov]$     
attorney-- 7,a7 /ud5t loan repaym5t     
b5efits "u section #ecgi ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 9 ! case ( a cov]$ 
attorney :o is eligible = su* b5efits2 &
  7,b7 reimbursem5t = ! co/ (-- 7i7     
enrollm5t 9 a c\rse design$ to prep>e an
 individual = lic5sure to practice law 9
 a ,/ate2  7ii7 sitt+ = a b> exam9ation 
9 a ,/ate2 &  7iii7 annual dues requir$ 
to ma9ta9 memb]%ip 9 ! b> ( any ,/ate4  
7#b7 ,agreem5t ,! ,secret>y %all ent]   
into an agreem5t ) a cov]$ attorney :o w
 receive b5efits "u p>agraph 7#a74 ,ea* 
su* agreem5t %all specify t-- 7,a7 !    
cov]$ attorney agrees to rema9 9 !      
s]vice ( ! ,dep>tm5t = a p]iod ( n less 
?an ?ree ye>s1 unless involunt>ily      
sep>at$2 &  7,b7 if sep>at$ involunt>ily
 on acc\nt ( misconduct1 or volunt>ily1 
be=e ! end ( ! p]iod specifi$ 9 !       
agreem5t1 ! cov]$ attorney %all repay to

 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ! am\nt ( any b5efits  
receiv$ by ! cov]$ p>ticipant "u        
p>agraph 7#a74  7c7 ,pr(essional        
developm5t activities  7#a7 ,m5tor%ip ,n
 lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* an
 individual becomes a cov]$ p>ticipant1 
! ,secret>y %all assign ! cov]$         
p>ticipant a m5tor :o is an employee ( !
 ,dep>tm5t :o is-- 7,a7 to ! ext5t      
practicable1 a manag]ial employee2 &    
7,b7 outside ! p>ticipant's *a9 ( comm&4
  7#b7 ,assignm5ts ,at ! election ( a   
cov]$ p>ticipant :o has complet$ at lea/
 two ye>s ( s]vice to ! ,dep>tm5t1 !    
,secret>y %all assign su* cov]$         
p>ticipant to3 7,a7 ,! ,(fice ( ,g5]al  
,c\nsel1 9 a position-- 7i7 t includes  
full-"t legal responsibilities 9 ord] to
 fur!r ! pr(essional developm5t ( !     
cov]$ p>ticipant2 &  7ii7 = a p]iod ( n 
less ?an #abj days & n m ?an #ahj days1 
or long] at ! discretion ( ! ,secret>y4 
7,b7 ,9 ! case ( a cov]$ p>ticipant :o  
has already held a position describ$ 9  
subp>agraph 7,a71 an assignm5t describ$ 

9 clauses 7i7 & 7ii7 ( su* subp>agraph )
 ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals4  7#c7    
,o!r rotational assignm5ts ,! ,secret>y 
may provide a cov]$ p>ticipant "o or m  
o!r %ort-t]m rotational assignm5ts4 ,su*
 an assignm5t %all be = a p]iod ( n less
 ?an #cj days & n m ?an #ahj days1 at ! 
discretion ( ! ,secret>y4  7d7 ,p]iodic 
reports  7#a7 ,reports requir$ ,n lat]  
?an ?ree ye>s aft] ! date on :i* !      
,secret>y beg9s to c>ry out ! program "u
 ?is section1 & n less frequ5tly ?an    
once e ?ree ye>s !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y   
%all submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'
 ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives reg>d+ su* program4     
7#b7 ,elem5ts ,ea* report submitt$ "u   
p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+     
elem5ts3 7,a7 ,co/s to ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
to provide b5efits "u subsection 7b74   
7,b7 ,! rates ( ret5tion ( cov]$        
p>ticipants comp>$ to o!r employees ( ! 
,dep>tm5t4  7,c7 ,recomm5dations ( !    
,secret>y reg>d+ legislative or         

adm9i/rative action to improve su*      
program4  7e7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is        
section3 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ attorney     
means an individual :o-- 7,a7 is a cov]$
 p>ticipant2  7,b7 has graduat$ f a law 
s*ool accr$it$ by ! ,am]ican ,b>        
,association2 &  7,c7 is a memb] 9 good 
/&+ ( ! b> ( a ,/ate4  7#b7 ,! t]m cov]$
 p>ticipant means an individual :o      
p>ticipates 9-- 7,a7 ! ,honors ,attorney
 ,program 7or successor program7 ( !    
,(fice ( ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs2 or  7,b7 ! ,law ,cl]k
 ,program 7or successor program7 ( !    
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals4  7#c7 ,! t]m
 ,/ate has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9       
section #aja ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  #g4 ,increase 9 additional      
tempor>y expansion ( ,unit$ ,/ates ,c\rt
 ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans ,claims ,section 
#gbec7;i7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#a7--
 7,a7 by /rik+ ,subject to p>agraph     
7#b71 effective z ( ,decemb] #ca1 #bjji 
& ins]t+ 7,a7 ,subject to p>agraph 7#b71

 effective dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ on       
,decemb] #ca1 #bjji1 & end+ on ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits        
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbd2 &  7,b7 by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3 
7,b7 ,subject to p>agraph 7#b71         
effective z ( ! date ( ! enactm5t ( !   
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,improvem5t ,act (    
#bjbd1 ! au?oriz$ numb] ( judges ( !    
,c\rt specifi$ 9 subsection 7a7 is      
increas$ by ?ree4  2 &  7#b7 9 p>agraph 
7#b71 by /rik+ ,janu>y #a1 #bjbf &      
ins]t+ ,janu>y #a1 #bjbh4  #h4 ,report  
on improv+ access to ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'  
,appeals telehe>+s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]
 ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs %all submit to ! ,committee on 
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on     
improv+ access to he>+s be=e ! ,bo>d (  
,vet]ans' ,appeals held by picture &    
voice transmission4  7b7 ,cont5ts ,!    
report requir$ by subsection 7a7 %all   

include ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,recomm5dations  
on ! feasibility & advisability (       
reimburs+ vet]ans = exp5ses incurr$ =   
travel f ! home ( a vet]an to ! location
 at :i* a he>+ be=e ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' 
,appeals is held by picture & voice     
transmission1 if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t 
travel to su* location is reasonably    
necess>y = su* a he>+4  7#b7            
,recomm5dations on e/abli%m5t ( pilot   
programs to assess ! feasibility &      
advisability ( us+ o!r me?ods t c\ld    
improve vet]an access to he>+s be=e !   
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals held by      
picture & voice transmission f a        
vet]an's home4  7#c7 ,su* o!r           
recomm5dations to improve access to     
he>+s be=e ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
held by picture & voice transmission z !
 ,secret>y may receive f /akehold]s4    
,pass$ ! ,s5ate ,decemb] #ab1           
#bjbd4,secret>y