Transmittal Letter

Report to the President iii

Table of Contents Contents

Transmittal Letter ...................................................................................... i

Executive Summary ................................................................................ 1

Section 1 – Introduction........................................................................... 7

Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits ...........................................11

Section 3 – Summary of Feedback ....................................................... 17

Section 4 – Recommendations ............................................................. 19

Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan .......................................... 69

Appendix A – Executive Order Establishing Task Force....................A-1

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits................B-1

Health Care........................................................................................B-1

Benefits ............................................................................................B-10

Outreach ..........................................................................................B-14

Employment .....................................................................................B-16

Education & Vocational Rehabilitation .............................................B-19

Housing & Homelessness................................................................B-21

Interagency Collaboration ................................................................B-23

Appendix C – Process Maps ................................................................C-1

DoD Disability Evaluation System......................................................C-2

VA Health Enrollment Process ...........................................................C-4

VA Disability Claims and Appeals Process.........................................C-6

Appendix D – List of Acronyms ...........................................................D-1
iv Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Table of Contents
Report to the President 

Executive 

Summary 

On March 6, 2007, President Bush created the Task Force on Returning 

Global War on Terror Heroes. The purpose of the Task Force was to improve 

the delivery of Federal services and benefits to Global War on Terror 

servicemembers and veterans.

The President appointed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as Task Force 

Chair. Membership consisted of the Secretaries of Defense, Labor, 

Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and 

Education, plus the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the 

Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Director of 

the Office of Personnel Management. Under the terms of the President’s 

Executive Order, the Task Force had 45 days to complete the following:

• Identify and examine existing Federal services that currently 

are provided to returning Global War on Terror (GWOT) 

servicemembers

• Identify existing gaps in such services

• Seek recommendations from appropriate Federal agencies on ways 

to fill those gaps 

• Ensure that appropriate Federal agencies are communicating and 

cooperating effectively

• Develop a Government-wide Action Plan that ensures that in 

providing services to these servicemembers, appropriate Federal 

agencies are communicating and cooperating effectively

The Task Force utilized a gap analysis approach to determine the 

manner and extent to which services and benefits are provided to 

GWOT servicemembers and veterans. The Task Force received over 

2,400 comments from veterans, active duty personnel, veterans service 

organizations, and other interested parties. 
 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Executive Summary

The Task Force inventoried Federal services and benefits available to 

servicemembers. Work groups assessed and analyzed emerging themes 

related to the current delivery of services and benefits. The Task Force 

focused on recommendations that could be implemented within agency 

authority and existing resource levels. A focus of the work groups was on 

timeliness, ease of application, and efficient delivery of services.

One topic from the analysis pertained to evaluating an injured GWOT 

servicemember’s military readiness in a consistent manner across all 

military branches in conjunction with the VA disability compensation 

process. As part of this Task Force effort, DoD and VA agreed to develop 

a joint process of assigning disability ratings used to determine fitness 

for military retention, level of disability for retirement, and VA disability 

compensation.

Prior to the Task Force being established, DoD and VA announced an 

agreement to collaborate on the development of a joint inpatient electronic 

health record. This initiative will make health care data on shared 

beneficiaries immediately accessible within both Departments. 

Another area of focus derived from the analysis was for Federal entities 

to collaborate and, in some cases, to co-manage the delivery of services 

and benefits to injured GWOT servicemembers and disabled veterans. 

Currently, there are no formal interagency agreements between DoD 

and VA to transfer case management responsibilities across the military 

services and VA. A Task Force recommendation calls for VA and DoD to 

develop a system of co-management and case management that promotes 

continuity of care.

While not a specific recommendation, the Task Force worked in 

partnership with the General Services Administration to unveil a new 

version of www.usa.gov to include a specialized section of Internet links 

to Federal services and benefits available to military servicemembers, 

veterans, and their families.

The Task Force Report includes 25 recommendations to improve 

delivery of Federal services to returning military men and women. The 

recommendations identify responsible agency as well as a discussion, 

gap analysis, impact statement, and implementation strategy. The 

Government-wide Action Plan contains steps for individual Department 

or Agency commitment and incorporates cooperative interaction among 

those providing complimentary services. 

The following recommendations focus on improving the process for 

receiving services and increased awareness of available benefits among 

servicemembers and their families:
Executive Summary

Report to the President 

Health Care

• Develop a system of co-management and case management 

for returning servicemembers to facilitate ease of transfer from 

Department of Defense care to VA care.

• Screen all GWOT veterans seen in VA health care facilities for mild 

to moderate Traumatic Brain Injury.

• Assist the VA enrollment process by modifying the VA 10-10EZ 

form for GWOT servicemembers, enhance the on-line benefits 

package to self-identify GWOT servicemember, and expand the use 

of DoD military service information to establish eligibility for health 

care benefits.

• Require VA to provide full support at Post-Deployment Health 

Reassessments for Guard and Reserve members to enroll eligible 

members and schedule appointments.

• Standardize VA Liaison agreements across all Military Treatment 

Facilities.

• Expand VA access to DoD records to coordinate improved transfer 

of a servicemember’s medical care through patient “hand-off.”

• Enhance the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to more 

specifically track GWOT servicemembers. 

— Develop a Veterans Tracking Application and identifiers to 

improve monitoring of returning GWOT servicemembers.

— Create a Polytrauma identifier to increase recognition of 

additional needs of those injured servicemembers.

— Create a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) database to track patients 

who have experienced TBI.

— Create a DoD/VA interface for health care providers to have 

access to data on combat theater injured servicemembers.

• Create an “Embedded Fragment” surveillance center to monitor 

returning servicemembers who have possibly retained fragments of 

materials in order to provide early medical intervention.

• Enhance capacity for GWOT servicemembers to receive dental care 

in the private sector as VA continues to improve their capacity for 

dental services at their facilities.

• Expand collaboration between VA and the Department of 

Health and Human Services to improve access to returning 

servicemembers in remote or rural areas.

• VA and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian 

Health Service (IHS) will expand coordination on IT interoperability 

with the goal to adopt standardized data-sharing between the VA 

and IHS health care partners.
Benefits

• Develop a joint DoD/VA process for disability benefit 

determinations by establishing a cooperative Medical and Physical 

Evaluation Board process within the military service branches and 

VA.

• Extend determination time limit in VA Vocational Rehabilitation 

and Employment Program beyond 12 months to allow additional 

time for returning servicemembers to better understand their 

rehabilitation needs.

• Expedite handling of adapted housing and special home adaptation 

grants claims by notifying the returning GWOT applicant within 48 

hours of rating decision.

Jobs, Education, and Housing

• Expand eligibility of Small Business Administration PatriotExpress 

Loan to provide full range of lending, business counseling, and 

procurement programs to veterans, service-disabled veterans, 

reservists, and families if the desire for a returning servicemember 

or family is to obtain self-employment.

• DoD and the Department of Labor will collaborate to improve 

Civilian Workforce Credentialing and Certification allowing for 

greater exposure of a servicemember’s military experience to 

civilian opportunities.

• The Department of Labor will work with DoD to develop a 

Wounded Veterans Intern Program to provide valuable work 

experience to injured GWOT servicemenbers while they are 

in medical hold status and are transitioning to separate from 

military service.

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development will expand 

access to the National Housing Locator (NHL) to be used by 

servicemembers and veterans through DoD and VA. The NHL was 

initially launched as a response to needs for victims of Hurricane 

Katrina. By expanding its use, returning servicemembers will have 

a resource that provides safe, disability accessible if needed, and 

affordable housing to ease in the potential re-location to a new 

geographic area.

 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Executive Summary
Outreach

• Increase attendance at the Transition Assistance and Disabled 

Transition Assistance Programs (TAP/DTAP) for active duty, 

Guard, and Reserve.

• The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department 

of Labor, will participate in DoD job fairs to provide returning 

servicemembers and their families with an awareness of the postsecondary education benefits available.

• The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ Employment 

and Training Service (VETS), will participate in the Workforce 

Investment System in every state and territory and partner with 

over 120 private and public sector job fairs to expand the number of 

employers involved in active veteran recruitment.

• The Department of Labor and DoD will promote awareness of the 

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 

(USERRA) rights to improve active duty, Guard, and Reservists’

understanding of their rights at entry to, during, and exiting from 

military service.

• The Department of Education will provide education benefits 

training to the 211 Transition Assistance Program sites serving over 

150,000 transitioning servicemembers annually.

• The Office of Personnel Management will expand their military 

treatment facility outreach to promote the availability of Federal 

employment and veterans’ preference rights.

• The VA Global War on Terrorism newsletter mailed quarterly 

to returning servicemembers will be modified to provide 

consistent summaries and awareness of available Federal services 

and benefits.

In summary, the Task Force focused on actions to improve government 

performance and results. Agencies will be expected to implement 

recommendations within agreed upon target dates.

Executive Summary

Report to the President 
 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Executive Summary
Report to the President 

Section 1

Introduction

Background

President George W. Bush established the Task Force on Returning Global 

War on Terror Heroes through Executive Order on March 6, 2007. A copy of 

the Executive Order is provided in Appendix A. 

The President appointed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary 

R. James Nicholson to serve as Task Force Chair. Other members of the 

Task Force included the Secretaries from the Departments of Defense, 

Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, 

and Education as well as the Director of the Office of Management and 

Budget, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the 

Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Mission

The mission of the Task Force, as outlined in the President’s Executive 

Order, was to: 

(a) identify and examine Federal services and benefits 

currently provided to returning Global War on Terror 

(GWOT) servicemembers; 

(b) identify existing gaps in such services; 

(c) seek recommendations from appropriate Federal agencies on ways 

to fill those gaps as effectively and expeditiously as possible using 

existing resources; and 

(d) ensure that, in providing services to these servicemembers, 

appropriate Federal departments and agencies are communicating 

and cooperating effectively and facilitate the fostering of such 

agency communications and cooperation through informal and 

formal means, as appropriate. 
 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 1 – Introduction

Requirements

The Task Force was given 45 days to submit a Government-wide Action 

Plan consistent with applicable law that outlines Federal services and 

benefits for GWOT service men and women, veterans, and families. The 

charge to the Task Force was to address gaps and to ensure that services 

and benefits are delivered effectively and as expeditiously as possible. 

Recommendations of the Task Force were to be constructed within 

existing executive authority and resources.

Scope

The Task Force review covered the services and benefits currently being 

provided by the member agencies of the Task Force. The review did not 

include services and benefits provided at the state and local levels.

Methodology

The Task Force employed a multi-faceted approach to determine the 

manner and extent to which services and benefits are currently being 

provided (or should be provided) to GWOT servicemembers, veterans, 

and families. The primary analytical tool utilized was a gap analysis, a 

three step process that: 

(1) defined what exists, 

(2) identified what is needed or desirable, and 

(3) determined the process to achieve the identified need.

Several targeted announcements to active duty servicemembers, veterans, 

family members, and others were posted on VA and Task Force websites 

and disseminated on VA employee pay statements. The Task Force web 

page explained the Task Force mission to the public. The site invited 

the public to provide comments and to share ideas to improve Federal 

services and benefits to GWOT servicemembers with an emphasis on 

timeliness, ease of application, and efficient delivery. Communication 

channels were provided: e-mail, dedicated facsimile, and mailing address. 

Other entities that sponsor web sites frequented by servicemembers and 

veterans provided a link to the Task Force web page on their sites. Task 

Force staff reviewed incoming comments and entered comments into a 

tracking database. Comments within the scope of the Task Force were 

arrayed by type of service or benefit. 
Section 1 – Introduction

Report to the President 

Task Force members conferred with subject matter experts who 

either work with or represent servicemembers and veterans to 

gather insight into the gaps they perceived in the timeliness, ease of 

application, and efficient delivery of services and benefits. The Task 

Force also received briefings from the Social Security Administration, 

the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs 

on Federal disability processes.

The Task Force established seven work groups composed of 

representatives from member agencies. These work groups focused 

on services and benefits in the areas of employment, housing and 

homelessness, education and vocational rehabilitation, outreach, veterans’ 

health care, veterans’ benefits, and VA/DoD collaboration. Based on the 

gap analysis, the work groups developed preliminary recommendations 

on ways to quickly and effectively fill identified gaps in service and 

benefits. Recommendations specify a lead agency along with participating 

agencies as well as implementation strategies with target dates. A 

Government-wide Action Plan was developed to advance progress of 

implementing Task Force recommendations.
10 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 1 – Introduction
Report to the President 11

Section 2

Federal Services and Benefits

A primary requirement for the Task Force was to catalog the services 

and benefits currently being provided to returning Global War on 

Terror servicemembers. At the current time, there is no single repository 

available– in written or electronic format –to find a comprehensive list of 

the services and benefits available to them.

The needs of GWOT servicemembers, veterans, and their families are 

addressed by the Federal government through a multiplicity of programs. 

The two Federal agencies providing the majority of services and benefits 

to returning Global War on Terror servicemembers are the Department of 

Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA and DoD locations 

delivering health care and benefits are illustrated in Exhibits 1-4.

Within other Federal agencies, there are both direct and indirect services 

available to returning Global War on Terror servicemembers. Indirect 

services are those arranged or financed by the agency but not provided 

by Federal employees such as educational assistance and community 

medical services. Additionally, the Task Force recognized that states and 

local government agencies offer veterans and their families many benefits 

ranging from health care to free college tuition to property tax relief. 

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides active duty military personnel 

with a wide variety of benefits ranging from health care to housing to 

family support services. DoD offers military personnel many benefits 

similar to those offered by public and many private sector organizations 

such as annual leave, convalescent leave, retirement pay, disability 

retirement, life insurance, educational assistance, and paid time off for 

holidays. DoD also provides myriad benefits to military personnel, 

dependents, and retirees beyond standard workplace benefits such 

as tax-free discount shopping, space available travel, legal assistance, 

community services, and health and morale programs. 
12 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits

There are approximately 24 million veterans living today and about 

twenty-one percent of the Nation’s population — approximately 

61 million people — is potentially eligible for VA benefits and services 

because they are veterans, eligible family members, or survivors of 

veterans. A wide range of services and benefits are available from VA 

to veterans who leave the service after retirement or after their military 

obligations have been met as well as to individuals meeting certain 

eligibility requirements such as National Guard and Reserve members 

who serve in active duty status for a prescribed period of time. 

(The required length of time in active duty status varies from benefit 

to benefit and can range from one day to 180 days.) VA provides 

comprehensive and specialized health care services as well as disability 

compensation, pension, education, life insurance, home loan, burial, and 

vocational rehabilitation benefits.

Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 

Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Education (ED), 

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Small Business 

Administration (SBA), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 

there are many services and benefits that can be accessed by all citizens 

as well as certain services and benefits that are in place specifically for 

military personnel, veterans, and eligible family members. 

Task Force agencies provided descriptions of current services and 

benefits for active duty personnel, National Guard, Reserves, and 

veterans for which GWOT servicemembers are eligible for. The Task 

Force aligned the services and benefits by health care, benefits, outreach, 

employment, education and vocational rehabilitation, and housing and 

homelessness. This approach was used to present the information from 

a Federal delivery system perspective. The inventory of Federal services 

and benefits in place for servicemembers, veterans, and eligible family 

members is provided in Appendix B. 

In addition, examples of interagency collaborative efforts supporting the 

delivery of services and benefits to GWOT servicemembers are provided 

in Appendix B.
Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President 13

Exhibit 1

VA Health Care 
14 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits

Exhibit 2

VA Veteran Centers
Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President 15

Exhibit 3

VA Benefits — Regional Offices, BDD Sites, VR&E Outstations
16 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 2 – Federal Services and Benefits

Exhibit 4

DoD Treatment Facilities — Hospitals and Clinics
Access to Services

 and Benefits

18%

Case

Management

17%

Disability Process

14%

Health Care

11%

Outreach

10%

Health Appointments

3%

Technology

7%

Staffing

5%

General Comments

5%

Other

4%

Facility

2%

Employment

2%

Customer Service

2%

Report to the President 17

Section 3 

Summary of Feedback

The Task Force solicited comments on the delivery of Federal benefits 

and services. Over 2,400 comments were received from GWOT veterans, 

veterans’ advocates, Federal employees, active duty servicemembers, 

family members, state directors of veterans’ affairs, and county service 

officers. In addition, the Task Force received comments from a number of 

national veterans service organizations.

Submitted topics covered a wide range of benefits and services as well as 

requests for intervention in personal cases. The most prevalent themes 

were about access to benefits and services, case management of transfer 

from one organization or Department to another, military and veteran 

disability process, health services including making appointments, 

outreach (awareness), technology improvements, and perceived need 

for more staffing. Other topics included employment, customer services, 

education, and vocational rehabilitation. Many communications included 

positive comments. Exhibit 5 displays the distribution of comments 

by topic.

Exhibit 5 - Feedback by Topic 
18 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 3 – Summary of Feedback

Many constructive suggestions were offered by individuals with wide 

exposure to the policies and procedures associated with the delivery 

of Federal services and benefits, especially by Federal employees and 

veterans’ advocates. A large number of these comments would require 

additional funding or new legislation and were not considered by 

the Task Force. Also, groups and individuals recommended articles 

and studies for the Task Force’s consideration; many documents were 

reviewed for relevance to the Task Force’s mandate.

Nearly 500 individuals requested intervention in their specific cases; the 

details were forwarded for action to appropriate organizations within 

Task Force agencies as individual case resolution was beyond the scope of 

the Task Force. 

Section 4 describes the Task Force recommendations.
Report to the President 19

Section 4

Recommendations

Federal agencies agreed to partner to improve the timeliness, ease of 

application, and delivery of services and benefits to those who earned 

them. The 25 recommendations in this report represent a broad range 

of opportunities for Task Force member agencies over the next several 

months. Of the 25 recommendations, 18 represent collaborative efforts 

among Federal entities. 

A review of the recommendations indicates the impacts anticipated 

from planned actions. Recommended actions will improve quality 

of care, specifically enhanced coordination and handoffs, as well as 

identification, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury and 

exposure to substances, and increased access to dental care. Opportunities 

will be provided for improved transition services including health 

care and liaison services, independent living and small business loans, 

and information regarding education, career training and transition, 

employment rights and opportunities, financial aid, and housing 

availability. Recommendations also offer faster, more timely completion 

of claims for adapted housing, access to health care records, and 

determination of eligibility for VA health care. 

The Task Force identified 15 process and 10 outreach recommendations. 

Processes such as interagency disability determination, electronic health 

care record sharing, health screenings, health benefits enrollment, care 

management, coordination of transfers, and assuring continuity of care all 

stand to be improved. 

As an example, one topic from the Task Force analysis pertained to 

evaluating an injured or ill GWOT servicemember’s military readiness 

in a consistent manner across all military branches in conjunction 

with the VA disability compensation process. DoD and VA agreed to 

develop a joint process of assigning disability ratings used to determine 

fitness for military retention, level of disability for retirement, and VA 

disability compensation. 
20 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Another issue emerging from the analysis was for Federal entities to 

collaborate and to co-manage the delivery of services and benefits to 

injured GWOT military personnel and disabled veterans. Currently, there 

are no formal interagency agreements between DoD and VA to transfer 

case management responsibilities across the military services and VA. A 

Task Force recommendation calls for VA and DoD to develop a system of 

co-management and case management that promotes continuity of care.

Outreach improvements focus on two areas, the primary beneficiaries or 

returning servicemembers and their families and secondary beneficiaries, 

the agencies, industry, community services and health care, and the general 

public. Primary outreach efforts will fill gaps in employment and career 

search and transition services including veteran owned businesses, as well 

as education, vocational rehabilitation, assistance services, financial aid, 

housing locator, and access to transitional health care services.

Throughout each section of the report, process recommendations are 

indicated with a capital P while outreach recommendations are indicated 

with a capital O. Each recommendation is formatted to provide the 

number of the recommendation and identifying short title, the lead and 

participating agencies, a brief discussion including a statement of the gap 

between services offered and the perceived needs, and an implementation 

plan with a completion target date. 

The following recommendations are actions Federal agencies can 

undertake within existing executive authority and resource levels: 

P-1 Develop a Joint Process for Disability Determinations

P-2 Develop a System of Co-Management and Case Management 

P-3 Enhance VA Computerized Patient Record System

P-4 Improve VA Access to Health Records of Servicemembers 

Treated in VA Health Care Facilities.

P-5 Improve the Electronic Enrollment Process 

P-6 Use DoD Military Service Information as Part of VA’s 

Enrollment Process

P-7 Create an Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center and Registry

P-8 Develop Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement for 

VA Liaisons at Military Treatment Facilities

P-9 Screen All Veterans of the Global War on Terrorism for TBI

P-10 Enhance Capacity to Provide Dental Care 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 21

P-11 Extend Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation Determination 

Time Limit

P-12 Expedite Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation 

Grants Claims

P-13 Participate in Post-Deployment Health Reassessments

P-14 Expand Eligibility of PatriotExpress Loan

P-15 Improve IT interoperability Between VA and HHS Indian 

Health Service

O-1 Increase Attendance at TAP/DTAP Sessions 

O-2 Provide Department of Education Educational 

Assistance Information 

O-3 Integrate the “Hire Vets First” Campaign Into Career Fairs

O-4 Improve Civilian Workforce Credentialing and Certification

O-5 Train Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve on Uniformed Services 

Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 

O-6 Develop Financial Aid Education Module 

O-7 Develop a Wounded Veterans Intern Program 

O-8 Expand Access to the National Housing Locator 

O-9 Provide Outreach and Education to Community Health Centers 

O-10 Expand OPM Outreach Efforts

Recommendation P-1: Develop a Joint Process for Disability 

Determinations

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense and Veterans Affairs

Lead Agency: Defense

Recommendation: VA and DoD develop a joint process for 

disability determinations

Background: The Disability Evaluation System (DES) is the mechanism 

for implementing retirement or separation due to physical disability. 

There are four elements of DES: physical evaluation, medical evaluation, 

counseling, and final disposition. The DES physical evaluation has two 

major components: the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and the Physical 

Evaluation Board (PEB). 
22 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is codified in statute and 

serves as a guide for the evaluation of disabilities resulting from diseases 

or injuries incident to military service. There are evaluation criteria for 

each condition listed, with disability levels ranging between zero and 100 

percent, generally at 10 percent increments, as appropriate to the severity 

of the condition. The disability rating level is linked to a monetary amount 

determined by Congress. 

In a December 1988 report, the then General Accounting Office said there 

had been no comprehensive review of the VA rating schedule since 1945, 

that the rating schedule contained outdated terminology and ambiguous 

classifications, and had not incorporated recent medical advances. The 

report recommended that VA thoroughly review the schedule and 

establish a process for an ongoing evaluation and update. VA agreed to do 

so and has been conducting a comprehensive revision of the schedule ever 

since. VA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking for each 

of the 15 rating schedule body systems and contracted with an outside 

consultant, who gathered panels of medical experts for each system, to 

recommend changes in the rating schedule. Eleven of the 15 body systems 

contained in the schedule have been revised to date. 

While both DoD and VA use the VASRD, not all the general policy 

provisions set forth in the VASRD apply to the military. Consequently, 

disability ratings may vary between the two. DoD rates conditions 

determined to be physically unfitting, compensating for a military career 

cut short. VA rates all service-connected impairments, combinations of 

impairments, or service-aggravated conditions, thus compensating for 

loss of earnings capacity resulting from injuries that could impact civilian 

employability. Another difference is the term of the rating. DoD’s ratings 

are permanent upon final disposition. VA’s ratings may change over 

time, depending upon the progress of the condition(s). Further, DoD 

disability compensation is affected by years of service and basic pay; VA 

compensation is a flat amount based upon the percentage disability rating 

with possible variance related to number of dependents. Appendix C 

contains charts depicting the DoD and VA disability processes.

Gap Analysis: For DoD, the terms “permanent and stable” are used 

extensively in Title 10 but are not clearly defined. These words are 

the basis for important decisions to retire, separate, and temporarily 

retire servicemembers. The terms require uniform definition to 

facilitate consistency and fairness. Many medical and disability 

authorities have questioned the use of a disability retirement threshold. 

Historically, the disability retirement threshold stems from “A Report 

and Recommendation for the Secretary of Defense by the Advisory 

Commission on Service Pay” (December 1948). The historical record 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 23

discussion associated with Recommendation 27 (Disability Retirement: 

Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Personnel), states: 

“Therefore, the standards of disability as used by the Veterans 

Administration [later became Department of Veterans Affairs], which 

are civilian standards, are recommended for classification of disability cases 

into those which may be considered real disability warranting continuing 

monetary benefits and minor disability not warranting such benefits”. 

Congress ultimately incorporated the recommendation in the Career 

Compensation Act of 1949. Logically, the disability retirement threshold 

creates an adversarial situation within the DES, when the DES is primarily 

charged with deciding fit/unfit status. Servicemembers obviously 

endeavor to reach the threshold because it results in lifelong benefits 

such as health care, commissary/exchange privileges, etc., as well as 

annuity payments. This contributes to tension in the process, adds to 

servicemember discontent in a system that places the burden of proof 

on the servicemember who, in many cases, does not have the experience 

or knowledge, despite assistance, to build a proper case. Additionally, a 

major challenge is navigating the confusing, inconsistent, and patchwork 

laws associated with DES. This has resulted in the service branches being 

inconsistent at times with each other in determining fitness/unfitness and 

the level of disability. 

For VA, examinations performed by DoD for purposes of determining 

fitness for continued service are generally not adequate for application 

of the VASRD in determining, for VA disability compensation purposes, 

the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from all disabilities 

or diseases incurred in, or aggravated by, service. Unless participating 

in the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program, VA must wait 

until a servicemember is discharged and files a claim before obtaining 

service medical records, including any MEB/PEB proceedings, prior to 

determining if additional examinations are needed. This contributes to the 

lengthy claims process faced by veterans.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: The development of 

a joint process whereby VA and DoD cooperate in the assignment of 

a disability evaluation that would be used in determining fitness for 

retention, level of disability for military retirement, and VA disability 

compensation would result in less discontent among servicemembers who 

believe they are assigned lower disability evaluations by DoD than by 

VA. This would also help VA provide better service to newly separated 

veterans by completing their claims in a timelier manner. There are, 

potentially, a number of provisions that could be undertaken to effect this 

recommendation, including providing Benefits Delivery at Discharge type 

service to those servicemembers undergoing the MEB/PEB process.
24 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

The impact of implementing this recommendation will be significant. 

In the near term, having DoD and VA work together to improve the VA 

disability claims process and the DoD MEB/PEB disability process should 

provide improvement across the services in consistency of decisions. In 

the longer term, having full cooperation in the disability claims process 

should provide improved service to servicemembers and veterans at a 

lower cost to the Government through increased efficiencies. 

Implementation Action and Target Date:

Develop an in-depth plan for VA/DoD collaboration in the MEB/PEB 

process: Using the present interagency process provided by the Benefits 

and Joint Executive Committees (BEC and JEC), DoD and VA will develop 

options presented to leadership in both VA and DoD for review. 

Target Date: Begun April 3, 2007; VA to participate in Advisory Council 

meeting on May 3, 2007.

Recommendation P-2: Develop a System of Co-Management and 

Case Management 

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense and Veterans Affairs

Lead Agency: Defense

Recommendation: DoD and VA will develop a system of co-management 

and case management of active duty servicemembers.

Background: Since VA began the Seamless Transition Program in 2003, 

more than 6,800 active duty servicemembers have been transferred 

from Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) to VA medical centers for 

rehabilitation, specialty inpatient care, and outpatient services. When a 

servicemember is transferred, the receiving VA medical center assigns 

health care providers and a case manager. It is not uncommon for 

a servicemember to return to the MTF for additional evaluation or 

treatment, and to then be transferred back to the same or a different VA 

medical center for subsequent care or even to be seen in the private sector.

Gap Analysis: There are no formal agreements as to how active duty 

servicemembers will be co-managed when they receive health care 

and services from both DoD and VA. There are no agreements on the 

definition of case management, the functions of case managers, or how 

DoD and VA case managers transfer patients to one another to assure 

continuity of care.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 25

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Implementation 

of case management will assure that the health care of active duty 

servicemembers treated by both DoD and VA is well-coordinated and 

that each servicemember has an identified “primary” Case Manager 

overseeing all care and services. While the servicemember is on active 

duty, the MTF will assign a “primary” Case Manager, who will follow 

the patient across episodes and sites of care, including VA. Assignment 

of the “primary” Case Manager will include signing a formal agreement 

with the servicemember indicating the responsibilities of the “primary” 

Case Manager and the services they will provide to the servicemember. 

The “primary” Case Manager will coordinate and track services provided 

to the servicemember, serve as the primary point of contact about that 

servicemember for the MTF interdisciplinary team, oversee other DoD 

case managers working with the servicemember (including Community 

Based Health Care Organization case managers, the Army’s Wounded 

Warrior Program, Marines for Life, the Military Severely Injured Center, 

etc.), collaborate with the VA medical center case manager, collaborate 

with the VA Liaison working at the MTF, and communicate regularly 

with the servicemember and his/her family. Once the servicemember 

is separated from active duty and becomes a veteran, the “primary” 

Case Manager responsibilities will transfer to the VA case manager. 

The transfer to a VA “primary” Case Manager will include the signing 

of another formal agreement, indicating the transfer of primary case 

management responsibilities from the DoD “primary” Case Manager 

to the VA “primary” Case Manager. The DoD former “primary” Case 

Manager, the VA new “primary” Case Manager, and the veteran (or 

responsible party) will sign the agreement, which will describe the 

transfer of case management responsibilities and the plan for continuing 

health care delivery.

VA and DoD will collaborate on a joint policy document, defining and 

describing the “primary” case management functions, setting competency 

standards and training requirements, describing when and how transfers 

of primary case management responsibilities will happen, and how the 

“primary” Case Manager will coordinate services and collaborate with the 

VA case manager, interdisciplinary team members, the VA Liaison at the 

MTF, the Service Liaison at the VA, and the stakeholders including case 

managers in other governmental or private sector facilities providing care. 

The policy document will include a diagram of the DoD case management 

system, the VA case management system, and the bridge between the two 

using the “primary” Case Manager. It will also describe coordination with 

DoD disability evaluation system, and VA benefits counselors and case 

workers processing claims for non-health care VA benefits. 
26 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Joint Memorandum of Agreement: VA and DoD will develop 

a Memorandum of Agreement for the development of policy on 

the joint co-management and case management of active duty 

servicemembers.

Target Date: Draft of Joint MOA with DoD by April 30, 2007

2. Standardization of Case Management: VA and DoD will form a 

DoD/VA work group to standardize case management processes, 

including practice guidelines, common use of definitions and 

functions, and transfers of case management responsibilities across 

DoD/VA. A charter for the work group has been drafted.

Target Date: Began work group informally in January 2007. Charter 

to formalize workgroup sent for comments/concurrence to DoD on 

April 9, 2007. Projected Completion of Charter by April 30, 2007. 

3. Policy Document: DoD and VA will form a work group to draft a 

joint policy document on co-management and case management of 

active duty servicemembers. The policy document will include: a 

definition of case manager and “primary” case manager; functions 

of VA and DoD case managers; competency standards for VA 

and DoD case managers; training required for VA and DoD case 

managers; the accountability of “primary” case managers for 

oversight across episodes and sites of care (including at civilian/

private sector care facilities when referred there by VA or DoD); a 

formal agreement with servicemembers acknowledging when the 

DoD “primary” case manager is assigned and when the “primary” 

case manager responsibilities are transferred to the VA “primary” 

care manager when the servicemember is separated/retired from 

active duty and becomes a veteran; and implementation plans for 

the model of case management in each Service and in VA.

Target Date: Draft of the policy document by July 30, 2007

4. Primary Case Managers: 

•	 Each MTF will assign a “primary” Case Manager to each 

servicemember who will be transferred to VA for health 

care services.

•	 Each VA Medical Center will assign a nurse or social worker 

Case Manager to servicemembers transferred from a MTF 

and others in need of case management services. Once the 

servicemember is separated or retired from active duty, the VA 

Case Manager will become the “primary” Case Manager.

Target Date: To begin by May 30, 2007
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 27

5. Tracking System: DoD has granted VA access to the Joint Patient 

Tracking Application (JPTA) to give receiving providers access 

to patient tracking information on seriously ill/ very seriously ill, 

and servicemembers that are being transferred to VA or are being 

treated by VA. This will assure continuity of care. 

Target Date: Began in February 2007

6. BEC and HEC: The Benefits Executive Council and the Health 

Executive Council will collaborate on oversight of implementation 

of the recommendation and action steps.

Target Date: To begin by May 30, 2007

7. VA OEF/OIF Coordinator: VA will establish an OEF/OIF Team at 

VA Headquarters to address all OEF/OIF operational and outreach 

issues at the national level and to support and assist the newlydesignated VA Regional Office OEF/OIF Managers.

Target Date: April 30, 2007

8. VA Policy Handbook: 

•	 The VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will 

publish a policy Handbook on “Transition of Care and Case 

Management of OEF/OIF Veterans.” It will cover three 

oversight functions of medical, social, and administration of 

command case worker issues.

Target Date: Published March 26, 2007

•	 VBA will develop a section to be added to the VHA Handbook 

describing coordination of benefits and case management of 

benefits claims.

Target Date: by May 30, 2007

Recommendation P-3: Enhance Electronic Health Record for 

Transition of OEF/OIF Veterans

Lead Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will enhance the ability of VA medical centers to 

provide health care services to Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation 

Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans through information technology (IT) 

modifications to CPRS.
28 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Background: The Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) is 

an integrated, comprehensive suite of clinical applications that work 

together to create a longitudinal view of the veteran’s electronic 

health record. It is a key part of clinical care in VA and is used by 

interdisciplinary teams of health care providers to record, create, 

archive and access electronic information covering all aspects of patient 

care and treatment. The comprehensive cover screen displays timely, 

patient-centric information including active problems, allergies, current 

medications, recent laboratory results, vital signs, hospitalizations, and 

outpatient clinic history. This information is displayed immediately when 

a patient is selected in CPRS and provides an accurate overview of the 

patient’s current status before clinical interventions are ordered. CPRS 

functionality includes electronic order entry and management, free text 

and template-driven narrative notes entry and browsing, laboratory 

results display, consultation requests, links to scheduling and reporting, 

workload documentation, procedure reporting, medical image browsing, 

pharmacy profiling and medication administration documentation, and 

alerting for abnormal results, critical events, and services needed in 

support of clinical guidelines.

CPRS organizes and presents all relevant data on a patient in a way that 

directly supports clinical decision-making and promotes patient safety. 

A notification system immediately alerts clinicians about clinically 

significant events, such as critical lab values. The patient posting system 

prominently displays to clinicians that information is available in the 

patient’s record regarding crisis notes, warnings, adverse reactions 

and advance directives. The real-time order checking system alerts 

clinicians as they enter new orders that a possible problem could exist 

if the order is processed. The clinical reminder system helps caregivers 

deliver higher quality care to patients for both preventive health care 

and management of chronic conditions and ensures that timely clinical 

interventions are initiated.

CPRS continues to evolve; VA is now re-engineering the system to allow 

greater customization and support for a wider variety of clinical and 

business requirements that include quicker, integrated access to clinical 

information; easier integration with commercial software; and rapid 

deployment of new functionality.

Gap Analysis: VA identified seven information technology (IT) initiatives 

that will enhance CPRS and the ability of VA providers to care for OEF/

OIF veterans. Current gaps in the system that will be addressed by these 

new IT initiatives include:

•	 Access to the demographic and health care data in the Joint 

Patient Tracking System (JPTA) used by the Department of 

Defense in order to provide comprehensive services to active duty 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 29

servicemembers transferred to VA facilities for rehabilitation and 

outpatient care.

•	 The inability to electronically track veterans with traumatic brain 

injury (TBI) and the care they receive.

•	 The lack of an interface between the Bidirectional Health 

Information Exchange (BHIE) and the Clinical Data 

Repository/Health Data Repository (CHDR) for access to DoD 

combat theater data.

•	 No reliable way to identify polytrauma patients in CPRS to ensure 

priority care and appointment scheduling.

•	 No reliable way to identify OEF/OIF veterans in CPRS to allow for 

priority care and appointment scheduling.

•	 Lack of a process for a smooth “hand-off” of patient information 

when active duty servicemembers transfer to VA facilities.

•	 The inability of VA providers to access paper DoD inpatient health 

records for servicemembers they are treating.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: These IT initiatives will 

enhance CPRS capability and will allow VA providers easier access to 

key information on the OEF/OIF patients treated. The initiatives will also 

improve the seamless transition process when OEF/OIF servicemembers 

transfer to VA health care facilities and will allow for better tracking of 

OEF/OIF veterans, including those with TBI.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Development of the Veterans Tracking Application (VTA), 

VA’s version of DoD’s Joint Patient Tracking Application (JPTA) 

and subsequent interface with CPRS using the Bidirectional 

Health Information Exchange. DoD has provided VA access to 

the demographic and health care data in JPTA. VTA will make a 

real‐time query using BHIE framework to provide visibility 

of these data to VA providers, including case managers. The 

VistA/CPRS Web interface will support the viewing capability of 

these demographic and critical patient history data collected in the 

OEF/OIF theater of operation for servicemembers/veterans using 

both health care systems.

Target Date: September 2007

2. Create a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Database to track patients 

who have experienced a TBI. DoD and VA should both contribute 

to the registry. Review of the database will allow VA and DoD to 

monitor the quality of care, implement improvements in the system 
30 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

of care, and improve the ability to analyze trends in health care 

needs of TBI patients to better plan for their needs.

Target Date: September 2007

3. Create DoD/VA BHIE-CHDR (Theater) Interface: Creation of this 

interface will provide VA clinicians with comprehensive access 

to DoD combat theater data on injured OEF/OIF servicemembers 

and veterans. The interface will allow VA providers with real-time 

viewing access to these data from the CPRS application.

Target Date: September 2007

4. Create Polytrauma Marker in CPRS to allow for identification of 

OEF/OIF servicemembers and veterans with polytraumatic injuries. 

The marker would include OEF/OIF period of service, discharge 

date, combat status, and diagnoses that reflect residuals of trauma.

Target Date: NLT September 2008

5. Create an OEF/OIF Combat Veteran Identifier in CPRS to allow 

easy identification of OEF/OIF veterans to assure priority care and 

scheduling.

Target Date: NLT September 2008

6. Create an Electronic Patient Hand-Off Information System/

Clinical Transfer Form to allow clinicians in VA and DoD to 

communicate key patient care information at the time a patient is 

transferred from one facility to another.

Target Date: NLT September 2008

7. Build DoD Scanning Interface with CPRS to allow VA providers 

to electronically view the scanned paper inpatient health records 

of OEF/OIF servicemembers who have been transferred to VA 

facilities. The Army is funding a pilot program for polytrauma 

patients treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who are 

transferred to one of the four VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation 

Centers. This initiative expands that pilot.

Target Date: NLT September 2008
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 31

Recommendation P-4: Improve VA Access to Health Records of 

Servicemembers Treated in VA Health Care Facilities

Lead Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense and Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: Continue to improve and ensure timely electronic 

access by VA to DoD paper and electronic health records for 

servicemembers treated in VA facilities.

Background: In 2004, VA and DoD began sharing electronic health data, 

including outpatient pharmacy and allergy information, laboratory results 

and radiology report data, between DoD and VA facilities when patients 

receive care from both systems. This capability, known as the Bidirectional 

Health Information Exchange (BHIE), is now operational at all VA 

medical facilities and at 15 DoD medical centers, 18 hospitals, and over 

190 outlying clinics. In order to accelerate the bidirectional sharing of data, 

VA and DoD are developing a program to ensure that all DoD AHLTA 

locations and all VA facilities have viewable access to electronic health 

data. Additionally, VA and DoD are expanding the kinds of information 

that is to be shared through the interface, including Encounter Notes, 

Procedures, and Patient Problem Lists.

For servicemembers being transferred to VA facilities, VA social worker 

liaisons assigned to Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) are ensuring that 

all pertinent inpatient records are copied and transferred with the patient 

to the receiving VA facility. To accelerate the sharing of these paper 

records and to better organize and make them more accessible to VA 

clinicians, VA and DoD have implemented a scanning pilot at Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and National Naval Medical Center 

(Bethesda) for seriously injured combat veterans of Operation Enduring 

Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In a related effort, a process has 

been implemented to transmit radiological images from DoD to the VA. 

These images are currently being transmitted from WRAMC and Bethesda 

to the Tampa VA Polytrauma Center. Efforts are underway to add Brooke 

Army Medical Center, as a third DoD facility and to add the other three 

VA Polytrauma Centers located at Palo Alto, California; Minneapolis, 

Minnesota; and Richmond, Virginia. 

In January 2007, VA and DoD announced a groundbreaking agreement 

to collaborate on the development of a joint inpatient electronic health 

record (EHR). This initiative will facilitate the seamless transition of active 

duty servicemembers to veteran status by making the inpatient healthcare 

data on shared beneficiaries immediately accessible to both DoD and VA 

healthcare providers using a common inpatient solution. 
32 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Gap Analysis: Since 2003, when VA began the Seamless Transition 

Program, more than 6,800 Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 

Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) servicemembers have been transferred to 

VA health care facilities for rehabilitation and other inpatient and 

outpatient care. VA health care providers need access to the health 

records of servicemembers transferred from MTFs in order to assure 

continuity of care and delivery of the best possible health care services. 

Although significant progress has been made on sharing electronic health 

information, more needs to be done.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: The recommendation will 

assure that pilot programs for health data exchange are carefully reviewed 

and expanded across DoD and VA. The recommendation also assures 

that the Departments continue to partner to resolve the challenges and 

difficulties with the transfer of health records.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Expansion of Electronic Health Record Access: Develop and 

implement near term, mid-term,and long-term health IT solutions 

when appropriate (e.g., Walter Reed Scanning Project, Image 

Sharing Project between the National Capital Area DoD medical 

facilities and the VA Polytrauma Centers).

Target Dates: 

•	 Near term: Electronic transfer of digital radiographs from Walter 

Reed and Bethesda medical centers to Tampa VA Polytrauma 

Center - Completed in March 2007.

•	 Mid-term: Electronic transfer of digital radiographs from Walter 

Reed, Bethesda, and Brooke MTF’s to Tampa, Minneapolis, 

Richmond, and Palo Alto VA Polytrauma Centers – June 30, 2007. 

•	 Long term: Enterprise-wide sharing of all digital images 

between all VA and MHS facilities – September 2008 – 2010.

2. Transmission of Historical DoD Data: Continue to support the 

maintenance and enhancement, as appropriate, of existing VA and 

DoD data exchanges that support the one-way transmission of 

historical DoD data at the time of separation and the bidirectional 

sharing of data for shared patients (e.g., adding domains of data to 

Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE). 

Target Dates: Represents dates by which additional domains of data 

will be added to BHIE: 

•	 Allergies, Outpatient Medications (including Pharmacy Data 

Transaction Service), Laboratory Results (Chemistry and 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 33

Hematology) and Radiology) available from all DoD facilities to 

all facilities: June 30, 2007.

•	 Provider Notes, Procedures, and Problem Lists: 

January 30, 2008. 

•	 Theater Data: January 30, 2008.

•	 Vital Signs: March 30, 2008.

•	 Family History/Social History/Other History, Questionnaires 

and Forms: September 30, 2008.

3. Long-Term Initiatives: Continue to identify and collaborate on 

long-term state of the art information management and technology 

initiatives that accelerate and support the sharing of health data 

between DoD and VA (e.g., Joint Inpatient Record Project).

Target Dates: 

•	 Initiate independent, 3rd party assessment project (June 30, 2007).

•	 Define scope and elements of a joint inpatient EHR 

(June 30, 2007).

•	 Identify “Head-start” opportunities for DoD-VA interoperability 

and sharing of healthcare information (September 30, 2007).

•	 Define Department-unique and joint inpatient EHR functional 

requirements for potential joint application identified in an 

operational model (business architecture) at a level sufficient 

to support subsequent Analysis of Alternatives efforts. 

(January 31, 2008).

Recommendation P-5: Improve the Electronic Enrollment Process

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: Veterans Affairs will improve the electronic enrollment 

process for Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom 

(OEF/OIF) veterans.

Background: VA provides a comprehensive medical benefits package 

for enrolled veterans. Veterans who served in combat locations during 

active military service after November 11, 1998, are eligible for priority 

enrollment into Priority Group 6 and for free health care for services for 

conditions potentially related to combat service for two years following 

separation from active duty. Veterans apply for enrollment by completing 

a VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, in person at a VA 

health care facility, online, or by mailing an application to a health care 

facility. Paper and online versions of the VA Form 10-10EZ do not allow 
34 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

for identification of OEF/OIF veterans, nor notify them that they are not 

required to provide income information as a condition of enrollment. 

The online application does not provide e-authentication or e-signature 

capabilities thereby requiring veterans to submit signed applications and 

complete the entire form, including questions for which information is 

already available to VA. 

Gap Analysis:

•	 The current VA electronic enrollment form has drop down-boxes 

to allow the selection of a period of military service. There is no 

selection option for OEF/OIF veterans.

•	 VA enrollment forms do not appropriately notify OEF/OIF 

veterans that they are not required to provide their income 

information as a condition of enrollment.

•	 Applicants are burdened to complete the entire online application, 

including information already available to VA. 

•	 Currently, when a combat veteran receives health care services, the 

VA provider must make the determination at each episode of care 

that the care provided is related to the combat experience of the 

OEF/OIF veteran.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: VA would enhance 

identification of OEF/OIF veterans, thereby facilitating enrollment 

processing and access to health benefits. The enhancements also assure 

that combat veterans do not pay co-payments for health care provided for 

care of combat-related conditions.

The first action step would improve the enrollment process and allow 

for easier identification of OEF/OIF veterans who are enrolled for 

VA health care services. The second action step will streamline the 

enrollment application process by reducing the burdens on veterans to 

provide information already available to VA, improving identification of 

GWOT veterans and improve veterans’ access to benefits, and reducing 

administrative burden. The third action would assure that combat 

veterans would not receive bills for co-payments for health care provided 

that is related to their combat experiences. The third action would also 

eliminate the need for VA providers to annotate that each episode of care 

was related to combat experience, saving time and provider resources.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. VA 10-10EZ Form: Revise the existing VA electronic enrollment 

form to include a selection option for “OEF/OIF” in the drop 

down-boxes to indicate period of military service. In addition, 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 35

amend the Financial Disclosure Section of the online and paper 

forms to notify OEF/OIF combat veterans that they are not required 

to provide financial information in order to be enrolled. These 

adaptations to the form will not require approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget.

Target Date: June 30, 2007

2. Self-Service Application: Implement an improved online benefit 

application to enhance access to VA’s health care and reduce 

burden on GWOT veterans seeking benefits or providing updates 

to their personal information. This enhancement will also reduce 

administrative burden by automatically retrieving DoD’s military 

service and combat information to establish the veteran’s eligibility 

for VA health care. Features of this application include: 

•	 E-authentication and e-signature;

•	 Integration with My HealtheVet;

•	 Account creation and allow for partial save;

•	 Guided interview;

•	 Streamlined application / registration process by implementing 

queries to authoritative sources (Master Patient Index for 

ICN, Enrollment System Redesign (ESR) for pre-population of 

eligibility and enrollment information); and

•	 Leverage ESR business rules engine to provide preliminary 

benefits package information to new applicants and current 

package to enrollees.

Target Date: June 30, 2008

3. Presumed Combat Experience: Implement an IT enhancement to 

the electronic enrollment process that presumes the care provided 

to combat veterans is related to the combat experience.

Target Date: July 30, 2007

Recommendation P-6: Use Department of Defense (DoD) Military 

Service Information as part of VA’s Enrollment Process

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs, Defense

Lead Agency: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will ensure efficient use of DoD military service 

information as part of VA’s enrollment process.
36 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Background: VA provides a comprehensive medical benefits package for 

enrolled veterans. Veterans who served in combat locations during active 

military service after November 11, 1998, are eligible for priority enrollment into Priority Group 6 and for free health care for services for conditions potentially related to combat service for two years following separation from active duty. Veterans apply for enrollment by completing a VA 

Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, in person at a VA health 

care facility, online, or by mailing an application to a health care facility. 

VA staff must manually verify the applicant’s eligibility for VA health 

care benefits and enter the data into VistA. Verification of military service 

is typically accomplished by querying VA, by viewing military service 

information in VA/ DoD Identity Repository (VADIR) or by the veteran 

providing a DD-214. VA receives daily feeds of military service information (including combat information) from DoD. This information is stored 

in VADIR. Appendix C contains a graphic depicting the VA health enrollment process.

Gap Analysis:

•	 VA must build a service infrastructure around VADIR to make the 

military service data available to the Enrollment System Redesign 

(ESR). ESR must also build an interface to the VADIR.

•	 VA’s eligibility verification process is manual and inefficient and 

fails to leverage available military service data.

•	 Applicants are burdened to provide proof of military service in 

order to establish eligibility for VA health care benefits. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: VA would leverage 

DoD’s military service information to establish veteran’s eligibility for 

VA health care benefits and improve identification of OEF/OIF veterans 

thereby facilitating enrollment processing and access to health benefits. 

This enhancement will enable returning GWOT veterans to receive valid 

and timely determinations of their eligibility and reduce the burden 

on veterans to provide proof of eligibility for care. Improved usage 

of military service information will result in increased revenue and 

decreased administrative burden by improving VA’s ability to identify 

and more easily bill for care provided to patients seen under TRICARE 

and other sharing agreements. 

Implementation Action and Target Date:

Use of Military Service Information: Enhance the Enrollment System 

Redesign (ESR) to query the VADIR to obtain and use the veteran’s 

military service and combat information to establish the veteran’s 

eligibility for enrollment in the VA health care system. 

Target Date: June 2008 to January 2009 and presumes that VA builds a 

service infrastructure around VADIR.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 37

Recommendation P-7: Create an Embedded Fragment Surveillance 

Center and Registry 

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will expand its mission to include the active 

surveillance of veterans with embedded fragments containing other 

potentially hazardous materials.

Background: The current estimate from DoD is that up to 5,000 GWOT 

servicemembers and veterans have shrapnel or retained fragment 

wounds. The number continues to grow as more servicemembers receive 

blast injuries in the combat theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan. Lessons 

learned have demonstrated that retained metal fragments are not inert 

in the body and are slowly absorbed over time and can have an effect on 

one’s health. The effects of systemic absorption from embedded metal 

fragments can be minimized and managed in a surveillance setting. 

Gap Analysis: Currently there is no way of easily identifying and tracking 

such veterans embedded with fragments. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: The Surveillance Center 

and registry would allow VA to identify and provide clinical surveillance 

to GWOT veterans with retained fragments and to initiate early 

intervention for resulting health care problems.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center: VA would create and 

staff the Center, which would provide identification/case-finding 

and surveillance to improve the care of GWOT veterans with 

retained fragments from improvised explosive devices or other 

wounds.

Target Date: Initiation of Surveillance Center program — April 2008 

2. Registry: Create a registry of GWOT veterans at risk for health 

problems from retained embedded fragments.

Target Date: Initiation of case-finding /out-patient screening 

— January 2008 
38 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Recommendation P-8: Develop Memorandum of Understanding and 

Agreement for VA Liaisons at Military Treatment Facilities

Lead Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense and Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA and DoD will develop a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) between the two Departments and a separate 

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for each Military Treatment Facility 

(MTF) with VA Liaisons are assigned and for VA facilities where Service 

Liaisons are assigned as part of seamless transition.

Background: In 2003, VA implemented the Seamless Transition Program 

to assist Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi 

Freedom (OIF) servicemembers in accessing VA benefits and VA health 

care services. VA worked with DoD to identify the Military Treatment 

Facilities (MTFs) most in need of VA social worker Liaisons to assist 

with seamless transition, based on the sites receiving the largest numbers 

of injured servicemembers from OEF/OIF. VA then assigned full-time 

social workers as Liaisons to those identified MTFs to help MTF staff 

with transfers of care to VA medical centers and to educate active duty 

servicemembers and their families about VA health care benefits. VA 

Liaisons are currently assigned to:

•	 Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio, TX);

•	 Darnall Army Community Hospital (Ft. Hood, TX);

•	 Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon (Augusta, GA);

•	 Evans Army Community Hospital (Ft. Carson, CO);

•	 Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis (Tacoma, WA);

•	 National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda, MD);

•	 Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, CA);

•	 Naval Medical Center (San Diego, CA);

•	 Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, DC); and

•	 Womack Army Medical Center (Ft. Bragg, NC).

In addition to VA Liaisons assigned to the 10 MTFs, VA has assigned 

benefits counselors to those same MTFs to provide information about 

non‐health care related benefits and to assist servicemembers and their 

families in applying for VA benefits to which they are entitled while still 

on active duty. VA is open to assigning full or part-time Liaisons and/or 

benefits counselors at additional MTFs at the request of DoD to support 

seamless transition activities.

Gap Analysis: VA Liaisons have been assigned to MTF’s since 

August 2003. However, formal MOAs were never developed that 

described the functions of the Liaisons; responsibilities of VA and of 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 39

the MTF in terms of equipment, access to information, the referral 

process, and office space; supervisory oversight; and other procedural 

and logistical issues. The informal agreements made with the MTF 

commanders are subject to change with command changes and do not 

make levels of support and responsibility on both sides clear. An MOA 

was developed for the most recent assignment of a Liaison at the Naval 

Medical Center, San Diego.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Having a formal MOU 

with DoD and an MOA with each MTF will assure that VA Liaisons have 

access to space, equipment, resources, and information needed to perform 

their duties and be in concert with the VA/DoD Joint Strategic Plan for 

FY 2007-2009. The MOA will also assure that VA and the MTF and DoD 

and the VA facility are clear on responsibilities and accountability for the 

services provided by VA and Service Liaisons. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. MOU: DoD and VA will develop and enter into a formal MOU.

Target Date: May 31, 2007

2. Concurrence on MOUs: The VA Sharing Office will assist with 

concurrence from and signatures by VA and each specific MTF.

Target Date: MOUs signed with each MTF by June 30, 2007

3. Access to Information: As part of the MOA with each MTF, access 

to pertinent personnel information on servicemembers expected 

to transition to VA health care services within two to four weeks 

of discharge will be granted to VA Liaisons for their specific MTF, 

to include: 

•	 Name

•	 Social Security Number

•	 Date of Birth

•	 Current location (unit assignment, etc.)

•	 Phone number

•	 Address

•	 Scheduled separation date, if known

Target Date: MOAs signed with each MTF by June 30, 2007

4. VA Liaison Services at other MTFs: Each VA medical center has a 

master’s degree prepared nurse or social worker serving as OEF/OIF 

Program Manager. The OEF/OIF Program Manager can serve as 

part-time VA Liaison for MTFs without an assigned VA Liaison.

Target Date: May 30, 2007
40 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Recommendation P-9: Screen All Veterans of the Global War on 

Terror For TBI

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will screen all GWOT veterans seen in VA health 

care facilities for mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Background: The mission of VA’s Polytrauma System of Care is to 

provide and coordinate specialized rehabilitation services for veterans and 

active duty servicemembers with lasting disabilities due to trauma. It is a 

tiered system of care consisting of four regional Polytrauma Rehabilitation 

Centers, which provide acute intensive medical and rehabilitation care for 

complex and severe polytraumatic injuries; 21 Polytrauma Rehabilitation 

Network Sites, which manage post-acute sequelae of polytrauma; and 

76 Polytrauma Support Clinic Teams, which serve patients with stable 

polytrauma sequelae and those patients with newly-identified mild or 

moderate TBI. Specially-trained and experienced VA providers staff 

the Polytrauma System of Care at all levels, including physiatrists, 

neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, physical 

therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, 

certified rehabilitation nurses, registered nurses, social workers, blind 

rehabilitation specialists, and therapeutic recreation specialists.

Gap Analysis:

•	 The majority of the GWOT servicemembers and veterans treated 

in the VA Polytrauma System of Care have suffered a major TBI 

and are easily diagnosed, given their symptoms and the extent of 

their co-morbid injuries. However, given the prevalence of blast 

injuries in the combat theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan, active 

duty servicemembers may suffer undiagnosed mild to moderate 

traumatic brain injuries without displaying obvious symptoms.

•	 Although TBI is a significant public health problem, currently there are 

no validated screening instruments accepted for use in clinical practice.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: The action steps that are 

part of this recommendation will ensure VA providers are adequately 

trained to screen for and diagnose mild to moderate TBI. Over 50,000 

VA providers have already successfully completed the Veterans 

Health Initiative on TBI. The clinical reminder on TBI has been under 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 41

development in VA for several months and will be implemented as part 

of Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) in early April 2007. 

The creation of clinical practice recommendations will help standardize 

screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Mild to moderate TBI when undiagnosed can impact the ability of 

GWOT veterans to obtain and hold gainful employment, interfere with 

daily functioning, lead to interpersonal and family difficulties, and be 

misdiagnosed as a mental illness. Screening and appropriately diagnosing 

mild to moderate TBIs will allow VA providers to treat such injuries. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Training: Train VA providers about mild to moderate TBI, 

including how to diagnose and how to refer for further evaluation 

and/or treatment, using a web-based independent study course 

which is part of the Veterans Health Initiative series of training 

programs.

Target Date: Completed March 31, 2007 

2. Clinical Reminder: Develop an automatic, electronic clinical 

reminder as part of the VA CPRS to alert VA providers to screen 

for TBI in GWOT veterans, to include screening protocol and a 

screening instrument. Provide policy guidance on the clinical 

reminder and screening protocol and instrument.

Target Date: April 30, 2007

3. Clinical Practice Recommendations: Form a work group 

comprised of DoD, VA, other public and private sector specialists 

in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology, Psychiatry, 

Psychology, Primary Care and Prevention, and in consultation 

with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), create 

clinical practice recommendations for the screening, diagnosis and 

treatment of TBI. The practice recommendations would include 

algorithms, checklists, and referral guidance. 

Target Date: September 30, 2007
42 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Recommendation P-10: Enhance Capacity to Provide Dental Care

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will enhance capacity to provide dental care for 

GWOT veterans by purchasing dental care in the private sector.

Background: Honorably discharged veterans are eligible for one episode 

of comprehensive dental care to be provided by VA if such care was 

not provided by the military prior to separation from active duty. 

Veterans rated 100 percent service-connected or paid compensation at 

the 100 percent service-connected rate due to their service-connected 

disabilities are eligible for repeat dental care from VA. 

Gap Analysis:

•	 VA’s Dental Service currently provides dental care to 

approximately 336,000 veterans, which is less than 6.5 percent 

of all veterans who receive health care from VA. The percentage 

of patients treated for enduring comprehensive dental care has 

increased from 43 percent to 55 percent in the last six years.

•	 The number of veterans seeking one episode of dental care in the 

past five years has tripled.

•	 VA Dental Service is limited in the amount of dental care it can 

provide due to the number of dental providers and difficulties in 

recruiting such providers.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: VA can purchase care in 

the private sector for eligible veterans to augment services provided by 

VA dentists and other dental providers. This recommendation will allow 

VA to meet the growing demand for dental care.

Implementation Action and Target Date:

Purchase Dental Care: VA will increase immediate dental care capacity 

by allocating additional short-term funding to purchase care from contract 

and private sector providers through the VA Fee Services Program.

Target Date: May 30, 2007 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 43

Recommendation P-11: Extend Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation 

Determination Time Limit

Lead Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service 

(VR&E) will authorize the immediate extension, to 18 months, for an 

Individualized Extended Evaluation Plans (IEEP) for those OIF/OEF 

participants whose severity of injuries warrant additional time to make 

the determination of current feasibility of achieving an employment goal 

while continuing to provide independent living services.

Background: The VR&E program provides assistance to veterans with 

service-connected disabilities and servicemembers awaiting medical 

discharge from the military to help them prepare for, obtain, and retain 

employment in the civilian workforce. For those veterans with a serious 

employment handicap and for whom employment is not currently 

feasible, the program provides independent living services under an 

Individualized Independent Living Plan (IILP). When a Vocational 

Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines that an employment goal 

is not currently feasible, an evaluation of the veteran’s independent 

living needs will be conducted. The VRC and veteran will work together 

to identify the individual’s needs and an IILP will be developed to 

provide the services necessary to meet those identified needs. Referral 

to specialized rehabilitation facilities and/or for consultation with other 

rehabilitation professionals may be necessary in the development and 

implementation of an IILP.

When the feasibility of achieving an employment goal cannot be readily 

determined, independent living services are available to veterans and 

servicemembers with serious employment handicaps under an IEEP. The 

purpose of an IEEP is to determine whether it is currently feasible for an 

individual to achieve an employment goal. Various services to evaluate 

this feasibility can be provided, including a full-range of independent 

living services. An IEEP cannot exceed 12 months without VR&E Officer 

approval. This is applicable to both veterans and servicemembers.

Gap Analysis: Many individuals are returning from the Global War on 

Terror (GWOT) with very serious injuries, including traumatic brain 

injury. An individual’s feasibility to participate in a program of vocational 

rehabilitation leading to an employment goal and to overcome a serious 

employment handicap may not be readily apparent within the 12-month 

initial period allowed for completion of an IEEP and, therefore, there could 

be an interruption in services while an extension is evaluated and approved. 
44 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Expediting extensions 

of extended evaluation plans will allow seriously injured GWOT 

individuals sustained access to independent living services. It will 

increase the individual’s ability to benefit from rehabilitative services and 

allow more time to determine the individual’s feasibility of achieving an 

employment goal. 

Those veterans and servicemembers with serious employment handicaps 

resulting from injury or disease incurred in the GWOT, who are so 

severely disabled that a decision cannot yet be made about whether 

an employment goal is currently feasible, will have sustained access 

to independent living services for a period exceeding 12 months, if 

necessary, until a plan for achieving a suitable vocational rehabilitation 

goal can be formulated. 

Implementation Action and Target Date:

Allow immediate extension of the 12-month limit on extended evaluation plans: VR&E Service will issue a policy letter to field staff allowing 

approval of requests for extensions of IEEP’s for GWOT individuals at the 

time the extended evaluation plan is developed. VR&E Service will provide instructions regarding the processing of these extensions and direct 

field staff to consider such factors as the need for ongoing treatment at a 

medical or rehabilitation facility, readjustment to a post-military lifestyle, 

and issues regarding re-locating and establishing a stable home of record. 

Target Date: April 30, 2007

Recommendation P-12: Expedite Adapted Housing and Special 

Home Adaptation Grants Claims

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: VA will further shorten processing time for specially 

adapted housing and/or special home adaptation grants received from 

GWOT servicemembers or veterans. This will be accomplished by 

requiring the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) agent to contact the 

servicemember/veteran within 24-48 hours after the rating decision 

awarding eligibility for the grant is received, in order to explain the 

grant process, determine if there is immediate interest in using the grant, 

and to set-up a face-to-face interview when appropriate. This change in 

service covers all servicemembers and veterans deployed in support of 

the GWOT. This includes all veterans or active duty, National Guard or 

Reserve veterans who were deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 

Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) theatres or in support of these 

combat operations, as identified by the Department of Defense (DoD).
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 45

Background: Servicemembers and veterans who have a specific 

service‐connected disability or combination of disabilities may be entitled 

to a grant from VA for the purpose of constructing an adapted dwelling 

or modifying an existing dwelling to meet the servicemember’s/veteran’s 

disability-related needs. The goal of the SAH Program is to provide a 

barrier-free living environment that affords the servicemember/veteran a 

level of independent living he or she may not otherwise normally enjoy.

There are three types of grants administered by VA that are available to 

assist severely disabled servicemembers/veterans in adapting housing to 

meet their special needs: 

•	 The SAH Grant is available to disabled servicemembers/

veterans who are entitled to a wheelchair accessible home 

especially adapted for their needs. 

•	 The Special Home Adaptation Grant is available to 

servicemembers and veterans who are entitled to adaptation 

because of blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or 

less, or includes the anatomical loss of both hands.

•	 The Temporary Assistance Grant (TRA) is available only to 

disabled veterans, not servicemembers, who are entitled to 

adaptations as listed above for the purpose of adapting a 

house, owned by a member of the eligible veteran’s family, 

in which the veteran intends to temporarily reside. 

Gap Analysis: The SAH grant is designed as a servicemember/veteran 

preference program; in other words, the servicemember/veteran is 

empowered to choose most of the business participants involved in the 

construction and lending aspects of their home adaptation. While VA 

presently takes every opportunity to expedite these grant cases, it does not 

have significant control over the timeframe of the 

servicemember’s/veteran’s adaptation project. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: VA will expedite 

service for GWOT servicemembers/veterans in all stages of the grant 

application process, to include providing timely initial contact and 

frequent communication. Focusing existing resources on eligible GWOT 

servicemembers and veterans will allow those individuals to return to 

their communities sooner rather than later and be housed in a home that 

will enable them to be either fully or partially independent. 

Implementation Action and Target Date:

Procedures for implementation of this recommendation will be to 

developed and disseminated to appropriate individuals in VA’s 

field stations. 
46 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

To expedite the process, the SAH agent will begin the notification 

process by immediately (within 24-48 hours) contacting any GWOT 

servicemember/veteran as soon as either a rating decision establishing 

basic entitlement or an application is received rather than waiting to 

receive both documents. 

In addition, the SAH agent will contact the servicemember or veteran 

at every critical juncture of the grant application process to ensure he 

or she understands the progress of his or her grant application. Such 

frequent communication will enable the SAH agent to proactively 

identify and help resolve issues related to plans/specifications and other 

construction‐related issues early in the grant application process. 

Target Date: April 30, 2007. 

Recommendation P-13: Participate in Post-Deployment Health 

Reassessment

Agency Responsible for Action: Veterans Affairs

Recommendation: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will require 

medical center directors to fully support Post-Deployment Health 

Reassessment (PDHRA) events at Guard and Reserve units in their 

catchment area.

Background: Following deployments, DoD conducts Post-Deployment 

Health Reassessments to identify health and mental health problems 

incurred by Guard and Reserve members. VA staff have been invited to 

attend the PDHRA events, which are generally held on drill weekends at 

National Guard and Reserve units, to provide information on VA benefits. 

Gap Analysis: Although VA medical centers receive information on 

planned PDHRA events at Guard and Reserve units in their area, VA 

medical center support at these events is not uniformly provided. VA staff 

attending the PDHRA events provide information about VA health care 

services and assist veterans with enrolling for care.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: If VA issues guidance 

to VA medical center and Network Directors that they are expected to 

provide full support to PDHRA events in their catchment areas, VA 

attendance at PDHRA events will dramatically improve. Having VA staff 

at the PDHRA events along with trained Military Service representatives 

will assure Guard and Reserve members have information about the full 

range of VA and DoD health care benefits, services, and programs and 

how to access them. VA staff can also enroll eligible Guard and Reserve 

members and schedule outpatient appointments.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 47

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Distribution of Schedule of PDHRA Events: The Military Services 

will provide the VA Office of Seamless Transition with schedules 

of the PDHRA events. VA Office of Seamless Transition will 

send schedules of PDHRA events to VA medical center seamless 

transition points-of-contact on a monthly basis. 

Target Date: Recurring as these events occur every month 

2. VA Central Office Guidance: The Deputy Under Secretary 

for Health for Operations and Management will describe the 

importance of full support for PDHRA events on a national VA 

conference call with VA medical center and Network Directors.

Target Date: April 30, 2007

Recommendation P-14: Expand Eligibility of PatriotExpress Loan

Agencies Responsible for Action: Small Business, Defense, Labor, 

Veterans Affairs, Management and Budget, all Federal agencies with 

procurement authority

Lead Agency: Small Business Administration

Recommendation: SBA finishes implementation of PatriotExpress Loan 

Initiative to better meet the needs of veterans, service-disabled veterans, 

activated Reserve Component members, discharging servicemembers, 

spouses, survivors, and dependents of servicemembers who died in 

service, or of a service-connected disability. 

Background: SBA’s lending has fallen off proportionately to other small 

business lending, and its Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster 

Loan does not meet the needs of many activating reservist small business 

owners who suffer economic damage to their business while activated. 

Further, discharging servicemembers express significant interest in self 

employment, and spouses of active servicemembers face employment 

barriers because of relocations of servicemembers. 

The loan must be attractive to SBA private lending partners, while having 

no effect on SBA subsidy rate. This loan will serve as the centerpiece of 

an agency-wide marketing and outreach initiative to engage veterans, 

reservists, and other eligible individuals with the full range of SBA 

programs and services.
48 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Gap Analysis: SBA research shows that most veterans, reservists, and 

servicemembers do not know about the full range of procurement, lending, 

and business counseling assistance available from SBA; and the number 

one concern of veterans and service-disabled veterans is access to financing, 

along with knowledge of available small business assistance programs. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: SBA, with the support 

of its other Federal, state and private partners, can better serve existing 

veteran and reservist small business owners, and the growing population 

of discharging servicemembers, including those injured in the Global War 

on Terror (GWOT), in reaching their goal of small business ownership 

through better marketing, outreach and tailored assistance.

The PatriotExpress Loan is an already designed lending initiative 

to veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, discharging 

servicemembers, spouses/survivors and SBA lending partners. The 

Loan Initiative is the centerpiece of broader agency initiatives to 

provide a full range of lending, business counseling and procurement 

programs to veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, discharging 

servicemembers and spouses/survivors within existing authority and 

requires no subsidy. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. SBA finishes internal clearance.

2. SBA/OMB clearance.

3. SBA/OMB Paperwork Reduction Act clearance.

4. SBA Congressional Notice.

5. SBA implements Marketing Plan, with support of other agencies.

Target Date: SBA Implements in May/June (5/30, Memorial Day or 

6/14, Flag Day)

Recommendation P-15: Improve Information Technology (IT) 

Interoperability Between VA and Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS), Indian Health Service (IHS) 

Agencies Responsible for Action: Health and Veterans Affairs

Lead Agency: Health and Human Services

Recommendation: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Indian Health Service 

(IHS) would expand coordination on Executive Branch activities in 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 49

support of the President’s Executive Order on IT interoperability with the 

goal of leveraging Federal activities to adopt standardized data-sharing 

between the VA and IHS health care partners. This exchange will be 

undertaken as a single portal based on HHS recognized standards. 

Background: There is a need to support the patient who seeks care at both 

the VA and Indian Health Service facilities. One of the ways to support 

patient care is to provide the clinicians who care for these veterans with all 

available information. With the increasing numbers of Returning Global 

War on Terror Heroes, this need will increase. 

Gap Analysis: Currently, both VA and IHS have patient health 

information in electronic format. Without nationally recognized protocols, 

policies, and standardization of technical transfer of information, these 

health care partners are faced with three options: 

•	 Develop point-to-point interfaces between various sites with 

currently available technologies and standardization. This is very 

expensive for development/maintenance and can not be replicated 

across various sites. 

•	 Continue low technical work-arounds such as establishing policy 

and practices to allow clinicians to “view” data in the health 

partners system. This places extra burden on the clinician to switch 

between systems with sub-optimal results. 

•	 Partner to support the vision of the Executive Order of August 2006 

to establish the needed, nationally accepted and HHS Secretary 

recognized protocols, policies, and standardization. This will allow 

VA and IHS to build a single suite of technology tools to query 

and receive information across the systems in an electronic format. 

While this option decreases the expense of the first option, it is not 

negligible. Initial collaboration activities will need to be staffed by 

Federal domain matter experts currently fully assigned to other 

tasks. Information Technology development towards a single portal 

will help leverage other technical development projects, but the 

inclusion of another partner will add technical cost which will peak 

in the second half of the multi-year project timeline.

•	 The preferred choice is the third alternative to partner as outlined 

in this recommendation.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Led by HHS, the 

health care industry is seeing an unprecedented movement toward 

standardization as envisioned by the Executive Order. Leading by 
50 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

example to achieve this vision comes with the recognition that the 

deployment of the solutions: 

1) is at least two-three years in the future, 

2) is subject to the availability of funds and prioritization, and 

3) has dependency on public/private activities that are not entirely 

within the Federal control. 

VA and IHS as Federal providers are uniquely positioned to lead by 

example in realizing the vision of the Executive Order. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Develop and sign an MOU - to identify the core activities for VA 

and IHS in this domain.

Target Date: June 2007 

2. Establish a joint group - to negotiate rules for direct engagement at 

lower levels. 

Target Date: June 2007 

3. Develop and sign project-specific agreements - for cross 

coordination of OMB Health Interoperability Scorecard Milestones 

for the achievement of the Executive Order.

Target Date: August 30, 2007

4. Reach consensus on standards - that require joint public/private 

coordination to develop standards for broad health information 

exchange. Identify required allocation of specific resources.

Target Date: August 30, 2007

5. Conduct joint analysis - of final architecture design for 

incorporation of HITSP final implementation standard into the 

single joint portal.

Target Date: October 31, 2007

6. Coordinate participation in HHS managed e-gov Federal Health 

Architecture - activities to develop policies and practices of 

information exchange across Federal partners.

Target Date: October 31, 2007 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 51

Recommendation O-1: Increase Attendance at TAP and 

DTAP Sessions

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, 

Education, Business Administration, Personnel Management

Lead Agency: Defense

Recommendation: DoD will increase attendance at Transition 

Assistance Program (TAP) and Disabled Transition Assistance Program 

(DTAP) sessions to 85 percent of those separating servicemembers and 

demobilizing National Guard and Reserve Forces. 

DoD will ensure TAP presentations include specific information and 

materials or schedule a separate session to address the needs of National 

Guard and Reserve personnel being deactivated. 

VA and DoD will ensure DTAP presentations include specific information 

and materials for injured/disabled servicemembers that are being 

demobilized, deactivated, or discharged. 

Background: The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was developed 

to assist in the transitioning of military personnel and family members 

leaving the service. TAP services are provided on major military 

installations by transition centers and consist of the following sessions:

a. Department of Labor (DOL): In this 2 1⁄2 day session attendees 

learn how to write a resume and cover letter, information on 

skills assessment and job search techniques, and other important 

information about career and job services available through DOL.

b. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): In this 4-hour session, 

attendees learn about VA benefits they may be entitled to including 

health care, counseling, home loan guaranty program, insurance, 

education and more.

c. Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP): This 2-hour 

briefing offers information to those who have an injury or illness 

that is, or may be related to, their military service. Attendees 

learn about eligibility for disability compensation, vocational 

rehabilitation and employment benefits and more.

Gap Analysis: Demobilizing Guard and Reserve servicemembers from 

the GWOT are eligible to receive a 2-hour pre-separation counseling. 

Guard and Reserve members are also eligible to receive a DOL Uniformed 

Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and 

a VA benefits briefing prior to release from active duty including 
52 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

information about application procedures for vocational rehabilitation and 

employment assistance. Additionally, Turbo Tap will provide a valuable 

resource to assist Guard and Reserve members in their information needs 

via a web based system available on a 24/7.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: This recommendation 

would ensure that demobilizing Guard and Reserve members and 

separating injured or disabled members, regardless of component, will 

be given an overview of the TAP program and the benefits and support 

available from DOL and VA as well. It is also recommended that spouses 

be invited to attend. 

TAP and DTAP will provide returning GWOT Heroes, regardless of 

their component and injury status, and their families, the same important 

information and support. In particular, the employment information and 

training provided are invaluable tools to support transition back into 

civilian life and serve as valuable retention tools.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Guard & Reserve TAP: DoD will send letters to The Adjutants 

General (TAG) and Reserve Forces unit commanders explaining 

how important it is for all Guard and Reserve members, and their 

spouses, whenever possible, to attend a TAP or DTAP presentation 

within 30 days of their return to home units. The time frame is 

important because certain benefits and services have specific 

application deadlines. 

2. Injured/Disabled DTAP: DoD will ensure that injured and 

disabled servicemembers, regardless of component and “medical 

hold” status, are informed of and have the opportunity to attend a 

DTAP presentation, including a session that provides information 

and materials specifically designed for them.

3. Marketing TAP/DTAP: DoD and military components will need 

to aggressively market TAP through Guard and Reserve family 

support networks, service organizations, TAG, and others to all 

the reserve and guard members and their families. TAP overview 

sessions must be provided at both pre- and post- mobilization 

assemblies to the servicemembers and spouse, if applicable. 

4. TurboTAP: should be made a repository for all Federal benefits 

and services available to servicemembers, veterans, and eligible 

spouses/family members and should be briefed at all TAP 

presentations for active duty, Guard and Reserve members.

Target Date: August 31, 2007 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 53

Recommendation O-2: Provide Department of Education 

Educational Assistance Information

Agencies Responsible for Action: Education, Defense, Labor, 

Veterans Affairs

Lead Agency: Education

Recommendation: To bridge the informational gap around the programs 

available, Department of Education (ED) staff will participate in 

selected Department of Labor (DOL)-sponsored job fairs conducted for 

servicemembers and provide quarterly information for inclusion in the 

Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) GWOT newsletter. 

Background: ED provides extensive funding for postsecondary education 

each year and has many programs and benefits, some of which apply 

solely to veterans. A limited number of servicemembers take advantage of 

these programs.

Gap Analysis: Lack of awareness by servicemembers/veterans of existing 

ED postsecondary education financial aid programs available to them. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Servicemembers/

veterans may be eligible for a wide range of both state and Federal 

financial aid including relief from loans due to certain qualifying 

circumstances relating to military service. Ensuring that transitioning 

servicemembers and veterans are made aware of Education’s programs 

may encourage them to take advantage of them to meet their educational 

needs and goals.

ED staff will be available at job fairs to provide financial aid benefits 

information and respond to servicemembers/veterans inquiries. 

Additionally, separating servicemembers will receive VA’s GWOT 

Newsletter (formerly OEF/OIF Newsletter) quarterly that will include a 

”reminder” letter from ED with information about the financial aid benefits 

available to them and how to take advantage of those benefits. A greater 

number of servicemembers are likely to use the benefits if they understand 

them, can interact with someone who can answer their questions, and 

know how to contact someone who can provide additional information. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. ED will participate in DOL-sponsored job fairs.

a. Identify dates and locations of job fairs – DOL will provide 

ED the dates, locations, and agendas for the next 12 months of 

upcoming job fairs conducted for servicemembers.
54 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

b. Support – ED will identify staff to participate in selected 

job fairs. If it’s not feasible to ED staff to attend the job fair, 

informational materials will be sent. 

Target Date: Personnel to be available by May 1, 2007

2. ED will provide quarterly information for inclusion in VA’s 

GWOT Newsletter.

a. Informational Section – ED will provide content within 30 

days for the GWOT Newsletter that will be sent to separating 

servicemembers and their families informing them of the 

financial aid programs available to them and with contact 

information if they have questions.

b. Identify timeframe to sending content – ED will cooperate with 

VA to finalize any outstanding issues for the next Newsletter 

scheduled for printing & distribution in July. 

c. Update Header to OEF/OIF Newsletter –VA Change header to 

GWOT and maintain newsletter continuity by keeping (OEF/OIF).

d. Print and mail GWOT Newsletters –VA will print the 

newsletters with the ED information. 

e. Follow-up –VA will feature a “What’s New” column that will 

survey new &/or revised veterans programs, benefits, and 

services provided by other Federal agencies. 

Target Date: Next mailing of Newsletters scheduled for July 2007. 

Recommendation O-3: Integrate the “Hire Vets First” Campaign 

Into Existing Job and Career Fairs

Agencies Responsible for Action: Labor, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Small 

Business, Education, Personnel Management

Lead Agency: Labor

Recommendation: The Department of Labor (DOL) will coordinate 

with other Federal partners to integrate the “HireVets First” campaign 

with existing job/career fairs to promote awareness of the campaign to 

employers and servicemembers seeking employment.

a. Federal agencies hosting or sponsoring job fairs will incorporate the 

“HireVetsFirst” logo, material, and messaging.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 55

b. DOL’s ”HireVetsFirst” co-branded job fairs will incorporate 

information from participating Federal agencies to improve 

awareness and access to programs and services for veterans and 

transitioning servicemembers 

Background: The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ 

Employment and Training Service (VETS), is raising employer 

awareness of the training and skills that veterans possess at all ranks and 

occupational specialties and of the value these men and women bring to 

business through the “HireVets First” national campaign. The “Hire Vets 

First” Web site, the cornerstone of this campaign, enables employers to 

find veteran job seekers. The Web site (www.HireVetsFirst.gov) includes 

a guide for employers, a translator that provides the civilian application 

of military skills, and links to job sites with veteran resumes, such as 

America’s Job Bank (www.ajb.org) and USA Jobs (www.usajobs.opn.gov). 

Additionally, a key focus on the “Hire Vets First” outreach efforts include 

the co-branding of hundreds of Veterans-only job fairs. In addition to using 

the campaign logo, messaging, and material, “HireVets First” staff are 

integrating assistance from the national workforce system, and increasing 

continuity of effort through adoption of the HireVets First campaign brand 

and message. In 2007, over 120 job fairs will be open only to veterans and 

transitioning servicemembers. Additionally, “HireVets First” will partner 

with the Workforce Investment System in every state and territory during 

the month of November 2007 to raise national awareness of the value 

veterans bring to the workforce, and to dramatically expand the number of 

employers involved in active veteran recruitment.

Gap Analysis: Many Federal agencies host or participate in a number 

of recruitment activities, including targeting veterans and transitioning 

servicemembers. These efforts are not broadly coordinated, nor matched 

with specific messaging designed to assist Federal employers to better 

understand and utilize special veteran hiring authorities. Additionally, 

veteran-only job fairs provide a critical point of access to job seeking 

veterans for Federal agencies with key services and benefits. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Coordination of 

information and message branding will simplify servicemember 

understanding and access to the information they need during transition 

to succeed in their civilian job search. Centrality of information 

distribution via web and at veteran only job fairs will further enhance the 

power of the “HireVets First” message and brand, and improve resources 

available to veterans and servicemembers seeking civilian and Federal 

employment opportunities.
56 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Federal agencies hosting or sponsoring job fairs: 

•	 DOL/Federal agencies meet to identify and develop joint 

marketing material. 

•	 Federal agencies identify events and locations for publishing on 

“HireVets First” website to attract servicemembers and veterans. 

Special content sections may be developed for Federal hiring 

managers or veteran job seekers.

•	 Federal agencies desiring “HireVets First” booth presence or 

general marketing material: submit time/location request and 

reserve booth space.

Target Date: June 30, 2007

2. Provide Information to “Hire Vets First” Job Fairs: 

•	 DOL / Federal agencies set meeting to determine material 

content and delivery (hard copy or digital via web distribution).

•	 Federal agencies: supply material for distribution at co-branded 

job fairs.

•	 Federal agencies: identify and budget for booth space at privatesector job fairs.

Target Date: To begin May 2007

Recommendation O-4: Improve Civilian Workforce Credentialing 

and Certification

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense, Labor

Lead Agency: Defense

Recommendation: Improve job qualification, certification, and 

credentialing opportunities for transitioning servicemembers by working 

with certifying entities to develop credentials for military training 

and experience.

Background: Determining basic qualifications for a position, as well 

as occupational certification and licensing, are official recognition of 

meeting a set of defined standards, generally through education, training, 

experience, and testing. They are intended to provide assurance that those 

qualified and credentialed professionals engaged in specific occupations 

meet acceptable standards of quality. In many cases, the range of civilian 

occupations and occupational certification and licensing requirements 

vary greatly, often in the case of licensure, from state to state.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 57

Military personnel receive extensive high quality training in a wide range 

of military occupational specialties. The training, combined with military 

work experience, contributes significantly to a highly skilled workforce.

Transitioning servicemembers often have difficulty articulating and 

getting credit for military acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities that 

may be transferable into civilian credentials.

Gap Analysis: The Department of Defense (DoD) spends billions each 

year for training the military. Many of the skills and experience of military 

members can be used in civilian employment but often veterans do not 

receive proper credit, if any at all, for their knowledge, skills and abilities 

gained based on their military service and training. DoD Services created 

Crosswalks, Army Cool and Navy Cool, to assist in demonstrating the gaps. 

However, additional analysis needs to be conducted for the Air Force and 

the Marines to assist all members transitioning from the military.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Servicemembers leaving 

the military seeking employment may be able to qualify and secure high 

quality jobs if they were to apply their military experience and skills 

toward a license or certification. Employers are seeking to hire trained 

and qualified workers. This recommendation puts the multi-billion dollar 

investment in military training to work in the civilian sector.

More opportunities for veterans to get credentials in the civilian 

workforce based on their military experience, training and service is a 

force multiplier because it supports both recruitment and retention. This 

also leverages the billions spent on military education and training to 

the civilian workplace where employer needs for skilled workers can be 

met with minimum investment by employers to train employees who are 

veterans. This would also serve as an incentive to seek and hire veterans.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Organize Work Group – A DoD/DOL Workgroup was formed 

and meetings scheduled. This workgroup will a strategy to work 

with the Service Schools, industry, and certifying entities to develop 

qualifications and certifications for transitioning servicemembers.

2. Identify 10 Military Occupational Specialties – The Services will 

identify to DoD specialties that may require minimal additional 

training or training adjustments within the Service Schools to 

support certain qualifications and certifications or that could be 

established as a certification.

3. Work with training schools and certifying entities – Services will 

identify points of contact from one or more Service Schools to assist 
58 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

the work group and act as a liaison to the Services. The work group 

will then work with industry to determine what certifications for 

military service are relevant to the civilian workplace. The work 

group will also seek minor curriculum changes in military schools 

that would support qualifications and certifications. The workgroup 

will work with certifying entities to develop qualifications and 

certifications that take advantage of military skills and experience. 

4. DoD / DOL target 10 military occupations to receive a certification 

or be recognized by existing certifications currently in effect.

Target Date: Begin June 2007

Recommendation O-5: Train Active Duty, Guard and Reserve 

Personnel on the Uniformed Services Employment and 

Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) 

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense, Labor

Lead Agency: Labor

Recommendation: DOL will coordinate with DoD to promote awareness 

of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 

(USERRA) provisions and benefits to servicemembers within Active Duty, 

Guard and Reserve components and veterans at entry to, during and exit 

from military service.

Background: USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for 

veterans and members of Reserve components. USERRA also makes 

major improvements in protecting servicemember rights and benefits 

by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding 

Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to 

receive DOL assistance in processing claims. 

DOL, through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), 

provides assistance to all persons having claims under USERRA. 

USERRA clarifies and strengthens the Veterans’ Reemployment Rights 

(VRR) Statute.

Gap Analysis: Due to the complexity of the law, servicemembers may not 

be aware of all of their rights under USERRA. They need a resource that 

informs them of their rights and explains how to receive information and 

representation when seeking assistance.
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 59

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Servicemembers 

leaving the military or being demobilized may not be aware of the law 

that protects their employment rights. Training and other reinforcement 

will make servicemembers more aware of their rights and serve as a 

recognizable benefit of military service, especially for members of the 

Guard and Reserve.

As the number of cases per mobilized servicemember is reduced, there 

could be a positive impact on recruiting and retention especially in the 

Reserve Components. Servicemembers will have confidence that their 

employment and reemployment rights are secure.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Develop a pocket guide and interactive program to train DoD 

personnel on USERRA.

2. Provide USERRA awareness training in the Transition Assistance 

Employment Workshop.

3. Continue training of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 

personnel. 

4. Continue to improve training of USERRA Senior investigators to 

provide outreach.

5. Continue USERRA training to the Judge Advocate General Corps.

Target Date: Begin June 2007 

Recommendation O-6: Develop Financial Aid Education Module

Agencies Responsible for Action: Labor, Defense, Education

Lead Agency: Labor

Recommendation: To better educate transitioning servicemembers on 

the benefits available to them with regard to financial aid, a financial 

aid information module will be developed for the Transition Assistance 

Program and Disabled Assistance Program (TAP/DTAP). This module 

can be integrated into any presentations currently provided.

Background: A limited number of servicemembers take 

advantage of the existing benefits available to current or prior 

servicemembers. Information about these benefits is not currently 

presented during TAP/DTAP presentations and may not be readily 

available for transitioning servicemembers.
60 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Gap Analysis: The Department of Education (ED) provides extensive 

funding and financial aid each year. Veterans account for a relatively 

small amount of funding available. ED has many programs and benefits; 

some apply solely to veterans. The gap is the lack of awareness by 

servicemembers of these programs and benefits for which veterans or 

servicemembers may be eligible.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Servicemembers may 

be able to qualify for a wide range of financial aid and other benefits 

such as some relief from loans due to certain qualifying circumstances 

relating to military service. Ensuring these transitioning servicemembers 

are made aware of these programs and benefits may encourage them to 

take advantage of these educational assistance programs to meet their 

educational needs and goals.

More opportunities for veterans to get aid for education is a force 

multiplier because it supports both recruitment and retention. This also 

leverages the information about resources available at-large and the 

benefits to veterans or servicemembers based upon their military service 

and status. Employer needs for skilled and educated workers can be 

supported by resources available and special provisions for veterans 

or military service. The success measure for providing information 

on the Education Module will be the number of veterans/active duty 

servicemembers that apply for Federal student aid using the Free 

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Brief Transition Assistance Program Steering Committee.

2. Form an ED and DOL work group to develop the information to 

be covered in the TAP/DTAP Employment Workshops. DOL will 

develop teaching materials and a course addendum to include the 

Education material with the assistance of the National Veterans’ 

Training Institute.

3. Material reviewed by the Transition Assistance Program Steering 

Committee and ED for approval. Once approved, begin providing 

instructions for trainers worldwide to provide the revised 

workshop at the over 211 sites and to over 150,000 transitioning 

servicemembers.

Target Date: August 31, 2007
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 61

Recommendation O-7: Develop a Wounded Veterans Readjustment 

Work Experience Program 

Agencies Responsible for Action: Defense, Labor, Transportation, 

Personnel Management

Lead Agency: Labor

Recommendation: Department of Labor (DOL) will work closely with 

Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

to promote awareness of the Warfighter program and develop a pilot or 

pilots in coordination with Federal agencies to give injured and recovering 

servicemembers the opportunity to participate.

Background: DoD Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC), in partnership 

with the DOL Recovery and Employment Assistance Program, is 

sponsoring Operation Warfighter (OWF), a temporary assignment program 

for members of the Military Services who are undergoing treatment or 

rehabilitation at select Military Medical Treatment Facilities. The OWF is 

designed to provide recovering injured or wounded servicemembers with 

meaningful activity outside the hospital environment and offer them an 

opportunity to explore career options in the Federal workforce. The DOL 

administers the program on behalf of DoD. 

Operation Warfighter allows injured servicemembers to work several 

hours a week while undergoing treatment and therapy for their injuries 

suffered in combat. Wounded veterans may voluntarily work 15-30 hours 

per week for three to four month periods.

Gap Analysis: Experience shows veterans generally enjoy a favorable 

employment rate in the Nation’s job market; however, many veterans 

initially find it difficult to compete successfully in the labor market. The 

OWF Program helps address this wounded veteran re-adjustment issue 

by allowing veterans an opportunity to work in a civilian occupation and 

environment, and gain experience, confidence, and possibly permanent 

employment in the Federal, state or local government. The Department of 

Transportation is seeking to integrate its American Hero Support Program 

into the OWF and support wounded veterans through internships in state 

departments of transportation and local government agencies. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Wounded and injured 

servicemembers on medical hold may be positioned to take advantage of 

opportunities to gain valuable work experience before leaving military 

service. This will also help them to make the emotional and physical 

adjustment to the civilian work place. 
62 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

The impact is national in scope. In addition to having some hiring 

opportunities, Federal agencies can leverage their relationships and 

networking linkages with the states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 

Rico to make available a supportive work environment in almost any 

part of the country. Positions range from blue collar to white collar and 

from high tech to low tech. This environment would be a perfect match 

for an “intern” type of program that would allow the transitioning 

servicemember to “test drive” the working environment in a geographical 

location that is most suitable for their recovery.

The success of this initiative can be gauged by the number of Federal 

Departments participating, the number of participants, and the number of 

participants entering employment after discharge.

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Develop an information brief for injured and wounded candidates 

and a clearinghouse for prospective participants.

2. Develop a Warfighter Program information guide and briefing for 

Federal Departments.

3. Request that each Cabinet level Department establish a pilot 

program.

4. Establish a tracking program to measure success.

5. Encourage Departments to be creative, expand and establish a 

best practices repository in their program and publish progress and 

updates on Department’s website.

6. Three-Phased implementation from Development Phase and Pilot 

Phase to Full Implementation.

Target Date: Begin June 2007

Recommendation O-8: Expand Access to the National 

Housing Locator 

Agencies Responsible for Action: Housing and Urban Development 

(HUD), Veterans Affairs, Defense

Lead Agency: Housing and Urban Development

Recommendation: Expand access to the National Housing Locator (NHL) 

to allow use by servicemembers and veterans through DoD and VA. 

HUD, in support of State and Local Housing Authorities, and other First 

Responders, launched the intergovernmental National Housing Locator 

(NHL) web site in January 2007 as a response to lessons learned from 

Hurricane Katrina and related disasters. 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 63

Background: The NHL is a searchable, web-based clearinghouse of over 

20,000 rental housing vacancies available nationwide and growing. It 

allows users to set a number of search criteria, to include desired location, 

by city, area code; price range; acceptance of vouchers; accessibility; 

assisted and/or elderly accommodations; number of bedrooms; area fair 

market rents; geo-spatial by radius, and other criteria. Once the criteria are 

set, a rapid search is conducted nation-wide with designated partners, and 

the information about available housing is presented in a report format. 

In most cases, pictures of the housing, a geocoded map – to include 

ranges illustrating locations of available housing, and contact information, 

is provided.

Gap Analysis: Presently, there are several different housing locators 

available to assist servicemembers and veterans but there is no 

single‐source national database available to them. Access to the NHL 

is currently limited to State Housing Authorities, Public Housing 

Authorities, and others designated as first responders to a disaster. 

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: Transitioning 

servicemembers and veterans frequently re-locate to new geographical 

areas. Many need assistance with quickly finding safe, affordable housing. 

Having access to the NHL, an easily searchable nation-wide repository of 

available housing, would greatly assist transitioning servicemembers and 

veterans in this endeavor. 

Implementation Actions and Target Dates:

1. Identify and gather portal details.

Target Date: May 4, 2007.

2. Develop Standard Methodology to add participating portals. 

Target Date: May 18, 2007. 

3. Define business and technical requirements. 

Target Date: June 8, 2007. 

4. Design standardized access method for target users. 

Target Date: July 6, 2007. 

5. Implement standard access method to support Pilot Veterans 

Service Organization access to NHLS via VIP.

Target Date: August 3, 2007
64 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

6. Engineer/Build standard authorization interfaces with 

authentication portals. 

Target Date: October 26, 2007.

7. Test and deploy NHL for participating portals. 

Target Date: Ongoing, as new portals are added. 

Recommendation O-9: Provide Outreach and Education to 

Community Health Centers

Agencies Responsible for Action: Health, Veterans Affairs, and Defense

Lead Agency: Health 

Recommendation: VA, HHS, and DoD will improve access to quality 

health care and services for returning OEF/OIF servicemembers, 

especially for veterans in remote or rural areas. The goals of the 

collaboration would be to: 

1) improve beneficiary access to quality health care and services, 

especially for veterans in remote or rural areas; 

2) familiarize providers with the VA and DoD services available to 

returning veterans to enable appropriate referrals; and 

3) improve communication between VA and DoD health care 

providers and Health Center providers regarding the health care 

needs of returning veterans. 

Background: Recognizing that some veterans returning from GWOT may 

seek primary and behavioral health care assistance at Health Centers, HHS, 

VA, and DoD will create opportunities to coordinate and improve services 

for returning OEF/OIF servicemembers. For example, HHS, VA, and DoD 

could provide training to Health Centers to familiarize providers with the 

VA and DoD services available to returning veterans, in order to enable 

appropriate referrals. Additionally, VA and DoD could develop training 

for Health Center clinicians related to the specific health needs of returning 

veterans, such as screening to identify the areas where referral would be 

warranted, e.g. environmental infectious agents, mental health issues (such 

as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD), and Traumatic Brain Injuries 

(TBI) that may be more common for veterans of the current conflict. 

Because the diagnosis and treatment of highly complex diagnoses like TBI 

or the differential diagnosis of TBI versus PTSD takes a full team of neuropsychologists/psychologists, neurologists, physiatrists, OT/PT, social 

workers and primary care providers (MD, NP or PA), referral to a VAMC 

where this full team is available is crucial to assure the full battery of tests, 

assessments, and treatment is available to the veteran, as appropriate. 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 65

How the Recommendation Would Address the Gap: Educating Health 

Center providers on the benefits and services available to veterans 

through VA and DoD could improve the appropriateness and number 

of referrals to VA and DoD. Additionally, the expertise of VA and DoD 

health service providers would be tapped to provide guidance to Health 

Centers regarding the specific health care needs of returning veterans, e.g. 

screening for PTSD and TBI. Processes will be developed to assure that 

care is not fragmented or duplicative and referrals are easy to manage so 

that the veteran does not have a gap in services. 

Implementation Actions and Target Date:

1. Establish a working group of key VA and DoD program staff 

and HHS/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 

program staff. VA, HHS, and DoD will formalize an agreement to:

(a) determine the greatest needs among OEF/OIF returnees likely 

to interact with Health Centers and other HRSA-supported 

provider organizations and 

(b) explore the range of opportunities for training and collaboration 

between VA and DoD health services and HRSA’s Health 

Center program as well as other HRSA-supported provider 

organizations.

Target Date: April 30, 2007

2. Identify a set of possible initiatives that would address the 

needs of GWOT veterans and enhance coordination of services for 

returning GWOT servicemembers. Possible activities may include, 

but are not limited to:

•	 Assess the Health Center providers’ familiarity with VA and 

DoD health services and access points, and the Health Centers’ 

need for materials and trainings related to VA and DoD health 

services;

•	 Develop a VA Health Services Resource Guide for GWOT 

Veterans that includes a description of VA health services, 

eligibility criteria for VA health services, and access points for 

VA health services;

•	 Develop a DoD Health Services Resource Guide for GWOT 

servicemembers that includes a description of DoD health 

services and access points for DoD health services;

•	 Develop a structured opportunity for Health Centers and 

VA and DoD facilities to identify local referral resources and 

establish formal referral arrangements, including training and 

opportunities for interface;
66 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

•	 Develop trainings for Health Center clinicians related to the 

specific health needs of returning veterans, such as screening 

to identify the areas where referral would be warranted, e.g., 

environmental infectious agents, mental health issues (such as 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD), and Traumatic Brain 

Injuries (TBI) that may be more common for veterans of the 

current conflict; and 

•	 Explore options for tracking the number of veterans seen in 

Health Centers such as through the inclusion of a data element 

on veteran status in HRSA’s Uniform Data System (UDS). 

Target Date: July 30, 2007

3. Based on conclusions of the work group, draft MOU/agreement(s) 

between VA, DoD, and HHS detailing the agreed upon activities, 

if necessary.

Target Date: October 31, 2007 

4. Explore opportunities for additional outreach to the Health Center 

community regarding available health services offered through VA 

(e.g. the annual Health Care for the Homeless Conference and other 

such HHS and VA sponsored events) and DoD. 

Target Date: Ongoing 

Recommendation O-10: Expand OPM Outreach Efforts

Agencies Responsible for Action: Personnel Management, Labor, Defense

Lead Agency: Personnel Management

Recommendation: Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will reach 

agreement with a military hospital/installation to place an OPM outreach 

specialist at that location in FY 2007.

Background: OPM has established veterans’ outreach offices at Walter 

Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and Brooke Army 

Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. The OPM office at Walter 

Reed opened in December 2005 and is staffed by an OPM employee. The 

BAMC office opened in December 2006 and is staffed by an Air Force 

employee detailed to OPM. 
Section 4 – Recommendations

Report to the President 67

OPM’s work at Walter Reed and BAMC is done in conjunction with DoD’s 

Career Transition Assistance Program (C/TAP), which helps wounded 

veterans recover physically and psychologically and transition back 

to civilian life. To support this effort at Walter Reed and BAMC, OPM 

provides the following services to wounded servicemen and women:

•	 Coordinate outreach activities with each hospital’s C/TAP 

programs;

•	 Provide Federal job information and counseling directly to veterans 

and help them find and apply for jobs;

•	 Offer classes that teach resume-writing and offer tips on how to 

translate military accomplishments into a set of knowledge, skills, 

and abilities (KSAs) that are marketable in the Federal Government; 

•	 Work directly with Federal agencies to match their talent needs 

with qualified veterans, many of whom possess the skills agencies 

need to close mission critical staffing gaps;

•	 Promote www.USAJOBS.gov as the Federal government’s one-stop 

employment information system; and

•	 Educate veterans on their veterans’ preference rights and what 

those rights mean for them.

Gap Analysis: Data for the Walter Reed office (Brooke has only been open 

a short time) indicates that the program is well received and expansion 

would benefit our wounded warriors. 

•	 OPM has provided job information to more than 1,000 military 

personnel and spouses and offered classes to more than 700.

•	 OPM has directly counseled almost 800 people through its Walter 

Reed outreach office. Many of these attended a monthly resumewriting/KSA workshop where OPM helps veterans establish a “MY 

USAJOB” account.

•	 113 people have been hired, 68 by the private sector and 45 by the 

Federal government.

Expand OPM outreach efforts to an additional hospital/installation in 2007.

How the Recommendation Addresses the Gap: An additional office 

would expand Federal employment education and information to a larger 

percentage of our wounded warriors.
68 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 4 – Recommendations

Implementation Action and Target Date:

OPM will evaluate opportunities at the following Military 

Hospitals/Military Installations: 

•	 Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado; 

•	 Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Texas; 

•	 Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, California; and 

•	 Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.

•	 Site visit conducted at Fort Carson, Colorado March 28, 2007. 

•	 Schedule additional site visits as appropriate.

•	 Continue to work with contacts to establish a clear understanding 

of requirements and determine level of interest.

•	 Explore alternate proposals to expand outreach efforts.

Target Date: Obtain an agreement with one hospital/installation by 

June 30, 2007.
Report to the President 69

Section 5

Government-wide Action Plan

Overview

This Government-wide Action Plan directs and schedules program 

enhancements to improve the timeliness, ease of application, and efficient 

delivery of Federal services and benefits to returning Global War on 

Terror servicemembers. 

Agency Performance

The key factor to timely implementation of Task Force recommendations 

is follow-up and accountability. Success will be measured in accordance 

with the performance criteria contained in the President’s Executive Order 

dated March 6, 2007:

Ensure that in providing services to these service members, appropriate 

Federal agencies are communicating and cooperating effectively, and 

facilitate the fostering of agency communications and cooperation through 

informal and formal means, as appropriate.

Each agency determined how to implement its portion of a 

recommendation. For actions requiring interagency coordination, a lead 

agency was identified. The lead agency will ensure the Action Plan is 

properly coordinated with partner agencies. 

Implementation Strategies and Target Dates

Detailed strategies provided by Federal agencies for implementing each 

recommendation appear in Section 4. A summation of implementation 

actions with target dates for each recommendation is provided in Exhibit 6.
70 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan

Oversight

Agencies will conduct periodic progress reviews to ensure 

recommendations are implemented. The frequency of independent 

reviews will vary depending upon on progress made, problems 

encountered, and potential barriers for timely implementation. 

Exhibit 6

# Recommendation Agencies

Lead 

Agency

Implementation 

Actions

Target Date for 

Implementation

P-1 Develop a Joint 

Process for Disability 

Determinations

DoD, VA DoD Develop in-depth plan for 

VA/DoD collaboration in 

MEB/PEB process 

Begun April 3, 2007

VA to participate in 

Advisory Council 

meeting May 3, 2007

P-2 Develop a System of 

Co-Management and 

Case Management 

DoD, VA DoD 1. Joint MOA - draft 1. April 30, 2007

2. Standardize Case Mgt ; 

develop charter 

2. April 30, 2007

3. Policy Document 3. Draft by July 30, 2007

4. Primary Case Managers 4. Begin May 30, 2007

5. Tracking System 5. Started February 

2007

6. BEC and HEC oversight 6. Begin May 30, 2007

7. VBA GWOT Coordinator 7. April 30, 2007

8. VA Policy Handbook 8. VHA Published 

March 26, 2007; 

VBA by May 2007

P-3 Enhance Electronic 

Health Record for 

Transition of GWOT 

Veterans

VA VA 1. Develop tracking & 

interface

1. September 2007

2. Create TBI database 2. September 2007

3. Create DoD/VA interface 3. September 2007

4. Create Poly-trauma 

markers

4. NLT September 2008

5. Create GWOT marker 5. NLT September 2008

6. Create clinical transfer 

system

6. NLT September 2008

7. Build DoD CPRS 

scanning interface 

7. NLT September 2008
Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan

Report to the President 71

# Recommendation Agencies

Lead 

Agency

Implementation 

Actions

Target Date for 

Implementation

P-4 Improve VA Access 

to Health Records 

of Servicemembers 

Treated in VA Health 

Care Facilities.

DoD, VA DoD, VA 1. Expand Electronic 

Health Record Access:

a- Walter Reed & Bethesda 

to Tampa

a- Completed March 

2007

b- Walter Reed, Bethesda, 

and Brooke to Tampa, 

Palo Alto, Minneapolis, 

and Richmond

b- June 30, 2007

c- All c- FY 2008 - 2010

2. Transmission of 

Historical DoD Data:

a- Release 1

– Meds & Labs

a- June 30, 2007

b- Release 2 

– Provider notes

b- January 30, 2008

c- Release 3 

– Theater data

c- January 30, 2008 

d-Release 4

 – Vital signs

d- March 30, 2008

e. Release 5 

 – Patient histories

e- September 30, 2008 

3. Long-Term Initiatives:

a- Assessment a- June 30, 2007

b- Scope and elements b- June 30, 2007

c- DoD-VA interoperability c- September 30, 2007

d- Analysis of Alternatives d- January 31, 2008

P-5 Improve the 

Electronic Enrollment 

Process 

VA VA 1. VA 10-10EZ Form 1. June 30, 2007

2. Self-Service Application 2. June 30, 2008

3. Presumed Combat 

Experience

3. July 30, 2007

P-6 Use DoD Military 

Service Information 

as Part of VA’s 

Enrollment Process

VA VA Enhance the Enrollment 

System Redesign

June 2008 to 

January 2009 

P-7 Create an 

Embedded Fragment 

Surveillance Center 

and Registry

VA VA 1. Establish 

Embedded Fragment 

Surveillance Center

1. April 2008

2. Establish Registry 2. January 2008

P-8 Develop 

Memorandum of 

Understanding and 

Agreement for VA 

Liaisons at Military 

Treatment Facilities

DoD, VA DoD, VA 1. MOU 1. May 31, 2007

2. Concurrence on MOUs 2. Sign with each MTF 

by June 30, 2007

3. Access to information 3. Sign with each MTF 

by June 30, 2007

4. VA Liaison Services at 

other MTFs

4. May 30, 2007
72 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan

# Recommendation Agencies

Lead 

Agency

Implementation 

Actions

Target Date for 

Implementation

P-9 Screen All Veterans 

of the Global War on 

Terrorism for TBI

VA VA 1. Training 1. Completed 

March 31, 2007

2. Clinical Reminder 2. April 30, 2007

3. Clinical Practice Recs 3. September 30, 2007

P-10 Enhance Capacity to 

Provide Dental Care 

VA VA Purchase Dental Care May 30, 2007

P-11 Extend Vocational 

Rehabilitation 

Evaluation 

Determination 

Time Line

VA VA Allow immediate extension 

of the 12-month limit on 

extended evaluation plans

April 30, 2007

P-12 Expedite Adapted 

Housing and Special 

Home Adaptation 

Grants Claims

VA VA Develop and disseminate 

implementation procedures 

to VBA’s field stations

April 30, 2007

P-13 Participate in PostDeployment Health 

Reassessment 

VA VA 1. Distribute Schedule of 

PDHRA Events 

1. Recurs monthly

2. VHA conducts systemwide conference call2. April 30, 2007

P-14 Expand Eligibility of 

PatriotExpress Loan

SBA, DoD, 

VA, ED, 

OMB, and 

all Federal 

agencies 

with 

procurement 

authority

SBA 1. SBA complete internal 

clearance

SBA Implements 

in May/June 2007 

(May 30 Memorial Day 

or June 14, Flag Day)

2. SBA/OMB clearance

3. SBA/OMB Paperwork 

Reduction Act clearance

4. SBA Congressional 

Notice

5. SBA implements 

Marketing Plan with 

support of other agencies

P-15 Improve IT 

Interoperability

HHS

 VA

HHS 1. Sign MOU 1. June 2007

2. Establish joint group 2. June 2007

3. Agreement on standards 3. August 30, 2007

4. Sign agreements 4. August 30, 2007

5. Conduct joint analysis 5. October 31, 2007

6. Participate in Federal 

architecture activities

6. October 31, 2007
Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan

Report to the President 73

# Recommendation Agencies Lead Implementation Actions Target Date for 

O-1 Increase 

Attendance at 

TAP/DTAP 

Sessions 

DoD, VA, 

DOL, ED, 

SBA, OPM

DoD 1. Guard & Reserve TAP 1. August 31, 2007

2. Injured/Disabled DTAP 2. August 31, 2007

3. Marketing TAP/DTAP 3. August 31, 2007

4. TurboTAP 4. August 31, 2007

O-2 Provide 

Department 

of Education 

Educational 

Assistance 

Information 

ED, DoD, 

DOL, VA

ED 1. Participates in job fairs 1. a-cPersonnel 

available 

May 1, 2007

a- Identify dates/locations

b- Training

c- Identify participants 

2. Provide information to VA for 

GWOT Newsletter

2. Quarterly; 

next mailing 

July 2007

O-3 Integrate the 

“Hire Vets First” 

Campaign into 

Career Fairs 

DOL, DoD, 

VA, SBA, 

ED, OPM

DOL 1. Federal agencies host or 

sponsor job fairs

1. June 2007

2. Provide information to “Hire 

Vets First” Job Fairs

2. Begin May 2007

O-4 Improve Civilian 

Workforce 

Credentialing and 

Certification 

DoD, DOL DoD 1. Organize DoD/DOL Work 

Group 

Begin June 2007 

2. Identify 10 Military 

Occupational Specialties

3. Work with training schools 

and certifying entities

4. DoD/DOL target 10 military 

occupations to receive a 

certification

O-5 Train Active 

Duty, Guard, 

and Reserve 

on Uniformed 

Services 

Employment and 

Reemployment 

Rights Act 

(USERRA)

DoD, DOL DOL 1. Develop a pocket guide and 

interactive program

Begin June 2007

2. Provide USERRA 

awareness training in the 

TAP/DTAP Workshop

3. Continue training of 

Employer Support of Guard 

and Reserve personnel 

4. Improve training of USERRA 

investigators

5. Continue USERRA training 

to JAG Corps

O-6 Develop Financial 

Aid Education 

Module 

DOL, DoD, 

ED

DOL 1. Brief TAP 

Steering Committee. 

August 31, 2007

2. Form ED/ DOL work group 

to develop TAP Employment 

Workshops 

3. Material reviewed by 

TAP Steering Committee

and ED for approval. Give 

trainers instructions for 

revised workshop.
74 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Section 5 – Government-wide Action Plan

# Recommendation Agencies Lead Implementation Actions Target Date for 

O-7 Develop a 

Wounded Veterans 

Intern Program 

DoD, DOL, 

DOT, OPM

 DOL 1. Develop a briefing for injured 

and wounded candidates 

and a clearinghouse for 

participants

Begin June 2007

2. Develop a Warfighter 

Program information guide 

and briefing

3. Request each agency 

establish pilot program

4. Establish a tracking program

5. Encourage Departments to 

establish a best practices 

repository on their websites

6. Three-Phased 

implementation 

O-8 Expand Access 

to the National 

Housing Locator 

HUD, VA, 

DoD

HUD 1. Identify and gather portal 

details 

1. May 4, 2007

2. Develop standard 

methodology 

2. May 18, 2007

3. Define business and 

technical requirements

3. June 8, 2007

4. Design standardized access 

method

4. July 6, 2007

5. Implement standard access 

method for VSO pilot 

program

5. August 3, 2007

6. Build standard authorization 

interfaces with authentication 

portals

6. October 26, 

2007

7. Test and deploy NHL for 

participating portals

7. Ongoing, as 

new portals are 

added

O-9 Provide Outreach 

and Education to 

Community Health 

Centers

HHS, VA HHS 1. Establish working group 1. April 30, 2007

2. Identify set of initiatives 2. July 30, 2007

3. Draft MOU/Agreement(s) 

between VA, DoD, and HHS

3. October 31, 2007

4. Explore opportunities for 

additional outreach

4. Ongoing

O-10 Expand OPM 

Outreach Efforts

OPM, DOL, 

DoD

OPM 1. Conduct site visit 1. March 28, 2007

2. Understand requirements 

and level of interest and 

explore expansion of 

outreach 

2. Requirements 

analysis 

complete; 

assessing 

interest.

3. Reach agreement 3. June 30, 2007
Appendix A

Executive Order 

Establishing Task Force

Executive Order 13426 — Establishing 

a Commission on Care for America’s 

Returning Wounded Warriors and a 

Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror 

Heroes

The President 

Report to the President A-1
A-2 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix A – Executive Order Establishing Task Force
A-3

Appendix A

Report to the President

Federal Register

Vol. 72, No. 45

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Title 3— Executive Order 13426 of March 6, 2007

The President Establishing a Commission on Care for America’s Returning

Wounded Warriors and a Task Force on Returning Global

War on Terror Heroes

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the 

laws of the United States of America, and to provide a comprehensive 

review of the care provided to America’s returning Global War on Terror 

service men and women from the time they leave the battlefield through 

their return to civilian life, it is hereby ordered as follows: 

Section 1. Establishment of Commission. There is established the President’s 

Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors 

(Commission). 

Sec. 2. Membership of Commission. The Commission shall be composed of 

nine members appointed by the President. The President shall designate 

two Co-Chairs from among the members of the Commission. 

Sec. 3. Mission of Commission. The mission of the Commission shall be 

to: 

(a) examine the effectiveness of returning wounded service members’ 

transition from deployment in support of the Global War on Terror to 

successful return to productive military service or civilian society, and 

recommend needed improvements; 

(b) evaluate the coordination, management, and adequacy of the delivery 

of health care, disability, traumatic injury, education, employment, and 

other benefits and services to returning wounded Global War on Terror 

service members by Federal agencies as well as by the private sector, and 

recommend ways to ensure that programs provide high-quality services; 

(c) (i) analyze the effectiveness of existing outreach to service members 

regarding such benefits and services, and service members’ level of 

awareness of and ability to access these benefits and services, and (ii) 

identify ways to reduce barriers to and gaps in these benefits and services; 

and 

(d) consult with foundations, veterans service organizations, nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, and others as appropriate, in 

performing the Commission’s functions under subsections (a) through 

(c) of this section. 

10589

Presidential Documents
A-4 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix A – Executive Order Establishing Task Force

Sec. 4. Administration of Commission. 

(a) The Secretary of Defense shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide 

administrative support and funding for the Commission. To the extent 

permitted by law, office space, analytical support, and staff support for 

the Commission shall be provided by the Department of Defense. 

(b) Members of the Commission shall serve without any compensation for 

their work on the Commission. Members of the Commission appointed 

from among private citizens of the United States, while engaged in the 

work of the Commission, may be allowed travel expenses, including per 

diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving 

intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707), consistent 

with the availability of funds. 

(c) The Co-Chairs of the Commission shall select an Executive Director 

to coordinate administration of the Commission. 

(d) The heads of executive branch departments and agencies shall, to the 

extent permitted by law, provide the Commission with information as 

requested by the Co-Chairs. 

(e) The Co-Chairs of the Commission shall convene and preside at the 

meetings of the Commission, determine its agenda, and direct its work. 

(f) The functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.)(Act), except for those in section 6 of 

that Act, that are applicable to the Commission, shall be performed by 

the Secretary of Defense, in accordance with the guidelines that have 

been issued by the Administrator of General Services. 

Sec. 5. Report of Commission. The Commission shall report its 

recommendations to the President through the Secretary of Defense and 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Commission shall issue a final 

report by June 30, 2007, unless the Co-Chairs provide written notice to 

the President that an extension is necessary, in which case the Commission 

shall issue the final report by July 31, 2007. 

Sec. 6. Termination of Commission. The Commission shall terminate 30 

days after submitting its final report, unless extended by the President 

prior to that date. 

Sec. 7. Establishment of Task Force. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

(Secretary) shall establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs for 

administrative purposes only an Interagency Task Force on Returning Global 

War on Terror Heroes (Task Force). 

Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 45 / Thursday, March 8, 2007 / Presidential Documents 10591
A-5

Appendix A – Executive Order Establishing Task Force

Report to the President

Sec. 8. Membership and Operation of Task Force. The Task Force shall 

consist exclusively of the following members, or their designees who 

shall be at the Under Secretary level (or its equivalent) or higher: 

(a) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who shall serve as Chair; 

(b) the Secretary of Defense; 

(c) the Secretary of Labor; 

(d) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; 

(e) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 

(f) the Secretary of Education; 

(g) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; 

(h) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; and 

(i) other officers or employees of the United States, as determined by the 

Secretary. 

The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee shall convene and preside 

at meetings of the Task Force and direct its work. The Secretary shall 

designate an official of the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as 

the Executive Secretary of the Task Force, and the Executive Secretary 

shall head any staff assigned to the Task Force. 

Sec. 9. Mission of Task Force. The mission of the Task Force shall be to: 

(a) identify and examine existing Federal services that currently are 

provided to returning Global War on Terror service members; 

(b) identify existing gaps in such services; 

(c) seek recommendations from appropriate Federal agencies on ways to 

fill those gaps as effectively and expeditiously as possible using existing 

resources; and 

(d) (i) ensure that in providing services to these service members, 

appropriate Federal agencies are communicating and cooperating 

effectively, and (ii) facilitate the fostering of agency communications and 

cooperation through informal and formal means, as appropriate. 

Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 45 / Thursday, March 8, 2007 / Presidential Documents 10591
Sec. 10. Administration of Task Force. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide administrative support and 

funding for the Task Force. 

Sec. 11. Action Plan of Task Force. Consistent with applicable law, the Task 

Force shall outline a Government-wide action plan that identifies existing 

Federal services for returning Global War on Terror service men and 

women and that ensures the provision of such services to those service 

members as effectively and expeditiously as possible. The Task Force 

shall submit the action plan to the President within 45 days of the date 

of this order. 

Sec. 12. Termination of Task Force. The Secretary, with the approval of 

the President, shall terminate the Task Force upon the completion of its 

duties. 

Sec. 13. General Provisions. 

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise 

affect (i) authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof, or 

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals. 

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and 

subject to the availability of appropriations. 

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, 

substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the 

United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, 

agents, or any other person. person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

March 6, 2007.

Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 45 / Thursday, March 8, 2007 / Presidential Documents 10591

[FR Doc. 07–1137

Filed 3–7–07; 10:57 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

A-6 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix A – Executive Order Establishing Task Force
Report to the President B-1

Appendix B

Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Health Care

Agency Title Description

DoD Air Evacuation Provide trained Air Evacuation teams and Critical Care 

Air Transport teams to move patients to Home Station.

DoD Assess Tuberculosis Risk Provide tuberculosis risk assessment questionnaire and 

perform skin testing, if indicated.

DoD Bidirectional Health 

Information Exchange 

(BHIE)

Sharing clinical data: BHIE enables real-time sharing of 

the following health data elements viewable between 

DoD BHIE sites and all VA Treatment Facilities 

for patients treated in both DoD and VA: Patient 

demographic data (name, patient category, social 

security number, gender, and date of birth), DoD 

and VA outpatient pharmacy data (Military Treatment 

Facility data for all shared beneficiaries, DoD mail order 

pharmacy and retail pharmacy network for separated 

servicemembers, and VA pharmacy data), Allergy 

information, Radiology text reports and Laboratory 

results, including surgical pathology, cytology, 

microbiology, chemistry, and hematology.

DoD Care Coordination Provide care coordination for patients with catastrophic 

injuries/illnesses.

DoD Clinical Data Repository/

Health Data Repository 

(CHDR)

Sharing clinical data: CHDR exchanges the following 

standardized, computable health data elements 

between DoD’s CDR and VA’s HDR for patients treated 

in both DoD and VA: Outpatient Pharmacy Data and 

Medication allergy data. Exchanging computable 

pharmacy and allergy data supports the ability to 

conduct drug-drug and drug-allergy order checking for 

shared patients using data from both DoD and VA.

DoD Conduct Occupational and 

Environmental Health (OEH) 

surveillance

Ongoing surveillance of the deployed environment to 

detect potential health hazards so early intervention 

to prevent illness can occur. Documentation of 

Occupational Environmental Health surveillance 

data is placed in the servicemember’s deployed 

medical record.
B-2 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD DoD Electronic Heatlh 

Record

AHLTA, DoD’s Electronic Health Record, provides the following 

functionality: Encounter documentation and coding, outpatient 

laboratory, pharmacy, and radiology, problem list/health history, 

allergies, immunizations, wellness reminders, medical alerts, 

pre and post-deployment health assessments, and medical 

readiness status.

DoD Family member screening Universal use of screening mechanism at all pediatric visits to 

screen for deployment-related issues impacting family members 

(mental health, financial, etc.) Results recorded in AHLTA. 

Referrals to Family Support Services, and to Social Workers, 

Family Advocacy, Case Management as indicated.

DoD Medical Care Provide healthcare as needed. Provide medical care or 

immunizations, as needed, in deployed setting.

DoD Medical Education Provide outpatient education for health sustainment including 

tobacco cessation, skin/foot care, heat/cold injuries.

DoD Post-Deployment 

face-to-face 

provider encounter

Required patient encounter for all deployers to review DD Form 

2796, receive debrief on deployed health hazard exposures, and 

instructions on completion of terminal malaria chemoprophylaxis, 

if required.

DoD Post-Deployment Health 

Reassessment 

(DD Form 2900)

Screening mechanism to identify any health issues potentially 

related to deployment that may not manifest themselves until 

a few months after return from deployment. Additional medical 

follow-up may occur based on answers to questions on form.

DoD Pre-Deployment Health 

Assessment 

(DD Form 2795)

Screening mechanism to identify any health issues just prior 

to a deployment that may prevent personnel from being able 

to deploy. Additional medical follow-up may occur based on 

answers to questions on form.

DoD Post-Deployment Health 

Assessment 

(DD Form 2796)

Screening mechanism to identify any health issues that 

manifested during or upon return from a deployment. Additional 

medical follow-up may occur based on answers to questions on 

form.

DoD Pre-Deployment 

Medical Screening

Review of servicemember’s status, completion of DD2795, 

administration of any additional immunizations, drawing of 

pre-deployment serum sample, prescription for Force Health 

Protection Prescription Products (such as malaria drugs) and 

any additional examinations specific for the deployment.

DoD Preventive Health 

Assessment

Screening questionnaire and appropriate clinical preventive 

services or diagnostics to identify potential health issues. 

DoD Rehabilitative Care Medical/Surgery/Physical & Occupational Therapy to return to 

maximum function prior to Disability Evaluation.

DoD Defense and Veterans Brain 

Injury Center

To care for active-duty servicemembers with Traumatic Brain 

Injury (TBI) through innovative medical care, clinical research, 

and educational programs. Provision of individualized case 

management for each patient to maximize function and decrease 

TBI-related disability; includes evaluation, treatment, and followup care. Vocational rehabilitation to help the patient return to 

duty and work.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-3

Agency Title Description

DoD Comprehensive Combat 

Casualty Care Center

Center based on models for amputee care developed at Walter 

Reed Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center, 

but expanded to include PTSD, TBI and other types of injuries. 

Scheduled to open Summer 2007. 

DoD Clinical Counseling Assessment and short-term, solution-focused clinical counseling 

for conditions and circumstances in which short-term counseling 

is appropriate Beneficiaries presenting with more significant 

psychiatric disorders are referred to TRICARE or the Military 

Treatment Facility.

DoD Deployment Health Clinic Deployment Health Clinics provide primary care and mental 

health services to members whose medical concerns were 

identified during the Post‐Deployment Health Reassessment 

process. servicemembers can be referred outside the 

Deployment Health Clinic for specialty care. 

DoD Individual Medical 

Readiness

Tracking and administration of appropriate immunizations, lab 

screenings, dental screening, and medical equipment (spectacle 

inserts for gas mask) to ensure members are medically ready 

to deploy.

DoD Oversight of Physical 

Evaluation Board process for 

the Department of the Navy 

(DON)

Oversees the Physical Evaluation Board process for the 

Department of the Navy (DON).

DoD Post-Deployment 

Serum SSample

Post-deployment serum specimen for storage in Department of 

Defense repository.

DoD Prescribe Force Health 

Protection Prescription 

Products (FHPPP)

Provides deploying servicemember medications specific for 

deployment. These may include malaria chemoprophylaxis or 

drugs to counter effects from a possible nerve agent attack.

DoD Prescribe other medications Prescribe enough medications other than FHPPP, if indicated 

for servicemember’s medical condition, to cover the duration of 

deployment, up to 180 days.

DoD Surgical/Critical Care Provide surgical and critical care services to the seriously 

ill/wounded including aeromedical evacuation.

DoD Incapacitation Program Authorizes medical and dental care for members of the National 

Guard and Reserve who incur or aggravate injury, illness, or 

disease in line of duty and provides pay and allowances during 

treatment and recovery from line of duty injury, illness, or 

disease, or who demonstrate loss of earned income as a result 

of injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty.

DoD Operational Stress Control 

and Restoration (OSCAR) 

Program 

2D MARDIV designed and implemented an organic operational 

stress control and restoration (OSCAR) program to address 

mental health related problems. OSCAR includes Staff 

Non-Commissioned Officers, chaplains, and mental health 

professionals in a fully integrated multi-disciplinary team 

providing proactive management for operational stress and 

related mental health problems. 

DoD Sexual Assault Prevention & 

Response Program

Provides awareness and prevention training before deployment 

and in the case of an assault, services from SARC and victim 

advocate, with a warm handoff to the SARC at the home base.
B-4 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD Medical Threat Brief Briefing to inform personnel of potential health hazards present 

in the deployed location and what preventive measures should 

be taken to decrease risk of exposure, such as wearing insect 

repellant or taking malaria chemoprophylaxis medication.

DoD Medical Disability Evaluation Write summary of medical injuries and perform continuous 

assessment to update disability system.

DoD Issue Appropriate Force 

Protection Equipment

Provide appropriate equipment/supplies for force protection - this 

may include body armor, helmets, protective goggles, insect 

repellant, sunscreen, and mosquito netting and poles.

Dept of 

Education 

(ED) 

Traumatic Brain Injury Model 

Systems Program

Through 16 funded centers nationwide, the program provides 

comprehensive systems of brain injury care to individuals who 

sustain TBI, and they conduct TBI research, including clinical 

research and the analysis of standardized data in collaboration 

with other related projects.

HHS National Institute of 

Child Health and Human 

Development (NICHD)

Supports a broad range of basic, clinical, and translational 

science with the goal of enhancing the daily functioning of adults 

and children with disabling conditions including, spinal cord and 

traumatic brain injuries. Is relevant to our returning veterans as 

they are working towards improving artificial limbs.

HHS National Institute of 

Diabetes, Digestive and 

Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases 

supports 22 research projects related to veterans of military 

service. These projects involve both scientists located at and 

patients drawn from VA medical facilities. Conditions researched 

include the liver and gastrointestinal diseases, kidney disease 

and diabetes.

HHS National Institute of General 

Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Aims to improve understanding of the biological processes 

invoked after traumatic or burn injury; brings basic scientific 

observations and principles into the clinical arena. 

HHS National Institute of Health 

(NIH), National Institute on 

Dental and Craniofacial 

Research (NIDCR)

Ongoing research in tissue engineering and regeneration, 

Bioengineering for wounds to the head and face. This has the 

potential to be of great service to veterans by improving the state 

of the science involved in repair and regeneration of combat 

wounds as well as other craniofacial defects.

HHS National Institute on 

Deafness and Other 

Communicative Disorders 

(NIDCD)

Studying the molecular mechanisms that cause the loss of 

hearing from exposure to loud noise.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-5

Agency Title Description

HHS National Institute on Mental 

Health (NIMH)

Extramural projects on trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder that involve active duty or veteran populations or that 

are directly relevant to developing science-based approaches 

to minimizing adverse mental health outcomes’ of trauma and 

violence experienced in military and civilian contexts.

HHS National Institutes of Health 

(NIH)

Comparing the effectiveness of different treatment strategies 

for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among combat veterans, 

a comparison of the benefits and outcomes of different postsurgical amputation rehabilitation services available to the VA.

HHS Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services 

Administration Partnership 

with National Guard Bureau

In September 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration (SAMHSA) began a partnership with 

the National Guard Bureau to help strengthen the overall 

effectiveness of the National Guard’s total workforce and 

enhance combat readiness by deterring illegal and illicit drug use 

by its members. 

HHS U.S. Public Health Service 

(USPHS) Office of the 

Surgeon General

Healthier Vets, the Surgeon General’s joint Health and Human 

Services (HHS)/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiative is 

designed to help veterans and their families remain physically 

active after they have separated from the military. The program 

provides veterans with obesity prevention materials supplied by 

HHS and includes a volunteer corps that provides local support 

for the program.

HHS Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services 

Administration Suicide 

Hotline

Linkage of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to the 

Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Homepage. 

Placing the link to information on the lifeline and the toll-free 

number on this important homepage enables veterans in crisis 

to quickly connect with a network of over 200 crisis counseling 

centers throughout the country. 

HHS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Military and other high stress occupations suffer an inordinate 

occurrence of medically/psychiatrically unexplained fatiguing 

illnesses that are similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (e.g., Gulf 

War illness). The Centers for Disease Control Chronic Fatigue 

Syndrome Research Program is collaborating with Miami 

University to evaluate gene expression profiles in Gulf War 

illness. 

HHS Vaccine Analytic Unit The Center for Disease Control established the Vaccine Analytic 

Unit in 2003 in collaboration with the DoD’s Army Medical 

Surveillance Activity and the Food & Drug Administration to 

provide data analysis of potential adverse events associated 

with vaccines which the troops would get prior to deployment. 

Located on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Campus, 

the Vaccine Analytic Unit uses data from the Defense Medical 

Surveillance System to assess whether specific longer term 

adverse events are associated with Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed 

and other biodefense vaccines. 
B-6 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

HHS National Center for Injury 

Control and Prevention 

(NCIPC)

The National Center for Injury Control and Prevention has 

collaborated with veteran’s groups, such as Defense and 

Veterans Brain Injury Center on providing a physicians toolkit 

on concussion management, assisting with a follow-up study 

of military survivors of traumatic brain injury to document the 

problems they experience after a Traumatic Brain Injury.

HHS CDC Birth Defects and 

Developmental Disabilities, 

Limb Loss- National Limb 

Loss Information Center

Strives to ensure that people with limb loss are included in all 

programs designed to improve the health and well-being of 

people with disabilities, develop additional interventions aimed 

at promoting general health and improved quality of life for 

people with limb loss and limb deficiency, expand research on 

vulnerable populations such as ethnic minorities and people with 

diabetes.

HHS Center for Disease Control 

(CDC) - National Center on 

Birth Defects

This information and resource center: 

(1) gathers demographic and statistical research with a focus on 

the prevalence, causes, and extent of secondary conditions, 

(2) facilitates health promotion activities among people with 

paralysis addressing primarily physical activity and exercise, 

nutrition, depression/isolation issues, weight management, 

and tobacco cessation to enhance physical and emotional 

health, 

(3) provides outreach to youth, older adults, men and women, 

and ethnic minorities with paralysis, and 

(4) develops collaborative national relationships with 

rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, and disability advocacy and 

voluntary support groups.

VA Vet Centers- Bereavement 

Services and Readjustment 

Counseling

Readjustment counseling is delivered via 209 Vet Centers 

that are situated outside the grounds of VA Medical Centers 

in areas that are easily accessible to veterans. The Veteran 

Readjustment Center program currently provides readjustment 

counseling to include post-traumatic stress disorder and 

outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat 

zone. Services are also available for their family members for 

military-related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits 

through their service and all are provided at no cost to veterans 

or their families. The Vet Center program has recently hired 

100 Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom 

veteran outreach workers to contact and work with their fellow 

veterans at active military demobilization and National Guard 

and Reserve sites, as well as at other community events 

frequented by veterans and their families. Vet Centers have 

provided bereavement counseling to surviving family members 

of servicemembers killed while on active duty. 

VA Automobile Adaptations Provides veterans the opportunity to enter / exit vehicles 

and safely operate them on highways. This equipment 

compensates for the loss of use of extremities related to 

service-connected injuries.

VA Civilian Health and Medical 

Program (CHAMPVA)

CHAMPVA provides reimbursement to certain dependents and 

survivors of veterans for medical expenses.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-7

Agency Title Description

VA Clinical Guidelines Two clinical guidelines on combat veteran health issues, one 

on general post-deployment health, and one on unexplained 

pain and fatigue have been developed in collaboration with 

DoD. They are on line at www.va.gov/EnvironAgents under 

Environmental Health Clinicians.

VA Dental Care Priority care is being given to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation 

Enduring Freedom veterans within VA Dental services and on 

the Electronic Waiting List. 

VA Domiciliary Residential 

Rehabilitation and Treatment 

Program (DRRTP)

Provides residential and clinical treatment to patients with a wide 

range of medical, psychiatric, vocational, educational, or social 

needs. 

VA Employee Continuing 

Education and Training

Education and training for care of Operation Iraqi Freedom/

Operation Enduring Freedom veterans includes caring for war 

wounded and national conference on providing health care 

to combat veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom/

Operation Enduring Freedom and other materials. 

VA Epidemiological Surveillance Longitudinal epidemiological surveillance on mortality and 

morbidity of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring 

Freedom veterans will follow those who were in Operation 

Enduring Freedom and those who were not deployed over the 

long term to observe consequences of military deployment 

in illness and death, including special health problems, and 

reproductive problems.

VA Facial Restorations Facial restoration is a service offered to veterans who may have 

facial disfigurement caused by burns, shrapnel, or other means.

VA Family support services Family members of enrolled veterans are provided screening 

of caregiver ability, adequacy of home environment, respite 

services (30 days/ year), homemaker services, adult day care 

5 days/ week, referral to community agencies, support groups.

VA Foreign Medical Program 

(FMP)

FMP provides reimbursement of medical expenses related to a 

veteran’s service connected condition while the veteran resides 

or travels overseas.

VA General Inpatient and 

Outpatient Care

General inpatient and outpatient care is delivered in more than 

1,300 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, 

nursing homes, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, 

and various other facilities. 

VA Long Term Care VA provides long-term care in nursing home services through 

three national programs: VA owned and operated nursing 

homes, State veterans’ homes owned and operated by the state, 

and contract community nursing homes. Each program has its 

own admission and eligibility criteria.

VA Mental Healthcare Veterans eligible for VA medical care may apply for general 

mental health treatment including specialty services such as 

PTSD and substance abuse. 

VA Monitoring Utilization of 

Healthcare

Rosters of active duty reserves and guard veterans who have 

separated are being maintained and monitored to anticipate 

and answer questions to outside organizations about healthcare 

needs of veterans. 
B-8 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

VA My HealtheVet My HealtheVet portal is a web-based application that enables 

veterans to create and maintain a personal health record 

with VA. My HealtheVet staff and the Seamless Transition 

Committee coordinate content and entry points for returning 

servicemembers. My HealtheVet links to other federal agencies 

and organizations that offer related benefits and services. 

VA National Rehabilitation 

Special Events

VA sponsors a number of special events as part of recreation 

therapy provided to veterans under VA care. VA’s four national 

rehabilitation special events provide disabled and elderly 

veterans with challenging opportunities to accomplish feats 

many may have believed were no longer available to them 

because of their disabilities or their age. For example: The 

National Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic promotes rehabilitation 

of disabled veterans by instructing them in adaptive Alpine 

and Nordic skiing and by introducing them to other adaptive 

recreational activities and sports. The Clinic offers many newly 

injured Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom 

veterans their first experience in winter sports, inspiring them to 

take their rehabilitation to a higher level. 

VA Outpatient Pharmacy VA provides outpatient pharmacy services to enrolled veterans 

through VA pharmacies located in VA health care facilities or 

through one of the seven regional Consolidated Mail Outpatient 

Pharmacies (CMOPs). 

VA Patient Contract for Care at 

the Polytrauma Centers

A patient contract has been developed to be provided to 

Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom 

polytrauma patients who are admitted to Polytrauma 

Rehabilitation Centers. The contract describes VA’s commitment 

for enhanced support services, communication, education, and 

information relevant to the patient and his/her family. 

VA Polytrauma Call Center All Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom 

veterans and family members can use a telephone call system 

for 24/7 access to VA health care and benefit information. 

Urgent/Emergent issues are addressed immediately; in regard to 

VA issues, the appropriate VA case manager is expected to call 

back within 24 hours. 

VA Polytrauma Network Sites The polytrauma system of care includes four centers, 21 

polytrauma network sites, support clinic teams, points of contact 

and case management.

VA Post Deployment Health 

Reassessment Program 

(PDHRA)

VA provides health reassessments 90-120 days after return from 

deployment. VA provides information on VA care and benefits, 

and arranges appointments for referred servicemembers.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-9

Agency Title Description

VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) provides the 

entire range of devices needed by returning servicemembers, 

including wheelchairs, recreational equipment, Global 

Positioning Systems and PDA’s.Veterans may receive VA 

prosthetic appliances, equipment and devices, such as artificial 

limbs, orthopedic braces and shoes, wheelchairs, crutches and 

canes and other durable medical equipment and supplies. They 

may receive home improvements, automobile adaptations, 

clothing, and facial restorations. VA will provide hearing aids 

and eyeglasses to veterans who receive increased pensions 

based upon the need for regular aid and attendance or being 

permanently housebound, receive compensation for a serviceconnected disability or are former prisoners of war. Hearing aids 

and eyeglasses are provided only in special circumstances, and 

not for normally occurring hearing or vision loss. Social Work 

liaisons with PSAS and Physical Medicine to ensure a seamless 

transition of care. Servicemembers are given contact info for 

these services at their local VAMC. 

VA PTSD Services 

and Research

VA has expanded staffing to provide Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder clinical teams or specialists at each medical center. 

Current research is underway on the development of new 

pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for Post-Traumatic 

Stress Disorder (PTSD).

VA Registries VA maintains health registries to provide special health 

examinations and health-related information to veterans. 

Registries include: Gulf War Registry, Depleted Uranium 

Registry, Agent Orange Registry, Ionizing Radiation Registry. 

Certain veterans can participate in a VA health registry and 

receive free medical examinations, including laboratory and 

other diagnostic tests deemed necessary by an examining 

clinician.

VA Research Projects Projects currently “in place” focus on topics of neurotrauma, 

polytrauma and blast-related injuries amputation and prosthetics, 

rehabilitation for vision, artificial skin, and hearing, mental health, 

women and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, long term needs of 

veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. 

VA Services for Blind Veterans A wide variety of Blind Rehab services are currently provided 

by VA. Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom 

veterans may suffer wounds and and traumatic brain injury 

trauma that can result in blindness.

VA Social Work 

Education Initiatives

Social Work initiatives have been developed, and include:

All Social Workers complete Traumatic Brain Injury training; 6 

training conference calls on Seamless Transition, polytrauma, 

working with Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring 

Freedom veterans; Collaboration with Services to care for 

Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans.

VA TBI Training Initiative Training module to train VA providers on the Operation Iraqi 

Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Clinical Reminder 

Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Tool.

VA Embedded Fragment 

Surveillance Center

Currently, in this center treatment of personnel with sustained 

injuries is focused on depleted uranium. 
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Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

VA VA Electronic Patient Record E-Record allows VA clinicians to view the following types of 

data on separated Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi 

Freedom veterans: Inpatient and outpatient laboratory results 

(clinical chemistry, blood bank information, microbiology, surgical 

pathology, and cytology); Inpatient and outpatient radiology 

reports; Outpatient pharmacy data from military treatment 

facilities, DoD retail network pharmacies, and DoD mail order 

pharmacies; Allergy information; Inpatient discharge summaries 

(inpatient history, diagnosis, and procedures); Inpatient 

admission, disposition, and transfer information (admission 

and discharge dates with length of stay); Consultation reports 

(referring physician and physical findings); DoD’s Standard 

Ambulatory Data Record (SADR) (diagnosis and procedure 

codes, treatment provided, encounter date and time, clinical 

services); and Patient demographic information (name, Social 

Security number, date of birth, gender, race, religion, patient 

category, marital status, primary language, and address); Preand Post- PDHRA.

VA VA Health Care Enrollment VA’s enrollment system provides comprehensive medical 

benefits package for enrolled veterans. Veterans are enrolled 

into priority groups based on eligibility criteria. 

VA Functional Capacity 

Evaluation (FCE) 

for Veterans with 

Service-Connected 

Disabilities or Injuries

For safe, dependable results for veterans, interdisciplinary FCE 

(in addition to vocational rehabilitation) is required. Functional 

assessment involves an interdisciplinary team approach 

including biomechanics/ ergonomics assessment of the essential 

functions of the job, Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist, 

Physical Therapist, or Rehabilitation assessment, medical and 

psychological/psychiatric evaluation and interpretation of the test 

results in light of the person’s illness, injury and environmental 

context, and legal ethical considerations. 

Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD Youth Camp Program Residential, on-site, and specialty camps for youth ages 6-18 

yrs provide youth opportunities to strengthen self-confidence, 

enhance skills, and build resiliency during parent deployment.

DoD Family Child Care Subsidy 

Program

Decreases the cost of child care for parents unable to receive 

care in the on-base child development center.

DoD Air Force Home Community 

Care Program

Free child care provided during drill weekends.

DoD Dependency Statement Parent of Soldier can submit application to dependency status.

DoD Deployed Spouse and 

Families Meal at the 

Dining Facilities

Deployed spouse meal E4 and below pay discount fee - does 

not pay the additional operating charge. Provides a low cost total 

quality meal.

DoD DisabilityInfo.gov DisabilityInfo.gov is a federal government-sponsored website 

that provides a direct connection to information and resources on 

a wide range of disability-related topics.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-11

Agency Title Description

DoD Personal Effects Claim Injured Soldiers can file a claim for personal effects left behind in 

theater. Receipts are not required. Maximum reimbursement is 

$3,000 Upon return of the unit, another claim can be filed for up 

to $5,000.

DoD Waiting List Priority for 

Deployed Parents

Families who withdraw their child from Child Development 

Centers or YP program are given priority enrollment upon return.

DoD Extended Duty Child Care 

(EDC) Program

Free child care provided during non-traditional hours when 

parental workloads increase due to longer duty hours.

DoD Marine Corps Wounded 

Warrior Regiment and 

Wounded Warrior Barracks 

The Wounded Warrior Regiment was established at Quantico 

Marine Base in March/April 2007. The barracks are projected 

for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Base 

Camp Pendleton.

DoD TRICARE Survivor 

Benefits for Active Duty 

Family Members

Family members are entitled to TRICARE benefits as transitional 

survivors or survivors if their active duty service sponsor who 

died while serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 

days. TRICARE pays transitional survivor claims at the active 

duty family member payment rate and pays survivor claims at 

the retiree payment rate. Transitional survivors pay no enrollment 

fees or co-payments to use TRICARE Prime. They will, however, 

pay cost shares and deductibles at the active duty family 

member rate to use TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra.

DoD/ VA Traumatic Servicemembers 

Group Life Insurance 

(TSGLI)

Traumatic injury protection through the Servicemembers’ Group 

Life Insurance (TSGLI) provides monetary assistance to Soldiers 

and their families who have suffered an injury resulting in a 

traumatic loss (i.e. loss of limbs, sight, hearing, traumatic brain 

injury, etc.). This assistance is vital and enables family members 

to be with them during their recovery time from such an injury.

DoD Combat-Related Injury 

Rehabilitation Pay

Availability of special pay of $430 per month for servicemembers 

during rehabilitation from wounds, injuries, and illnesses incurred 

in a combat operation or combat zone designated by the 

Secretary of Defense.

DoD Incapacitation Pay Provides pay and allowances during treatment and recovery 

from service connected injury, illness, or disease, or who 

demonstrate loss of earned income as a result of injury, illness, 

or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty.

DoD Non-Medical Counseling Short term counseling for servicemembers (Guard and Reserve) 

and their families at or near the installation.

DoD Housing Allowance Housing allowance for surviving dependents provides housing 

allowance or Government quarters for surviving dependents for 

365 days after member’s death (37 USC §403(l)).

DoD Family Travel to Burial Transportation for one round trip and per diem for 2 days at the 

burial site for eligible relatives of a deceased member to attend 

the member’s burial ceremony (37 USC §411f).

DoD Family Travel to Hospital Transportation for one round trip and per diem for up to 3 family 

members to visit a very seriously ill or injured (VSI) or seriously 

ill or injured (SI) member hospitalized anywhere in the world. For 

not seriously injured (NSI), transportation for family members of 

a member hospitalized in a medical facility in the U.S. is provided 

only if the member was injured in combat (37 USC §411h).
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Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD Family Travel Family travel to selected home involves travel and transportation 

allowances, including HHG shipment, for the dependents of a 

member who dies on active duty (37 USC §406(f)).

DoD Meals in Military Hospitals Members are exempt from the requirement to pay for meals 

while at the hospital on an out-patient basis for medical 

recuperation or therapy due to an injury incurred while in OEF, 

OIF, or operations and areas designated by the Secretary as 

combat operations or zones (authorized through December 

2007).

HHS Administration For Children 

and Families- Childcare

Provides child care fee assistance for National Guard and 

Reserve who are activated or deployed and whose children 

are enrolled in non -Department of Defense licensed child care 

programs and for deployed, Active-Duty Military whose children 

are enrolled in Non-DoD licensed child care programs.

OPM Federal Long Term Care 

Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

Federal employees called to active duty and enrolled in the 

program can keep this coverage as long as they continue to pay 

the premiums directly to FLTCIP. 

OPM Federal Employees Dental 

and Vision Insurance 

(FEDVIP)

Federal employees called to active duty and enrolled in the 

program can keep this coverage as long as they continue to pay 

the premiums directly to FEDVIP. 

OPM Federal Employees Health 

Benefits (FEHB)

Coverage is extended for up to 24 months while the veteran 

employee is mobilized and on leave without pay from the civilian 

position. Premiums for both the employee’s share and the 

agency share are paid by the agency for this extended period. 

An employee who returns to active Federal service following 

active duty has his or her Federal Employees Health Benefits 

coverage automatically reinstated upon return to employment.

OPM Transitional TRICARE 

Coverage

Employees whose Federal Employees Health Benefits 

enrollment terminates while on active duty may waive immediate 

reinstatement upon return to civilian duty if they don’t want 

Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage while using 

transitional TRICARE.

OPM Federal Employees’ Group 

Life Insurance (FEGLI)

Coverage is extended for Basic and all forms of optional life 

insurance for which enrolled for up to 12 months at no cost while 

the veteran employee is mobilized and on Leave Without Pay. 

The mobilized employee is not required to pay the premium 

during this period. Upon returning to Federal service, the 

employee may get back whatever type(s) of life insurance he 

or she had before going into Leave Without Pay as long as the 

position is not excluded from Federal Employees’ Group Life 

Insurance coverage.

OPM Flexible Spending Accounts 

(FSA)

Federal employees called to active duty have the option of 

pre-paying any Flexible Spending Account accounts, freezing 

Flexible Spending Account accounts or terminating FSA 

accounts. When the employee returns to their Federal position, 

they have 60 days from the date of return to duty (and before 

October 1 of any year) to reenroll if the Flexible Spending 

Account was cancelled. If their Flexible Spending Account was 

frozen, the account is reinstated and no new election is allowed.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-13

Agency Title Description

VA Disability Compensation VA Disability Compensation is a monetary benefit paid to 

veterans who are disabled by injury or disease that was incurred 

or aggravated during active military service.

VA Dependency and Indemnity 

Compensation

May be paid to surviving spouses who have not remarried, 

surviving spouses who remarry after age 57, unmarried 

children under 18, helpless children, those between 18 and 23 

if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income parents of 

deceased servicemembers or veterans.

VA Improved Pension Improved pension is a monetary benefit payable to war-time 

veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally 

disabled or are age 65 or older.

VA Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance (SGLI)

The Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program 

provides $400,000 of low-cost term insurance protection to 

servicemembers and reservists. SGLI coverage continues for no 

charge for 120 days following separation, or up to two years for 

members who are totally disabled at the time of separation.

VA Family Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance

Family SGLI coverage is available for the spouses (up to 

$100,000) and dependent children ($10,000 of free coverage) 

of active duty servicemembers and reservists who are insured 

under SGLI. 

VA Veterans Group 

Life Insurance

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance provides for the conversion of 

SGLI to a renewable term policy of insurance protection after a 

servicemember or reservist’s separation from service. 

VA Service-Disabled Veterans 

Insurance Program

The Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance program is a life 

insurance for veterans who have received a service-connected 

disability compensation rating from the VA. The basic program 

insures eligible veterans for up to $10,000 in coverage. Totally 

disabled veterans may apply for additional coverage up to 

$20,000 under the Supplemental Service-Disabled Veterans 

Insurance program.

VA Veterans Mortgage Life 

Insurance

The Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance program is for veterans 

with certain very severe injuries and is designed to provide 

financial protection to cover up to $90,000 of the veteran’s home 

mortgage in the event of death.

VA Clothing Allowance VA may pay an annual clothing allowance to a veteran if he/she 

has a service-connected disability or condition that requires the 

veteran to wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic device that 

wears out or tears clothing. Additionally, the clothing allowance is 

payable to any veteran whose service-connected skin condition 

requires prescribed medication that irreparably damages his or 

her outer garments.

VA Headstones and Markers VA provides at no cost to the veteran’s family a gravesite, 

headstone or marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, U.S. 

Flag, and when buried within a national cemetery, the perpetual 

care of the gravesite as well as the opening and closing of the 

grave.

VA Burial Allowance Generally, VA can pay a burial allowance for veterans who die of 

service related causes. For certain other veterans whose death 

was not due to service related causes, VA can pay a smaller 

allowance for burial and funeral expenses as well as a burial 

plot allowance. 
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Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

Outreach

Agency Title Description

DoD Airman & Family Readiness 

Center (A&FRC) 

Deployment Support

Readiness Non Commissioned Officer in each Airman & Family 

Readiness Center; Morale/video calls; Email and video phones; 

Workshops about family separation; Spouse employment 

support; Key Spouse volunteers and support groups; Junior 

Deployment Lines; Hearts Apart Morale Calls; Social and 

educational activities; HeartLink Orientation (“blues” spouses); 

Pre-deployment briefing/ education: Financial planning, 

Combat stress education, Children’s issues, Importance 

of communication; Reintegration training: communication, 

reintegration stress awareness into workplace and home; Family 

reunion education; Relationship enhancement programs; “Eyes 

on” with Commander. 

DoD Air Force Palace HART 

(Helping Airmen Recover 

Together)

Air Force Program that supports Airmen wounded/ill/injured 

in support of OEF/OIF. Palace HART continues until at least 

5 years post separation. The program partners with the Air 

Force Survivor Assistance Program, Airman & Family Readiness 

Centers, civilian personnel, casualty, VA, DOL and the Disability 

Evaluation System. Eligible Airmen and families receive multiple 

services and are tracked individually through the process by a 

team from the Air Force Personnel Center.

DoD Family Resource Groups Organized volunteer centers provide referrals and support to 

families after National Guard units deploy.

DoD Family Support Services List of deployed families maintained by Airman/Family 

Readiness flight, working with Chaplain Services and Military 

Treatment Facilities for referral. Targeted support activities (e.g., 

newsletters, dinners, video/computer support).

DoD Defense Soldier 

Support System

Integrates existing support services programs and systems for 

severely disabled Soldiers and their families through phases. 

These phases include; Phase I: Notification and Evacuation, 

Phase II: Medical Care and Board Evaluation, and Phase III: 

Reintegration into the Army or transition to civilian employment. 

The DS3 provides personal outreach and advocacy to disabled 

soldiers to ensure accessibility and responsiveness of DoD, VA, 

and civilian services, including medical care, family services, and 

other support services. 

DoD Family Assistance Centers Family Assistance Centers provide outreach, emotional support, 

and referrals for families. 

DoD Military One Source

(MOS)

MOS is a 24/7/365 information and referral service available via 

toll free telephone and Internet access (see below). A personal 

and family readiness tool, MOS extends the existing Family 

Support system for all service branches’ Active Duty, Reserve 

and Guard (regardless of activation status) and their immediate 

family members at no cost to participants. Programs provided 

are especially beneficial to those geographically separated from 

installation services or those who are unable to seek assistance 

during traditional working hours.Referrals for non-medical shortterm solution-focused, face-to-face counseling within a close 

proximity to home or work.
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-15

Agency Title Description

DoD Military Severely Injured 

Heroes to Hometowns 

Program

To prepare severely injured servicemembers to return to duty or 

to reintegrate successfully into their home towns.

DoD Military Severely Injured 

Joint Support Operations 

Center

Case Management, Advocacy, Hospitalization, employment, 

education, retraining, rehabilitation, discharge, family support, 

interface with VA, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel 

Management, and orporate America.

DoD Financial Counseling Financial assistance available includes: financial planning and 

counseling.

DoD Homecoming Programs Provided in theater, on ship and for families at home, to 

include families of wounded casualties, specifically address: 

opportunities/challenges of homecoming, single servicemembers 

returning from deployment, reunion and relationships, new 

parents of infants returning to children, financial readiness, 

returning from hazardous duty, stress management (how 

to recognize symptoms of combat operational stress, 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury).

DoD Relocation Provides guidance for permanent change of station moves and 

assists the servicemember and family on what the new duty 

station has to offer such as: cost of living, housing availability, 

medical care and treatment facilities, schools, and employment 

opportunities. These services can be accessed by family 

members or servicemembers. Services also include: information 

on the exceptional family member program, spouse employment 

opportunities, culture adaptation, stress management, shipment 

and storage of household goods (including motor vehicles 

and pets), settling in services, with emphasis on available 

government living quarters, and private housing, home finding 

services, with emphasis on services for locating adequate, 

affordable temporary and permanent housing.

DoD Family Member Education Provide proactive educational resources developed by AFMS 

physicians in cooperation with American Academy of Pediatrics 

for adolescent family members of deployed personnel.

DoD Medical Family 

Assistance Center

To provide compassionate, coordinated services to patients, next 

of kin and extended family members, with a primary focus on 

those affected by missions in support of Global War on Terror.

DoD Navy Safe Harbor Navy Safe Harbor provides personalized support and assistance 

to severely injured sailors and their families. Objectives of the 

program include: operate a proactive outreach/visitation service; 

address needs by identifying and providing access to existing 

support capabilities and resources; partner with Marine for Life 

(Injured Support) for sailors assigned to Marine units; establish 

and maintain liaison with the sailor’s command; encourage 

active duty retention continuing support for sailors with 30% or 

more disability rating (typically amputation, traumatic brain injury, 

spinal cord injuries, loss of vision, loss of hearing, severe burns) 

transitioning to civilian life. 
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Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD Family Services Programs Family services programs teach life skills and provide 

educational opportunities. Morale, welfare and recreation 

programs provide activities that build a sense of community and 

encourage social interaction. Exchange programs provide goods 

and services. The Marine for Life program provides transition 

assistance, injured support, reserve medical entitlements, and 

network of businesses willing to help. 

DoD Family Readiness Group 

(FRG)

Unit sponsored command organizations that support families 

of deployed and assist in preparing for homecomings. Family 

Readiness Groups plan, coordinate and conduct social, 

informational, care-taking, and morale building activities to 

enhance family readiness. Family Readiness Groups can also 

support families of wounded by assisting spouses and children 

as they prepare for the homecoming of their loved one. 

OPM Outreach and Employment 

Assistance

Staff at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Brooke 

Army Medical Center coordinate outreach with Walter Reed 

Transition Assistance Program and serve as point of contact 

for other agencies seeking to provide employment information, 

opportunities, and counseling. Publish Annual Report to 

Congress on Employment of Veterans in Federal government, 

Delegated Examining Operations Handbook, web-based 

VETGUIDE for human resources practitioners, and review 

agency requests for Direct Hire Authority.

SBA Small Business Counseling 

and Training

SBA offers counseling, training and guidance to veterans and 

others interested in small business through a nationwide network 

of over 200 SBA field offices and SBA-funded training partners, 

including 5 Veteran Business Outreach Centers which counseled 

15,000 veterans and reservists in 2006.

VA Center for Women Veterans 

and 

Center for Minority Veterans 

Serve in advisory and advocacy roles through outreach activities.

VA Outreach Letters Over 658,000 letters sent via the letter writing system from the 

Secretary of VA to returning members to provide information 

about benefits. 

VA Casualty Assistance Outreach services are available to surviving family members of 

servicemembers who die on active duty. Casualty Assistance 

Officers are designated at each regional office to work with 

the military Casualty Assistance Call Officers to provide claims 

assistance to surviving spouses or other family members.

VA Outreach to Target 

Populations

Within VBA regional offices, outreach coordinators are assigned 

to assist women veterans, homeless veterans, former prisoners 

of war, active duty servicemembers, etc. Outreach events, 

mailings, etc., are designed to provide specialized information 

and assistance to each of these groups of veterans. 

Employment

Agency Title Description
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-17

Agency Title Description

DoD Marine for Life The Marine for Life Injured Support Program is a transition 

assistance program that helps Marines and their families get 

settled back in the community when they leave active duty. The 

program taps into the network of Marine veterans and Marinefriendly businesses, organizations and individuals that are willing 

to lend a hand to a Marine who has served honorably. Services 

provided include networking and assistance with employment, 

education, housing, childcare, veterans’ benefits, and other 

support services needed to make a smooth transition back to 

the community. 

DoD Computer & Electronic 

Accommodation Program

Computer & Electronic Accommodation Program is going to 

the hospitals showing wounded servicemembers assistive 

technology, telling them about new IT opportunities.

DoD Spouse Employment Assistance to military spouses in cooperation with DOL 

developing and improving their personal and professional 

careers while sharing in the military member’s mobile lifestyle. 

Eligible patrons also include spouses who seek temporary 

employment or have become unemployed. Services include: 

information on employment, education, and volunteer 

opportunities; assisting military spouses in planning careers that 

are compatible with the mobile military lifestyle; teaching military 

spouses how to develop and use job search skills and strategies; 

connecting spouses with employers, business, professional, 

and support networks; and assisting military spouses in finding 

employment opportunities that meet their needs.

DOL Hire Vets First Campaign Raises employer awareness of the training and skills veterans 

posses at all ranks and occupational specialties and of the value 

they bring to business. 

DOL Keys to Career 

Success Initiative

Provides access to returning veterans to a wide array of 

employment and training services available through One-Stop 

Career Centers nationally. The “key” is provided as part 

of the Transition Assistance Employment Workshops. The 

“key” identifies the veteran at the One Stop and signals their 

entitlement to priority services for all DOL funded programs 

delivered by One-Stop Centers.

DOL Translating Military 

Experience and Training to 

Civilian Credentials

Targets licensure and certifications in high growth industries and 

for military occupations with limited civilian equivalence.

DOL Uniformed Services 

Employment & 

Reemployment Rights Act 

(USERRA)

Protects civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and 

members of reserve components by prohibiting employer 

discrimination due to military obligations and by providing 

reemployment rights to eligible returning servicemembers. 

Services provided: mobilization, demobilization briefings; 

workplace poster; employer training; online law Advisor; 

investigation activities; remediation activities. 

DOL Veterans Only Job Fairs Integrates assistance from the national workforce system and 

increases continuity of effort through adoption of the “Hire Vets 

First” campaign brand and message.

Employment
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Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DOL Veterans’ Preference in 

Federal Hiring

Preference applies for virtually all federal jobs whether in the 

competitive service or excepted service. A DOL online interactive 

advisor is available for individual assistance. 

DOL Career One-Stop 

Service System

State Workforce Agencies nationwide operate centers that 

provide employment and workforce information services in local 

communities at no cost to employers or job seekers who access 

the services available. They also provide priority of service and 

supplementary assistance to veterans and disabled veteran job 

seekers.

DOL Recovery and Employment 

Assistance Lifelines 

(REALifelines)

National network of workforce and transition specialists provide 

direct personal assistance to severely injured servicemembers 

and their families from military treatment facility to direct 

placement services with employers in their home town 

communities. An online interactive advisor is available for 

individuals.

HHS CDC - Malaria, 

Leishmaniases, etc.

The Center for Disease Control’s National Center for 

Environmental Health has drafted a new Career Resource Guide 

for Uniformed Services Environmental Health Practitioners. The 

Guide is designed to assist veterans to consider a career in 

environmental public health.

OPM Veterans Recruitment 

Appointment (VRA)

A special hiring authority by which agencies can appoint an 

eligible veteran without competition. VRA is an excepted 

appointment to a position that is otherwise in the competitive 

service. After 2 years of satisfactory service, the employee is 

converted to a career-conditional appointment.

OPM 30 Percent or More 

Disabled Veterans

These veterans may be given a temporary or term appointment 

to any position for which qualified. After demonstrating 

satisfactory performance, the veteran may be converted at any 

time to a career-conditional appointment.

OPM Disabled Veterans Enrolled 

in VA Training Programs

VA vocational rehabilitation program to gain work experience 

at an agency under the terms and agreement between the 

agency and VA. The veteran is not a Federal employee for most 

purposes while enrolled, but is a beneficiary of the VA. Upon 

successful completion, the veteran will be given a Certificate 

of Training showing the occupational series and grade level for 

which she/he was trained which allows any agency to noncompetitively appoint the veteran for a period of 1 year on a 

Special Tenure Appointment which is then converted to careerconditional appointment with the OPM approval. 

OPM Excepted Service 

Schedule A 

Appointment

Facilitates appointment of persons with disabilities who, with or 

without accomodation, can perform the essential functions of the 

position. Highly useful in appointing disabled veterans, especially 

those rated at less than 30%. Positions filled under this schedule 

may be excepted from competitive procedures.

SBA Military Reservist Economic 

Injury Disaster Loan

Disaster loans for small businesses that suffer or may suffer 

substantial economic injury when a reservist owner or key 

employee is activated. 
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-19

Agency Title Description

SBA/ DOL Service-Disabled Veteran 

Owned Small Business

Oversight to assess compliance in achieving the Federal 

contracting for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small 

Businesses. All Federal agencies have the responsibility to 

achieve a minimum 3% procurement goal for Service-Disabled 

Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. 

SBA Small Business Loans Loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration 

to veterans and reservists to start, expand or grow a 

small business. 

VA Center for Veterans 

Enterprise

Center for Veterans Enterprise provides individual counseling, 

and assistance for veterans in business or interested in starting 

businesses.

VA Coming Home to Work 

Initiative

Civilian work experience is made available to vocational 

rehabilitation and employment eligible servicemembers who are 

pending medical separation from active duty at major military 

treatment facilities.

Education & Vocational Rehabilitation

Agency Title Description

DoD Credentialing Opportunities 

On-Line

COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) explains how Army 

Soldiers can meet civilian certification and license requirements 

related to their Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs). Army, 

Navy, and Marines have on line systems. The systems find 

civilian credentials related to military occupational specialties, 

explains what it takes to obtain the credentials, and identifies 

available programs that will help pay credentialing fees. 

DoD Tuition Assistance While in the Service, military members continue their civilian 

education during off duty periods. DoD provides tuition 

assistance, $4,500 per year, for servicemembers to earn a 

certification, license, or college degree(s). Courses may be taken 

in the traditional classroom setting or via distance learning. 

DoD Library Support Learning Resource Centers; Paperback and periodical kits.

ED Federal Student Loan 

Programs

Education’s student aid programs include Stafford Loans, 

Perkins loans, and Pell grants. Department of Education has 

identified approximately 146,000 student aid applicants as 

veterans based on matched records with VA.

ED Veterans Upward Bound Provides funds to institutions of higher education and 

other organizations for veterans who have not yet pursued 

postsecondary education.

ED Educational Opportunity 

Centers Program

Provides information regarding financial and academic 

assistance to individuals who want to enroll in a postsecondary 

education program and assists those individuals in applying for 

admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary 

education.

ED Talent Search Program Identifies individuals between the ages of 11 and 27 with 

potential for education at the postsecondary level. Encourages 

them to complete secondary school and undertake a program of 

postsecondary education. Works to publicize the availability of 

student financial assistance. Encourages those individuals who 

have begun but failed to complete secondary school or enroll in 

a postsecondary institution to re-enter an educational program.
B-20 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

ED Student Support Services Provides support services to increase the number of 

disadvantaged low-income college students, first generation 

college students, and college students with disabilities in the 

United States who successfully complete a program of study at 

the postsecondary level of education. Services provided should 

increase retention and graduation rates, facilitate transfer from 

two-year to four-year colleges and foster an institutional climate 

supportive of their success.

ED Troops-to-Teachers Assists eligible members of the Armed Forces to obtain 

certification or licensing as elementary school teachers, 

vocational or technical teachers and to become highly qualified 

teachers. This program is administered through a memorandum 

of agreement with the Department of Defense.

ED State Vocational 

Rehabilitation and Supported 

Employment Programs

Awards formula grants to States to help individuals with 

disabilities prepare for, obtain, and retain employment through 

the provision of employment-related services. These grants 

support a wide range of services including vocational evaluation, 

counseling, mental and physical restoration, education, 

vocational training, job placement, rehabilitation technology, 

and supported employment services. Priority is given to serving 

individuals with the most significant disabilities. Veterans are 

eligible for these programs, but are not specifically targeted.

ED Centers for 

Independent Living

(CILs)

This program provides services to individuals with significant 

disabilities through State agencies and Centers for Independent 

Living (CILs). These service providers provide the core services 

of information and referral, independent living skills training, 

individual and systems advocacy, and peer counseling in 

addition to other independent living services. Veterans are 

eligible for these programs, but are not specifically targeted.

VA Veterans’ Educational 

Assistance Program

(VEAP)

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). provides 

education benefits that may be used while on active duty or after 

separation from active duty. Servicemembers who entered active 

duty for the first time after December 31, 1976 and before July 

1, 1985 were eligible to enroll Veterans’ Educational Assistance 

Program.

VA Dependents’ Educational 

Assistance

Dependents’ Educational Assistance provides educational and 

training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who 

meet certain requirements.

VA Montgomery GI Bill-Active 

Duty

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB) provides education 

benefits that may be used while on active duty or after 

separation from active duty.

VA Montgomery GI Bill-Selected 

Reserve

Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) provides 

education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the 

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and 

to members of the Army National Guard and the Air National 

Guard. 

VA National Call to Service 

Program (NCS)

The NCS provides education benefits to certain individuals who 

enter the military through the National Call to Service (NCS) 

program. 
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-21

Agency Title Description

VA Reserve Educational 

Assistance Programs.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program provides 36 months 

of education benefits to members of the reserve elements of 

the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and 

to members of the Army National Guard and the Air National 

Guard. Members must have been called or order to active 

service in response to war or national emergency, as declared 

by the President or Congress.

VA Vocational Rehabilitation 

and Employment Program: 

5-Tracks to Employment 

This program provides assistance to veterans with serviceconnected disabilities and servicemembers awaiting medical 

discharge from the military to help them prepare for, obtain, and 

retain employment in the civilian workforce. The 5-Tracks to 

Employment process provides veterans and servicemembers 

the opportunity to return to work or improve their independence 

in daily living. For veterans with a serious employment handicap 

and for whom employment is not currently an option, the 

program provides a wide range of independent living services. 

Counseling and guidance are also provided to eligible family 

members. 

VA Vocational-Educational 

Counseling

Vocational counseling and educational testing for servicemembers who are within six months of discharge from active duty or 

veterans who are within one year following discharge from active 

duty under other than dishonorable conditions.

Housing & Homelessness

Agency Title Description

DOL Homeless Veterans 

Reintegration Program

Provides services to assist in reintegration of homeless veterans 

into meaningful employment and to stimulate the development of 

effective service delivery systems to address complex problems 

facing homeless veterans.

HUD Housing Choice 

Voucher Program

Provides rental assistance for low and very low- income families, 

the elderly and persons with disabilities to afford decent, safe, 

and sanitary housing in the private market.

HUD Ginnie Mae - Mortgage 

Lender

Ginnie Mae’s guarantee lowers the interest rates that Veterans 

are able to get on their VA mortgages. During FY06 and FY07, 

Ginnie Mae guaranteed securities that included over 130,000 

and 50,000 VA loans, respectively. As of February 2007, there 

are a total of approximately 1,035,000 VA loans included in 

mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae.

HUD HUD Veteran Resource 

Center (HUDVET) 

The Department’s website and a principal vehicle for providing 

veterans and their families with information about the many 

community-based programs and services funded by HUD.

HUD Special Needs Assistance 

Program (SNAPS)

Provides funding, by competitive and formula grants specifically 

for the homeless. 

HUD Community Development 

Block Grant

Provides funding, by formula grant for housing rehabilitation, 

homeownership assistance, fair housing, design costs for 

barrier-free housing and short-term financial assistance to 

prevent homelessness.

HUD HOME The HOME program makes available, by formula, downpayment assistance and rental assistance.
B-22 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

HUD Homeownership Voucher 

Assistance Program 

(Section 8 Homeownership)

Helps existing Housing Choice Voucher Program participants 

purchase a home.

HUD Indian Housing Loan 

Guarantee

The Section 184 program provides Native Americans access to 

capital, acts as a credit enhancement mechanism for lenders, 

and provides private funding opportunities to tribal housing 

agencies. It offers eligible borrowers a 100 percent guarantee 

on loans to build, acquire, rehabilitate, or refinance a home in an 

Indian area.

HUD Loan Guarantees for Native 

Hawaiian Housing

The Section 184A program provides access to private financing 

for Native Hawaiian families who would otherwise have 

difficulty obtaining mortgages due to the unique legal status of 

Hawaiian Home Lands. It offers eligible borrowers a 100 percent 

guarantee on loans to build, acquire, rehabilitate, or refinance a 

home in the Hawaiian Home Lands.

HUD Project-Based Voucher 

Program 

Provides rental assistance for eligible families who live in specific 

housing developments or units.

HUD Public Housing Program Provides decent, safe and sanitary housing to eligible lowincome families, and persons with disabilities.

HUD Section 32 Homeownership 

Opportunity

Provides families earning less than 80% of Adjusted Median 

Income (AMI) the opportunity to purchase public housing 

units and pay 35% of income for PMI, utilities, taxes and other 

housing related expenses.

U.S. Interagency 

Council on 

Homelessness

Federal Response to 

Homelessness 

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is charged 

with coordinating the federal response to homelessness and 

is comprised of 20 member agencies. A working group within 

the council will be formed to explore permanent housing 

opportunities for homeless veterans.

VA Loan Guaranty VA Loan Guaranty Service provides home loan guaranties 

to help eligible servicemembers, veterans, reservists and 

unmarried surviving spouses purchase and retain homes in 

recognition of their service to the Nation.

VA Specially Adapted Housing Veterans who have specific service-connected disabilities may 

be entited to a “Specially Adapted Housing” grant for the purpose 

of constructing an adaptive home or modifying an existing home 

to meet their adaptive needs. The grant is currently $50,000 

and is generally used to create a wheelchair accesssible home. 

VA also has a Special Home Adaptation grant for $10,000. 

This grant is generally used to assist veterans with mobility 

throughout the home.

VA Homeless Services 

Programs

This integrated network of services address the treatment, 

rehabilitation, and residential needs of homeless veterans. 

Programs include the Domiciliary Care for Homeless 

Veterans Program (DCHV); the Compensated Work Therapy/

Transitional Residence Program (CWT/TR); and Health Care 

for Homeless Veterans Program (HCHV) and its components 

(the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem [GPD] Program, 

the Supported Housing [SH] Program; the Housing and Urban 

Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing Program 

[HUD-VASH]), and the Mutli-Family Loan Guarantee Programs 

and Community-Level Needs Assessment and Planning 

(CHALENG).
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-23

Agency Title Description

VA Home Improvement and 

Structural Alteration (HISA) 

Program

The Home Improvement and Structural Alteration program is a 

grant allowing veterans to make modifications to their homes 

to allow them to enter and exit via ramps, widen doorways, and 

make bathroom / kitchen modifications.

Agency Title Description

Agency Title Description

DoD

VA

Cooperative Separation 

Process/ Examinations 

for DoD/ VA at Benefits at 

Delivery Discharge Sites

All military servicemembers participating in transition seminars 

are informed of the VA claims application procedures. Those 

wishing to participate in the cooperative separation examination 

process must complete VA Form 21-526, Application for 

Compensation or Pension (or the electronic equivalent), and 

submit it, along with a copy of their service medical records to 

VA. (Service medical records, in DoD terminology, are health 

treatment records.) Servicemembers can file claims for disability 

compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, automobile 

allowance, and specially adapted housing prior to their 

separation from military service. Under the BDD program claims 

are processed within days following separation.

DoD

VA

DEERS to Veteran 

Information System

Sharing servicemember data.

DoD

VA

DoD VA Deployment Health 

Work Group

Chartered to: Examine opportunities for collaboration between 

DoD, VA, and HHS to maintain, protect, and preserve the health 

of servicemembers. Focus is on health of military members, 

veterans and their families during and after mobilization, combat 

and other operations. Include allied nations as appropriate. 

Coordinate Interagency reports. Make recommendations to 

Health Executive Council. Facilitate health risk communication. 

Identify and foster sharing of information and resources.

DoD

VA

Electronic Transfer of 

Pre- and Post-Deployment 

Screening Results through 

FHIE

Transfers Pre- and Post-Deployment Health Assessments and 

Post-Deployment Health Reassessments screening results from 

DoD to VA.

DoD

VA

Federal Health Information 

Exchange (FHIE)

Sharing clinical data: DoD transfers the following types of data 

on separated servicemembers to VA: Inpatient and outpatient 

laboratory results (clinical chemistry, blood bank information, 

microbiology, surgical pathology, and cytology); Inpatient and 

outpatient radiology reports; Outpatient pharmacy data from military treatment facilities, DoD retail network pharmacies, and DoD 

mail order pharmacies; Allergy information; Inpatient discharge 

summaries (inpatient history, diagnosis, and procedures); Inpatient admission, disposition, and transfer information (admission 

and discharge dates with length of stay); Consultation reports 

(referring physician and physical findings); DoD’s Standard Ambulatory Data Record (SADR) (diagnosis and procedure codes, 

treatment provided, encounter date and time, clinical services); 

Patient demographic information (name, Social Security number, 

date of birth, gender, race, religion, patient category, marital 

status, primary language, and address); Pre- and Post-Deployment Health Assessment data; and Reassessment data.

Interagency Collaboration
B-24 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD

VA

Joint Seamless 

Transition Program

Case managers are assigned upon admission to interact with 

the health care team to establish the patient’s needs for care. 

VA social work personnel work on-site at the Military Treatment 

Facilities to establish appointments at a VA Medical Center 

near the patient’s intended residence. They coordinate transfer 

of care and maintain follow-up with patients to verify success 

of the discharge plan, and to ensure continuity of therapy and 

medications. They also refer patients to Veterans Benefits 

counselors and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. Case 

managers ensure that patients know about the full range of VA 

services, including readjustment programs, and educational and 

housing benefits.

DoD

VA

MOU on Sharing of Personal 

Health Information

The purpose of this memorandum is to state throughout the 

Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) those circumstances in which it is appropriate to share 

Protected Health Information and other individually identifiable 

information. In addition, the memorandum is intended to 

establish the respective responsibilities and authorities of 

DoD and VA to share data as defined by the Health Insurance 

Portability and Accountability Act, the Privacy Act, and other 

applicable authority. This Memorandum Of Understanding 

addresses the transfer of information, including protected health 

information, on all servicemembers who transition from the DoD 

health system to VA healthcare, or who are being evaluated on 

eligibility for VA benefits.

DoD

VA

OEF/OIF Outreach 

counselors

The outreach counselors brief servicemen and women leaving 

the military about VA benefits and services available to them and 

their family members. They also encourage new veterans to use 

their local Vet Center as a point of entry to VA and its services.

DoD

VA

Policy on Expediting 

Veterans Benefits to 

Members with Serious 

Injuries and Illnesses

Information to be reported is the member’s name, social 

security number, unit identification, current location and contact 

information, and brief explanation of condition. This information 

shall be sent promptly, securely (virtual private network or 

secure system) and electronically from the services to Office of 

the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) /TriCare

Management Activity, then to the VA.

DoD

VA

Roster on Active Duty 

Servicemembers in the 

Physical Evaluation Board/ 

Medical Evaluation Board 

(PEB/MEB) Process

Information to be reported is the member’s name, social 

security number, unit identification, current location and 

contact information, and brief explanation of condition. VA and 

DoD collaborate to ensure that VA is notified of ill or injured 

servicemembers transitioning to VA care and civilian life. DoD 

sends a monthly list of servicemembers being referred to 

the Physical Evaluation Board, which enables VA to contact 

servicemembers and provide information on VA benefits 

and services. 
Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Report to the President B-25

Agency Title Description

DoD

VA

Roster on Recently 

Separated OEF/OIF 

Veterans- Active duty and 

Reserve Components

Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) began routinely 

providing VA rosters of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 

Enduring Freedom veterans who have separated from active 

duty in September 2003. Originally, DMDC used proxy payfiles to identify individuals who were potentially deployed to 

those combat theaters. In June 2004, DMDC instituted a new 

process that more accurately identified those deployed to the 

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom 

combat theaters, but that process lost the ability to differentiate 

which individuals were Operation Enduring Freedom and which 

were OIF. VA uses this roster to develop and release reports on 

utilization of VA health care by OIF/OEF veterans.

DoD Preseparation Counseling 

for all Servicemembers

The following subjects are reviewed with the servicemember 

(DD Form 2648 and 2648-1), Employment assistance, USERRA, 

ESGR, Life Insurance, Finances, and Benefits. 

DoD

DOL

VA

Transition Services Prepares all separating servicemembers, including those 

returning from combat, the wounded, and their families with 

the skills, tools, and self-confidence necessary to assist in 

successful reentry into the Nation’s civilian work force. Jointly, 

DoD, DOL, and VA provide extensive one-on-one assistance 

in the areas of: resume and cover letter writing, electronic 

job banks and internet access, VA benefits and review, job 

fair information, Federal employment workshop, employment 

counseling, job search processes, resume preparation, post 

military employment networking, relocation assistance for 

separating members, government partnerships for employment 

and training, benefits for members who are involuntarily 

separated, veterans benefits (including Disability), TAP/DTAP 

after Medical Evaluation Board/Physical Evaluation Board.

DoD

DOL

OPM

SSA

VA

Severely Injured Marines and 

Sailors (SIMS) Pilot Program

The Severely Injured Marines and Sailors Program was 

designed to maximize disability benefits and compensation 

available for severely injured Marines and Sailors. Through the 

acceleration of the disability evaluation process, SIMS and their 

families are able to simultaneously utilize the disability benefits 

provided by DoD, VA, DOL, Social Security Administration, and 

OPM while remaining part of the Navy-Marine Corps team. The 

SIMS pilot was performed at the National Naval Medical Center 

Bethesda and was evaluated in March 2007. 

DoD

DOL

TSA

VA

Military Severely Injured 

Center

The Center includes four Federal Agencies operating together 

under one roof (DoD, DOL, VA DHS/ TSA) to assist the severely 

injured and families by providing family support to meet 

non-medical needs and serving as a resource clearinghouse 

(e.g., immediate financial, employment, VA benefits, child 

care, counseling, community support, assistance with military 

service‐specific issues such as travel claims, personal property, 

moves, awards). 
B-26 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix B – Inventory of Federal Services and Benefits

Agency Title Description

DoD

VA

Support for Returning Global 

War on Terror Victims- Active 

Duty Servicemember in 

Veteran Health Administration 

Medical Centers

One active duty Army servicemember is in each of four VA 

Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. This Army Medical VA 

Polytrauma Liaison Program facilitates continuity of care 

between military and VA medical treatment facilities. The 

assigned servicemembers serve as the interface between case 

management and administratitive matters, while functioning as 

the primary point of contact in the transition process for injured 

soldiers and their family members during transfer from military 

treatment facilities to VA medical centers. The liaison functions 

much like VA personnel that are present in DoD facilities. They 

partner with VA staff to ensure the easy and seamless transfer 

of patients from DoD to the VA Medical Center. They advocate 

for patients and their families assisting their understanding of the 

VA process and capabilities while maintaining contact with their 

parent military service and health care system. 

HHS

VA 

Indian Health Services On February 25, 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was 

established between the Department of Health and Human 

Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that 

promotes collaboration and sharing of information, services, 

information technology, and continuing medical training of staff 

between the departments in order to enhance access to health 

care services and improve the quality of care of American Indian 

and Alaska Native veterans.

HHS

VA 

National Institute on 

Neurological Disorders and 

Stroke (NINDS)

The National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke 

works extensively with the VA and DoD on Neuropsychological 

outcomes of traumatic brain injury in Vietnam veterans and 

Iraq veterans.

HHS

VA 

United States Public Health 

Service, Office of the 

Surgeon General

The Surgeon General’s joint Health and Human Services (HHS)/

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiative is designed to help 

veterans and their families remain physically active after they 

have separated from the military. The program provides veterans 

with obesity prevention materials supplied by the Department of 

Health & Human Services and includes a volunteer corps that 

provides local support for the program.

DoD

VA

VA Seamless Transition VA has stationed personnel at major military hospitals to 

assist wounded servicemembers as they transition from 

military to civilian life. Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation 

Enduring Freedom servicemembers who have questions 

about VA benefits or need assistance in filing a VA claim or 

accessing services can also contact the nearest VA office or call 

1-800-827-1000.
Report to the President C-1

Appendix C

Process Maps

DoD Disability Process

VA Health Enrollment Process

VA Disability Claims Process
C-2 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix C– Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

DoD Disability Evaluation System

Sources of Injury/Condition

19,625 as of 2006

Not including TDR re-evaluations

Medical Treatment Facility Referral

Normally Not to Exceed One Year

The point of hospitalization or treatment 

when a member’s progress appears to 

have medically stabilized and when it can 

be reasonably determined that the member 

is not capable of performing the duties of 

his rank, grade, or station. 

Medical Treatment 

Facility—Medical 

Evaluation Board 

(MEB)

30 Days—Standard

Consists of one or more 

medical officers. 

Renders a medical 

retention standard 

decision. 

Confirms the medical 

diagnosis and documents 

member’s current medical 

condition. 

No

Yes

Yes

War Injuries / 

Conditions

11%

Other

89%

Optimum 

healthcare 

reached 

at Medical 

Treatment 

Facility

Continue 

Medical 

Treatment

Does the 

member 

meet 

retention 

standard?

Return 

to duty

Note:

Dictation of 

Final Medical 

Narrative 

Summary 

(NARSUM)

Physical Evaluation Board (PEB)

Member with 

medically limiting 

injury/ condition

Based on:

• Medical evidence

• DoD Instruction 

Guidance

• Military 

Department 

Regulations No
C-3

Appendix C – Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

Report to the President

Physical Evaluation Board (PEB)

Is the member 

fit for duty?

Is the disability 

compensable?

 What is the 

disability 

rating 

(injury/

conditions 

severity)?

Based on:

• Medical evidence

• Member’s injury / condition

• Duty performance as attested by 

record and commander

Based on:

• Line of duty determination

• For injury / condition existing 

prior to service—whether 

member has at least 8 years of 

active duty service

Based on:

• Medical evidence

• VA “Schedule for Rating 

Disabilities” guidance

• DoD rating guidance

Member may 

elect Formal 

PEB after 

unfitness 

determination

Member’s 

years of 

active 

duty or 

equivalent 

service

Return 

to duty

Necessitates 

Formal PEB 

Proceedings*

Separated 

without 

benefits

Separated 

with lump 

sum disability 

severance

Placed on Permanent 

Disability Retirement 

(Separated with monthly 

disability retirement benefits)

Placed on the 

Temporary Disability 

Retired List (TDRL)

(medically reevaluated 

at 18 months)

Disability 

is 

stable

Formal PEB

Conducted with 

member, legal 

counsel, witnesses

Informal PEB

Conducted without 

member’s presence

MEB

*Informal/Formal PEB Process:

Dispositions:

Physical Evaluation Board 

(PEB) 40 Days—Standard

Shall determine the fitness of Service 

members with medical impairments to perform 

their military duties. Consists of at least a 

president, medical officer, and personnel 

officer. Subject to Military Department 

Secretary discretion and regulations.

No (Unfit)

Yes

Yes (Fit)

No

0-20%

30% or 

higher ≥ 20 

years

No

< 20 

years

Results of 

Medical 

Evaluation 

Board (MEB)

Yes
C-4 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix C– Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

VA Health Enrollment Process

This HEALTH ENROLLMENT process map addresses such questions as how 

does a veteran enroll with VA for medical care and how much time is required 

for each step?

The enrollment process in this chart is for veterans who are new to VA and 

represents the critical path at a high level. The associated times are estimated 

and may fluctuate depending on the time the application entered the enrollment 

system and the volume of activity in the system. The goal is to send the letter 

to the veteran in 7 days, but it could range to 10 days. The health enrollment 

process consists of the following steps.

1. The veteran may apply for enrollment in person at a VA health care facility, by 

mail, or by completing an on-line application. VHA uses the military service, 

demographic and, as applicable, financial information collected on the application 

form as the basis for determining whether the veteran qualifies for VA health care 

benefits. 

2. The local VA health care facility receives the application for enrollment and intake 

staff enters the data into the Veterans Integrated System Technology Architect 

(VistA). VistA automatically queries the Master Patient Index (MPI) to determine 

if a record has already been established, if not it uniquely identifies the veteran 

record.. At this time, the intake staff may also query VBA for compensation 

and pension and/or known military status information. Typically, the veteran is 

provided a preliminary eligibility determination at the conclusion of an in-person 

application for enrollment. 

3. VistA transmits the veteran data to the Eligibility and Enrollment System (national 

system).

4. The Eligibility and Enrollment System establishes the veteran record and queries 

the SSA to verify the veteran’s SSN. Note: SSN verification does not occur in real 

time and is not on the critical path.

5. The Enrollment System queries VBA to reconfirm the compensation and pension 

and/or military status. Currently, this is done in a batch mode, however, when 

VHA deploys Enrollment System Redesign (ESR), the Enrollment System will 

immediately trigger a query to VBA; as a result the cycle time, noted above, 

for the enrollment process will be reduced by another day.

6. The Enrollment System verifies the veteran’s enrollment eligibility and shares this 

data with VistA (at the local level). Note: If the Enrollment System is unable to 

verify eligibility, then the system sends the local VA Medical Center a bulletin to 

alert them to take further action (i.e. confirm whether the veteran has qualifying 

military service). The Enrollment System establishes an enrollment record upon 

transmission of verifying data by the local station.

7. The Enrollment System produces the letter to the veteran with the official 

enrollment determination.

8. The veteran receives the letter from VA telling him or her about their eligibility and 

enrollment determination.
C-5

Appendix C – Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

Report to the President

VA Health Enrollment Process

Veteran applies 

for enrollment 

(in-person, by mail, 

or by internet) 

1.

VA receives application, 

enters data into VistA,and 

establishes preliminary 

eligibility record

2.

Transmission 

occurs

Day 1 

< Midnight

VistA Transmits record to 

Enrollment System 

3.

Query 

occurs 

< Midnight on 

Day 2

Enrollment System 

establishes record; 

queries VBA to 

verify eligibility 

4.

Bulletin is sent on Day 3

VBA returns 

compensation and 

pension status 

information 5.

VBA response 

is received 

<11 am on 

Day 3

If unable to verify 

eligibility; alert VAMC to 

take further action 

Enrollment System 

determines enrollment 

eligibility; shares data with 

VistA preliminary eligibility 

record 6.

Enrollment 

is processed 

in afternoon 

of Day 3

End – Veteran 

receives letter

Send Veteran letter with 

enrollment/ eligibility 

determination

7.

Day 7

8.
C-6 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix C– Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

VA Disability Claims and Appeals Process

This Disability Compensation claim process map outlines the steps 

involved in the disability compensation claim process including how much 

time is required for each step. Applications for disability compensation are 

processed using the Claims Processing Improvement (CPI) model. The CPI 

model was developed in 2001 by the Claims Processing Task Force to increase 

efficiency in processing disability compensation benefit claims and to reduce 

the number of errors. The model requires triage of incoming mail and analysis 

of incoming claims. It promotes specialization that improves quality and 

expeditious handling of claims. VA employees who process claims for disability 

compensation are organized into specialized teams that perform the triage, predetermination, rating and post-determination functions. The following describes 

the sequence of the disability compensation claims and appeals processes.

1. Application: The veteran begins the process by completing and submitting an 

application for disability compensation benefits with the VBA.

2. Triage: The triage team has the responsibility for reviewing, controlling, and 

processing all incoming mail. Team members are responsible for deciding 

whether a claim can be processed immediately or it will need additional 

development. 

3. Pre-Determination: (Development Initiation): The pre‐determination team’s primary function is to develop evidence for disability compensation claims. At this 

time, a VA examination may be scheduled if medical evidence obtained by such 

an examination is necessary for a fair determination of the claim

4. Pre-Determination: (Evidence Gathering): During this phase, team members 

obtain all pertinent military medical records.

5. Rating: VA rating specialists make decisions on claims that require 

consideration of medical evidence.

6. Post-Determination: After a rating specialist has decided a claim for disability 

compensation, members of the post-determination team process awards for 

disability compensation benefits and they notify claimants of decisions.

7. Appeals: The primary function of the appeals team is the expeditious 

processing of appeals and remands. The team is responsible for establishing 

and monitoring appealed claims, developing issues on appeal and preparing 

revised ratings when a review indicates that the appeal can be favorably 

decided based upon the evidence of record.

8-9. Appeals: If the veteran is not satisfied with adjudication of their claim by the 

VBA, the veteran can file an appeal with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals

10- 11. Appeals: If the veteran is not satisfied with a decision rendered by the Board 

of Veterans’ Appeals, the veteran can file an appeal with the US Court of 

Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Not shown on the chart is the public contact team. VA conducts personal interviews with, and 

answers telephone calls from, veterans and beneficiaries seeking information regarding benefits 

and claims. VA directs claims and evidence to triage via personal interviews, telephone calls, 

e‐mails, and other outreach activities.
C-7

Appendix C – Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process

Report to the President

VA Disability Claims and Appeals Process

Complete and 

submit forms for 

1. Compensation

Claim Review

2. (10 Days)

Triage

Development Initiation

3. (29 Days)

Pre-Determination

Evidence Gathering

4. (108 Days)

Yes 11%

Rating Decision

5. (14 Days)

Rating

Note: 

If 100,000 veterans submit forms 

for compensation, then about 

11,000 will submit notice of 

disagreement, about 4.600 will file 

appeals with the Board, and about 

40 will file appeals with the Court. 

Current claims process is 177 days. 

VBA strategic goal is 125 days. 

9.

End 

Submit Notice 

of Disagreement?

7.

Board of 

Veterans’ Appeals

Award Processing

6. (16 Days)

Post-Determination

File appeals 

with the Board?

8.

File appeals 

with the Court?

10.

11.

US Court of Appeals

For Veterans Claims 

No

89%

No

99%

No

95.4%

Yes 4.6%

Yes <1%

End 

End 

Appeals
C-8 Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes

Appendix C– Process Maps: DoD Disability Process, VA Disability Claims Process, VA Health Enrollment Process
Report to the President D-1

Appendix D

List of Acronyms

Acronyms

A&FRC Airman & Family Readiness Center (DoD)

AARP American Association for Retired Persons

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

AE Air Evacuation (DoD)

AFAS Air Force Aid Society (DoD)

AHLTA The military’s electronic health record system; replaced 

CHCS (DoD)

AICD Automated implantable cardiac defibrillators

AMEDD Army MEDical Department; joint appointment as Army 

surgeon general and commanding general of Medical 

Command (DoD)

AMI Adjusted Median Income

AOA Agency on Aging (HHS)

ASAP Absence of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs (DoD)

ASEP Army Spouse Employment Program (DoD)

BAMC Brooke Army Medical Center

BDD Benefits Delivery at Discharge (VA/DoD)

BEC Benefits Executive Council (VA/DoD)

BHIE Bi-directional Health Information Exchange (VA/DoD)

C&P Compensation & Pension service in VBA (VA)

CARF Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

CAT Computer access training 
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Appendix D – List of Acronyms

CBHCO Community Based Health Care Organizaztion

CBOC Community Based Outpatient Clinics (VA)

CDC Center(s) for Disease Control

CDR Clinical Data Repository (DoD)

CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CHAMPVA Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (VA)

Chapter 30 MGIB; active duty educational assistance program; Title 38 

USC (VA)

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program; Title 

38 USC(VA)

Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ educational assistance 

program; Title 38 (VA)

Chapter 36 Administration of educational benefits; Title 38 USC(VA)

Chapter 1606 MGIB for Selected Reserve; Title 10 USC (DoD)

Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP); Title 10 

USC (DoD)

CHCS Combined Health Care System; replaced by AHLTA (DoD)

CPRS Computerized Patient Record System (VA)

CHDR Clinical Health Data Repository (VA/DoD)

CHTW Coming Home to Work (VA)

CIS Clinical Information System

CMC Community Medical Center (HHS)

CMOP Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (VA)

CO Central Office; headquarters (VA)

COOL Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (DoD)

COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COS Combat Operational Stress

CPRS Centralized Patient Record System (VA)

CRSC Combat-Related Special Compensation (DoD)

CSAVR Council of State Administrators of Vocational 

Rehabilitation

CVE Center for Veterans Enterprise (VA)
D-3

Appendix D – List of Acronyms

Report to the President D-3

CWINRS Corporate case management system used by VA’s 

vocational rehabilitation program

DD-214 Report of Separation (Certificate of release or discharge 

from active duty)

DD-2795 Pre-deployment Health Assessment form (DoD)

DD-2900 Post-deployment Health Assessment form (DoD)

DEA Dependents’ Educational Assistance; Chapter 35, Title 38 

(VA)

DES Disability Evaluation System (DoD)

DIC Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA)

DMDC Defense Manpower Data Center (DoD)

DoD Department of Defense

DOL Department of Labor

DON Department of Navy

DTAP Disabled Transition Assistance Program

DU Depleted Uranium program 

DVBIC Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

DVOP Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DOL)

ED Department of Education

EHR Electronic Health Record

ESR Enrollment System Redesign

FAC Family Assistance Centers (DoD)

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (ED)

FCE Functional Capacity Evaluation (VA)

FEGLI Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (OPM)

FEHBP Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (OPM)

FGLI Family Group Life Insurance (VA)

Fannie Mae Federal National Mortgage Association (HUD)

FHA Federal Housing Administration (HUD)

FHIE Federal Health Information Exchange (DoD) usually to VA

FHPPP Force Health Protection Prescription Products (DoD)

FMP Foreign Medical Program (VA)

Freddie Mac Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (HUD)
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Appendix D – List of Acronyms

FRG Family Readiness Group (DoD)

FTE Full-Time Equivalent (employee)

GAO Government Accountability Office (Congress)

Ginnie Mae Government National Mortgage Association (HUD)

GME Graduate Medical Education (VA) (DoD)

GWOT Global War on Terror

HDR Health Data Repository (VA)

HEC Health Executive Council (VA/DoD)

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HISA Home Improvement and Structural Alteration (VA)

HOPWA Housing Opportunities for People with Aids (HUD)

HRSA Health Resources & Services Administration (HHS)

HTR Health Treatment Records (DoD); same as VA’s SMR

HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUDVET HUD Veteran Resource Center

IEEP Individualized Extended Evaluation Plans

IILP Individualized Independent Living Plan

IRR Individual Ready Reserves

IT Information Technology

JAG Judge Advocate General (DoD)

JEC Joint Executive Council (VA/DoD)

JEHRI Joint Electronic Health Records Interoperability program 

(VA/DoD)

JIF Joint Incentive Fund for health care coordination projects 

(VA/DoD)

JPTA Joint Patient Tracking Application

JSP Joint Strategic Plan (VA/DoD)

LVER Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (DOL)

LVOP Local Veterans’ Outreach Program

MCCF Medical Care Collection Fund, formerly MCCR, Medical 

Care Cost Recovery (VA)

MD Medical Doctor
D-5

Appendix D – List of Acronyms

Report to the President D-5

MEB Medical Evaluation Board (DoD)

MGIB Montgomery GI Bill active duty educational assistance 

program; 38 USC Ch 30 (VA)

MGIB-SR Montgomery GI Bill education assistance program for 

reservists 10 USC Ch 1606 (VA)

MOA / MOU Memorandum of Agreement / Understanding

MSIC Military Severely Injured Center

MTF Military Treatment Facility (DoD)

My HealtheVet Web-based product providing veterans with information 

and tools to improve their health (VA)

NCA National Cemetery Administration (VA)

NCIPC National Center for Injury Control and Prevention (HHS)

NCSHA National Council of State Housing Agencies

NDAA (06) National Defense Authorization Act (for fiscal year 2006)

NP Nurse Practitioner

NGR National Guard and Reserve 

NHL National Housing Locator (HUD)

NICHD National Institute of Child Health and Human 

Development (HHS)

NIDCD National Institute on Deafness & Other Communicative 

Disorders (HHS)

NIDCR National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research 

(HHS)

NIDDK National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases 

(HHS)

NIGMS National Institute of General Medical Sciences (HHS)

NIH National Institute(s) of Health (HHS)

NIMH National Institute of Mental Health (HHS)

NINDS National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke 

(HHS)

NNMC National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD

O&P Orthotic(s) and prosthetic(s)

OEF Operation Enduring Freedom
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Appendix D – List of Acronyms

OEH Occupational and Environmental Health surveillance 

(DoD)

OIF Operation Iraqi Freedom

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OPM Office of Personnel Management

OSCAR Operational Stress Control and Restoration program

OST Office of Seamless Transition (VA)

OWF Operation Warfighter

P&CLO Prosthetics and Logistics Office (VA)

PACT Preservation amputation care and treatment (VA)

PCS Permanent change of station (DoD)

PDHRA Post Deployment Health Reassessment Program (VA)

PA Physician’s Assistant

PEB Physical Evaluation Board (DoD)

PHI Protected Health Information

PMRS Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (VA)

PNS Polytrauma Rehabilitation Network Sites (VA)

PRC Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (VA regional centers)

PSAs Public Service Announcements

PSAS Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Services (VA)

PSCT Polytrauma Support Clinic Teams (VA)

PTF President’s Task Force (2003); refers to task force and/or its 

report 

PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

REAP Reserve Educational Assistance Program; Title 10 USC Ch 

1607 (DoD)

RHC Returning Home Childcare program (Air Force)

RO Regional office

SAA State Approving Agencies (VA)

SAH Specially Adapted Housing grants (VA)

SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration 

(HHS)

SARC Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program (DoD)
D-7

Appendix D – List of Acronyms

Report to the President D-7

SBA Small Business Administration

SC Service-Connected (as in disability)

SCI Spinal Cord Injury

SDVI or S-DVI Service Disabled Veterans Life insurance program (VA)

SDVOSB Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SBA)

Section 184A Native American Housing Loan Guarantee (HUD)

Section 184A Native Hawaiian Housing (HUD)

Section 32 Home ownership program administered by public housing 

agencies(HUD)

Section 8 Housing choice voucher program (HUD)

SGLI Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program (DoD)

SIMS Severely Injured Marines and Sailors pilot program at 

NNMC (DoD)

SLP Speech and Language Pathologist 

SMR Service Medical Records (VA); same as DoD’s HTR

SNAPS Special Needs Assistance Program (HUD)

SOC Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges – transfer credit 

(DoD contract)

SSA Social Security Administration

TAP Transitional Assistance Program (DoD)

TBI Traumatic Brain Injury

TDRL Temporary Disability Retirement List (DoD)

TRAVA Texas Rural Area Veterans Association

TRICARE Health care plan for uniformed services, retirees, and their 

families (DoD)

TSGLI Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (VA)

UCX Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service members 

(DoD/states)

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USERRA Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights 

Act

USPHS U.S. Public Health Service (HHS)

VA Department of Veterans Affairs
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Appendix D – List of Acronyms

VADIR VA/DoD Identity Repository (VA/DoD)

VA Form 10-10EZ Application for Health Benefits (VA)

VAMC VA Medical Center

VARO VA Regional Office

VASRD VA’s Schedule of Rating Disabilities (VA)

VBA Veterans Benefits Administration (VA)

Vet Centers VA Community based counseling centers (VA)

VETS Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (DOL)

VETSNET Compensation and Pension claims processing 

modernization project (VA)

VGLI Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program (VA)

VHA Veterans Health Administration (VA)

VISN Veterans Integrated Service Network (VA)

VistA VA imaging system that makes complete multimedia 

patient record available to clinicians and patients

VMET Verification of Military Experience and Training (DoD)

VMLI Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VA)

VMOP Veterans Mobile Outreach Program

VMTS Veterans Mobile Training Service

VRC Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VA)

VR&E Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VA)

VRR Veterans’ Reemployment Rights Statute

VSO Veterans Service Organization

WRAMC Walter Reed Army Medical Center