II 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1148 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to provide notice of average times for processing claims, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 12, 2013 

Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. HELLER) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice of average 

times for processing claims, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Benefits 

5 Claims Faster Filing Act’’. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 1148 IS

1 SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NOTICE OF 

2 AVERAGE TIMES FOR PROCESSING CLAIMS. 

3 (a) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af4 fairs shall post the information described in subsection 

5 (c)— 

6 (1) in a conspicuous place in each regional of7 fice and claims intake facility of the Department of 

8 Veterans Affairs; and 

9 (2) on the Internet website of the Department. 

10 (b) NOTICE TO APPLICANTS.—The Secretary shall 

11 provide to each person who submits a claim for a benefit 

12 under a law administered by the Secretary before the per13 son submits such claim— 

14 (1) notice of the information described in sub15 section (c); and 

16 (2) notice that the person is eligible to receive 

17 up to an extra year of benefits payments if the per18 son files a claim that is fully developed. 

19 (c) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The information described in 

21 this subsection is the following: 

22 (A) The average processing time of the 

23 claims described in paragraph (2). 

24 (B) The percentage of each of the fol25 lowing types of submitted claims for benefits 

26 under the laws administered by the Secretary of 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 1148 IS

1 Veterans Affairs for which benefits are award2 ed: 

3 (i) Claims filed by veterans who au4 thorized a veterans service organization to 

5 act on the veterans’ behalf under a durable 

6 power of attorney. 

7 (ii) Claims filed by veterans who au8 thorized a person other than a veterans 

9 service organization to act on the veterans’ 

10 behalf under a durable power of attorney. 

11 (iii) Claims filed by veterans who did 

12 not authorize a person to act on the vet13 erans’ behalf under a durable power of at14 torney. 

15 (2) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—The claims described 

16 in this paragraph are each of the following types of 

17 claims for benefits under the laws administered by 

18 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs: 

19 (A) A fully developed claim that is sub20 mitted in standard electronic form. 

21 (B) A fully developed claim that is sub22 mitted in standard paper form. 

23 (C) A claim that is not fully developed that 

24 is submitted in standard electronic form. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 1148 IS

1 (D) A claim that is not fully developed 

2 that is submitted in standard paper form. 

3 (E) A claim that is not fully developed that 

4 is submitted in non-standard paper form. 

5 (3) UPDATE OF INFORMATION.—The informa6 tion described in this subsection shall be updated not 

7 less frequently than once each fiscal quarter. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS