IB 

Union Calendar No. 155 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 675 

[Report No. 114–206] 

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2015, the rates of compensation 

for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled 

veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 3, 2015 

Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Ms. TITUS) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JULY 16, 2015 

Additional sponsors: Ms. PINGREE, Mr. PEARCE, Mrs. BEATTY, and Mr. 

JONES

JULY 16, 2015 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 3, 2015] 


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A BILL 

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2015, the rates 

of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, 

and for other purposes. 


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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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet5 erans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 

6 2015’’. 

7 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

8 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 

Sec. 101. Increase in rates of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation. 

Sec. 102. Publication of adjusted rates. 

TITLE II—UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

CLAIMS 

Sec. 201. Extending temporary expansion of United States Court of Appeals for 

Veterans Claims. 

Sec. 202. Recall of retired judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims. 

Sec. 203. Life insurance program relating to judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 

Sec. 204. Voluntary contributions to enlarge survivors’ annuity. 

Sec. 205. Salaries of judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims. 

Sec. 206. Selection of chief judge of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims. 

TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS PROCESSING 

Sec. 301. Interim payments of compensation benefits under laws administered by 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 302. Claims processors training. 

Sec. 303. Notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims 

approved. 

TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Clarification of eligible recipients of certain accrued benefits upon death 

of beneficiary. 

Sec. 402. Observance of Veterans Day. 


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1 TITLE I—COMPENSATION COST2 OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 

3 SEC. 101. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA4 TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 

5 COMPENSATION. 

6 (a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 

7 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 

8 accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect 

9 on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability com10 pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation 

11 under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 

12 (b) AMOUNTS TO BE INCREASED.—The dollar 

13 amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the 

14 following: 

15 (1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Each 

16 of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of title 38, 

17 United States Code. 

18 (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND19 ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 

20 1115(1) of such title. 

21 (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar amount 

22 under section 1162 of such title. 

23 (4) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA24 TION TO SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar 


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1 amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 

2 1311 of such title. 

3 (5) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA4 TION TO CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 

5 under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 

6 (c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.— 

7 (1) PERCENTAGE.—Except as provided in para8 graph (2), each dollar amount described in subsection 

9 (b) shall be increased by the same percentage as the 

10 percentage by which benefit amounts payable under 

11 title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 

12 seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2015, as a re13 sult of a determination under section 215(i) of such 

14 Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 

15 (2) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount increased 

16 under paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, 

17 shall be rounded to the next lower whole dollar 

18 amount. 

19 (d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

20 may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases 

21 made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensa22 tion payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85– 

23 857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation 

24 under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. 


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1 SEC. 102. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 

2 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 

3 Federal Register the amounts specified in section 101(b), 

4 as increased under that section, not later than the date on 

5 which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 

6 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required 

7 to be published by reason of a determination made under 

8 section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2016. 

9 TITLE II—UNITED STATES 

10 COURT OF APPEALS FOR VET11 ERANS CLAIMS 

12 SEC. 201. EXTENDING TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF UNITED 

13 STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

14 CLAIMS. 

15 Section 7253(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 

16 amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2013’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘January 1, 2020’’. 

18 SEC. 202. RECALL OF RETIRED JUDGES OF UNITED STATES 

19 COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

20 Paragraph (1) of section 7257(b) of title 38, United 

21 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

22 ‘‘(1)(A) The chief judge may recall for further service 

23 on the Court a recall-eligible retired judge in accordance 

24 with this section. Such a recall shall be made upon written 

25 certification by the chief judge that substantial service is 

26 expected to be performed by the retired judge for such peVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:18 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H675.RH H675

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1 riod, not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent), as deter2 mined by the chief judge to be necessary to meet the needs 

3 of the Court. 

4 ‘‘(B)(i) A recall-eligible judge may request that the 

5 chief judge recall the recall-eligible judge for a period of 

6 service of not less than 90 days (or the equivalent). 

7 ‘‘(ii) The chief judge shall approve a request made by 

8 a recall-eligible judge pursuant to clause (i) unless the chief 

9 judge certifies, in writing, that the Court does not have— 

10 ‘‘(I) sufficient work to assign such recall-eligible 

11 judge during the period of recalled service; or 

12 ‘‘(II) sufficient resources to provide to such re13 call-eligible judge appropriate administrative and of14 fice support. 

15 ‘‘(iii) At any time during the period of recalled service 

16 of a judge who is recalled pursuant to clause (i), the chief 

17 judge may terminate such recalled service if the chief judge 

18 makes a written certification described in clause (ii).’’. 

19 SEC. 203. LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM RELATING TO 

20 JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT OF AP21 PEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7281 of title 38, United 

23 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

24 ‘‘(j) For purposes of chapter 87 of title 5, a judge who 

25 is in regular active service and a judge who is retired under 


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1 section 7296 of this title or under chapter 83 or 84 of title 

2 5 shall be treated as an employee described in section 

3 8701(a)(5) of title 5.’’. 

4 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub5 section (a) shall apply with respect to any payment made 

6 on or after the first day of the first applicable pay period 

7 beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 204. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENLARGE SUR9 VIVORS’ ANNUITY. 

10 Section 7297 of title 38, United States Code, is amend11 ed by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(p)(1) A covered judge who makes an election under 

13 subsection (b) may purchase, in three-month increments, up 

14 to an additional year of service credit for each year of Fed15 eral judicial service completed, under the terms set forth in 

16 this section. 

17 ‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘covered judge’ means 

18 any of the following: 

19 ‘‘(A) A judge in regular active service. 

20 ‘‘(B) A retired judge who is a recall-eligible re21 tired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 

22 of this title. 

23 ‘‘(C) A retired judge who would be a recall-eligi24 ble retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 

25 7257 but for— 


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1 ‘‘(i) meeting the aggregate recall service re2 quirements under subsection (b)(3) of such sec3 tion; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) being permanently disabled as de5 scribed by subsection (b)(4) of such section.’’. 

6 SEC. 205. SALARIES OF JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT 

7 OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

8 Section 7253(e) of title 38, United States Code, is 

9 amended by striking ‘‘district courts’’ and inserting ‘‘courts 

10 of appeals’’. 

11 SEC. 206. SELECTION OF CHIEF JUDGE OF UNITED STATES 

12 COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

13 Section 7253(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

16 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

17 ‘‘and’’; 

18 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 

19 subparagraph (C); and 

20 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 

21 following new subparagraph (B): 

22 ‘‘(B) are 64 years of age or under and have at 

23 least three years remaining in term of office; and’’; 

24 and 


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1 (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol2 lows: 

3 ‘‘(2)(A) In any case in which there is no judge of the 

4 Court in regular active service who meets the requirements 

5 under paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in regular ac6 tive service who is senior in commission and meets subpara7 graph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) 

8 shall act as the chief judge. 

9 ‘‘(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) of this para10 graph in which there is no judge of the Court in regular 

11 active service who meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and sub12 paragraph (C) of paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in 

13 regular active service who is senior in commission and 

14 meets subparagraph (C) shall act as the chief judge.’’. 

15 TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF 

16 CLAIMS PROCESSING 

17 SEC. 301. INTERIM PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION BENE18 FITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE 

19 SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 51 of 

21 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

22 end the following new section: 

23 ‘‘§ 5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits 

24 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a claim described 

25 in subsection (b), prior to adjudicating the claim, the SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:18 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H675.RH H675

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1 retary shall make interim payments of monetary benefits 

2 to the claimant based on any disability for which the Sec3 retary has made a decision or, with respect to such a dis4 ability that is not compensable, notify the claimant of the 

5 rating relating to such disability. Upon the adjudication 

6 of the claim, the Secretary shall pay to the claimant any 

7 monetary benefits awarded to the claimant for the period 

8 of payment under section 5111 of this title less the amount 

9 of such benefits paid to the claimant under this section. 

10 ‘‘(b) CLAIM DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 

11 subsection is a claim for disability compensation under 

12 chapter 11 of this title (including a claim regarding an in13 creased rating)— 

14 ‘‘(1) the adjudication of which requires the Sec15 retary to make decisions with respect to two or more 

16 disabilities; and 

17 ‘‘(2) for which, before completing the adjudica18 tion of the claim, the Secretary makes a decision with 

19 respect to a disability that would result in the pay20 ment of monetary benefits to the claimant upon the 

21 adjudication of the claim.’’. 

22 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

23 the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the 

24 end of the items relating to such subchapter the following 

25 new item: 

‘‘5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits.’’. 


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1 SEC. 302. CLAIMS PROCESSORS TRAINING. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Af3 fairs shall establish a training program to provide newly 

4 hired claims processors of the Department of Veterans Af5 fairs with training for a period of not less than two years. 

6 In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall identify 

7 successful claims processors of the Department who can as8 sist in the training of newly hired claims processors. 

9 (b) ABILITY TO PROCESS CLAIMS.—The Secretary 

10 shall carry out the training program established under sub11 section (a) without increasing the amount of time in which 

12 claims are processed by the Department. 

13 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

14 on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment 

15 of this Act. 

16 SEC. 303. NOTICE OF AVERAGE TIMES FOR PROCESSING 

17 CLAIMS AND PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMS AP18 PROVED. 

19 (a) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af20 fairs shall post the information described in subsection 

21 (c)— 

22 (1) in a conspicuous place in each regional office 

23 and claims intake facilities of the Department of Vet24 erans Affairs; and 

25 (2) on the Internet Web site of the Department. 

26 (b) NOTICE TO APPLICANTS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide to 

2 each person who submits a claim for benefits under 

3 the laws administered by the Secretary before the per4 son submits such claim— 

5 (A) notice of the information described in 

6 subsection (c); and 

7 (B) notice that the person is eligible to re8 ceive up to an extra year of benefits payments if 

9 the person files a claim that is fully developed. 

10 (2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF NO11 TICE.—Each person who submits a claim for benefits 

12 under the laws administered by the Secretary shall 

13 include in such application a signed form acknowl14 edging that the person received the information de15 scribed in subsection (c). 

16 (c) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.— 

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

18 this subsection is the following: 

19 (A) The average processing time of the 

20 claims described in paragraph (2) and the per21 centage of such submitted claims for which bene22 fits are awarded. 

23 (B) The percentage of each of the following 

24 types of submitted claims for benefits under the 


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1 laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 

2 Affairs for which benefits are awarded: 

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 the 

18 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. 


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1 (D) A claim that is not fully developed that 

2 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 information 

6 described in this subsection shall be updated not less 

7 frequently than once each fiscal quarter. 

8 TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

9 SEC. 401. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS OF 

10 CERTAIN ACCRUED BENEFITS UPON DEATH 

11 OF BENEFICIARY. 

12 (a) ELIGIBILITY OF ESTATE.—Section 5121(a)(2) of 

13 title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

14 (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 

15 by inserting ‘‘, or estate,’’ after ‘‘person’’; and 

16 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub17 paragraph: 

18 ‘‘(D) The estate of the veteran (unless the es19 tate will escheat).’’. 

20 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub21 section (a) shall apply with respect to the death of an indi22 vidual on or after the date that is two years after the date 

23 of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 402. OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY. 

2 (a) TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE.—Chapter 1 of title 36, 

3 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

4 following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 145. Veterans Day 

6 ‘‘The President shall issue each year a proclamation 

7 calling on the people of the United States to observe two 

8 minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service 

9 and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the Na10 tion, beginning at— 

11 ‘‘(1) 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time; 

12 ‘‘(2) 2:11 p.m. eastern standard time; 

13 ‘‘(3) 1:11 p.m. central standard time; 

14 ‘‘(4) 12:11 p.m. mountain standard time; 

15 ‘‘(5) 11:11 a.m. Pacific standard time; 

16 ‘‘(6) 10:11 a.m. Alaska standard time; and 

17 ‘‘(7) 9:11 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian standard time.’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

19 chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by 

20 adding at the end the following new item: 

‘‘145. Veterans Day.’’. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to increase, 

effective as of December 1, 2015, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and 

the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for 

the survivors of certain disabled veterans, to amend title 

38, United States Code, to improve the United States 


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Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, to improve the 

processing of claims by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

and for other purposes.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 155 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 675 

[Report No. 114–206] 

A BILL 

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2015, the 

purposes. vivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other ency and indemnity compensation for the surconnected disabilities and the rates of dependrates of compensation for veterans with serviceJULY 16, 2015 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:18 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H675.RH H675

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