I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6064 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement 

with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 

for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to individuals 

who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 

11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical conditions 

linked to military sexual trauma. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 

Mr. NEHLS (for himself, Mr. BOST, Mrs. LURIA, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. ELLZEY, 

and Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter 

into an agreement with the National Academies of 

Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to individuals 

who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation 

under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for 

mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual 

trauma. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS BY 

2 THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF 

3 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS LINKED 

4 TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA FOR PUR5 POSES OF AWARDING DISABILITY COM6 PENSATION. 

7 (a) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet9 erans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with 

10 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 

11 Medicine (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘National Acad12 emies’’) to perform the services covered by this section. 

13 (b) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.—Under an agreement 

14 between the Secretary and the National Academies under 

15 this section, the National Academies shall conduct a com16 prehensive review of examinations, furnished by the Sec17 retary to individuals who submit claims to the Secretary 

18 for compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 

19 States Code, for mental and physical conditions linked to 

20 military sexual trauma (in this Act referred to as ‘‘MST’’), 

21 for the purpose of assessing the impairments of such indi22 viduals arising from MST. The review carried out pursu23 ant to paragraph (1) shall include the following elements: 

24 (1) A determination of the adequacy of tools 

25 and protocols used by the Secretary to provide ex26 aminations described in this subsection, including— 


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1 (A) the Disability Benefits Questionnaires; 

2 (B) the Department’s schedule of rating 

3 disabilities; 

4 (C) consideration of whether certain condi5 tions linked to MST should require referral for 

6 both a mental health examination and a phys7 ical health examination; and 

8 (D) the necessity of internal pelvic exami9 nations to diagnose certain conditions linked to 

10 MST, and whether alternatives to such exami11 nations could be considered if a veteran objects 

12 to or cannot complete such examination. 

13 (2) A determination of what credentials and 

14 training are necessary for a health care specialist or 

15 provider to perform such examinations related to 

16 physical conditions linked to MST, for men and for 

17 women, including— 

18 (A) sexual dysfunction; 

19 (B) pelvic pain; 

20 (C) pelvic dysfunction; 

21 (D) musculoskeletal disabilities; and 

22 (E) cardiovascular conditions (including 

23 stroke). 

24 (3) A determination of what credentials and 

25 training are necessary for a health care specialist or 


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1 provider to perform such examinations related to 

2 mental health conditions linked to MST, for men 

3 and for women. 

4 (4) An assessment of the quality of MST train5 ing for individuals who perform such examinations, 

6 including recommendations for improvements to 

7 such training. 

8 (c) REPORTS.— 

9 (1) REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES.— 

10 Not later than 540 days after the date on which the 

11 Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection 

12 (a), the National Academies shall submit to the 

13 Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

14 House of Representatives a report on the com15 prehensive review conducted under subsection (b). 

16 Such report shall include the following elements: 

17 (A) The findings of the National Acad18 emies under subsection (b). 

19 (B) Recommendations of the National 

20 Academies regarding legislative or administra21 tive action to improve of the adjudication of 

22 claims described in subsection (b). 

23 (2) REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.—Not later 

24 than 90 days after submission of the report under 

25 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the 


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1 Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

2 Representatives and the Senate a report on the 

3 plans of the Secretary to carry out any action based 

4 on the findings and recommendations of the Na5 tional Academies. 

Æ 


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