Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2021

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to secure medical opinions for veterans with service-connected disabilities who die from COVID–19 to determine whether their service-connected disabilities were the principal or contributory causes of death, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Survivor Benefits During COVID–19 Act of 2021 2. Medical opinions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who die of COVID–19 In any case in which a veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities dies, the death certificate identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death, the death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for benefits is filed with respect to the veteran under chapter 13 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2021 2. Medical opinions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who die of COVID–19 (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death before notifying the survivor of the final decision in any case in which all of the following factors are met: (1) A claim for compensation is filed under chapter 13 (2) The death certificate for the veteran identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death. (3) The death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities of the veteran as the principal or contributory cause of death. (4) A service-connected disability of the veteran includes a condition more likely to cause severe illness from COVID–19 as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (5) The claimant is not entitled to benefits under section 1318 of such title. (6) The evidence to support the claim does not result in a preliminary finding in favor of the claimant. (b) Outreach The Secretary shall provide information to veterans, dependents, and veterans service organizations about applying to dependency and indemnity compensation when a veteran dies from COVID–19. The Secretary shall provide such information through the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs and via other outreach mechanisms. June 24, 2021 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain a medical opinion that determines whether a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death for a veteran who died from COVID-19. Specifically, the VA must obtain this determination before notifying a claimant for survivor benefits of the final decision regarding such benefits in any case where a dependency and indemnity compensation claim is filed in relation to a veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities who dies, the death certificate for the veteran identifies COVID-19 as the principal or contributory cause of death, the death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, the veteran's service-connected disability includes a condition more likely to cause severe illness from COVID-19, the claimant is not entitled to certain dependency and indemnity compensation benefits, and the evidence to support the claim does not result in a preliminary finding in favor of the claimant. The VA must provide information to veterans, their dependents, and veterans service organizations about applying for dependency and indemnity compensation when a veteran dies from COVID-19. Such information must be available through the VA's website and via other outreach mechanisms.