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 depend-
ency 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 dis-
abilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity com-
pensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, 
and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet-
erans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 
2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
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 in-
demnity 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 Ap-
peals 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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TITLE I—COMPENSATION COST- 
OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 
SEC. 101. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA-
TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 
2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 
accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect 
on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability com-
pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation 
under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 
(b) AMOUNTS
TO
BE
INCREASED.—The dollar 
amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the 
following: 
(1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Each 
of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION
FOR
DEPEND-
ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 
1115(1) of such title. 
(3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar amount 
under section 1162 of such title. 
(4) DEPENDENCY
AND
INDEMNITY
COMPENSA-
TION
TO
SURVIVING
SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar 
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amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 
1311 of such title. 
(5) DEPENDENCY
AND
INDEMNITY
COMPENSA-
TION
TO
CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 
under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.— 
(1) PERCENTAGE.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each dollar amount described in subsection 
(b) shall be increased by the same percentage as the 
percentage by which benefit amounts payable under 
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2015, as a re-
sult of a determination under section 215(i) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 
(2) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount increased 
under paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, 
shall be rounded to the next lower whole dollar 
amount. 
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases 
made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensa-
tion payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85– 
857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation 
under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. 
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SEC. 102. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 
Federal Register the amounts specified in section 101(b), 
as increased under that section, not later than the date on 
which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required 
to be published by reason of a determination made under 
section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2016. 
TITLE 
II—UNITED 
STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VET-
ERANS CLAIMS 
SEC. 201. EXTENDING TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF UNITED 
STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2013’’ and inserting 
‘‘January 1, 2020’’. 
SEC. 202. RECALL OF RETIRED JUDGES OF UNITED STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Paragraph (1) of section 7257(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1)(A) The chief judge may recall for further service 
on the Court a recall-eligible retired judge in accordance 
with this section. Such a recall shall be made upon written 
certification by the chief judge that substantial service is 
expected to be performed by the retired judge for such pe-
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riod, not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent), as deter-
mined by the chief judge to be necessary to meet the needs 
of the Court. 
‘‘(B)(i) A recall-eligible judge may request that the 
chief judge recall the recall-eligible judge for a period of 
service of not less than 90 days (or the equivalent). 
‘‘(ii) The chief judge shall approve a request made by 
a recall-eligible judge pursuant to clause (i) unless the chief 
judge certifies, in writing, that the Court does not have— 
‘‘(I) sufficient work to assign such recall-eligible 
judge during the period of recalled service; or 
‘‘(II) sufficient resources to provide to such re-
call-eligible judge appropriate administrative and of-
fice support. 
‘‘(iii) At any time during the period of recalled service 
of a judge who is recalled pursuant to clause (i), the chief 
judge may terminate such recalled service if the chief judge 
makes a written certification described in clause (ii).’’. 
SEC. 
203. 
LIFE 
INSURANCE 
PROGRAM 
RELATING 
TO 
JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT OF AP-
PEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7281 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) For purposes of chapter 87 of title 5, a judge who 
is in regular active service and a judge who is retired under 
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section 7296 of this title or under chapter 83 or 84 of title 
5 shall be treated as an employee described in section 
8701(a)(5) of title 5.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to any payment made 
on or after the first day of the first applicable pay period 
beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 204. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENLARGE SUR-
VIVORS’ ANNUITY. 
Section 7297 of title 38, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(p)(1) A covered judge who makes an election under 
subsection (b) may purchase, in three-month increments, up 
to an additional year of service credit for each year of Fed-
eral judicial service completed, under the terms set forth in 
this section. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘covered judge’ means 
any of the following: 
‘‘(A) A judge in regular active service. 
‘‘(B) A retired judge who is a recall-eligible re-
tired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 
of this title. 
‘‘(C) A retired judge who would be a recall-eligi-
ble retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 
7257 but for— 
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‘‘(i) meeting the aggregate recall service re-
quirements under subsection (b)(3) of such sec-
tion; or 
‘‘(ii) being permanently disabled as de-
scribed by subsection (b)(4) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 205. SALARIES OF JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT 
OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(e) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘district courts’’ and inserting ‘‘courts 
of appeals’’. 
SEC. 206. SELECTION OF CHIEF JUDGE OF UNITED STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following new subparagraph (B): 
‘‘(B) are 64 years of age or under and have at 
least three years remaining in term of office; and’’; 
and 
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(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2)(A) In any case in which there is no judge of the 
Court in regular active service who meets the requirements 
under paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in regular ac-
tive service who is senior in commission and meets subpara-
graph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) 
shall act as the chief judge. 
‘‘(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) of this para-
graph in which there is no judge of the Court in regular 
active service who meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and sub-
paragraph (C) of paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in 
regular active service who is senior in commission and 
meets subparagraph (C) shall act as the chief judge.’’. 
TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF 
CLAIMS PROCESSING 
SEC. 301. INTERIM PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION BENE-
FITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 51 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a claim described 
in subsection (b), prior to adjudicating the claim, the Sec-
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retary shall make interim payments of monetary benefits 
to the claimant based on any disability for which the Sec-
retary has made a decision or, with respect to such a dis-
ability that is not compensable, notify the claimant of the 
rating relating to such disability. Upon the adjudication 
of the claim, the Secretary shall pay to the claimant any 
monetary benefits awarded to the claimant for the period 
of payment under section 5111 of this title less the amount 
of such benefits paid to the claimant under this section. 
‘‘(b) CLAIM DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 
subsection is a claim for disability compensation under 
chapter 11 of this title (including a claim regarding an in-
creased rating)— 
‘‘(1) the adjudication of which requires the Sec-
retary to make decisions with respect to two or more 
disabilities; and 
‘‘(2) for which, before completing the adjudica-
tion of the claim, the Secretary makes a decision with 
respect to a disability that would result in the pay-
ment of monetary benefits to the claimant upon the 
adjudication of the claim.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the 
end of the items relating to such subchapter the following 
new item: 
‘‘5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits.’’. 
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SEC. 302. CLAIMS PROCESSORS TRAINING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall establish a training program to provide newly 
hired claims processors of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs with training for a period of not less than two years. 
In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall identify 
successful claims processors of the Department who can as-
sist in the training of newly hired claims processors. 
(b) ABILITY
TO PROCESS CLAIMS.—The Secretary 
shall carry out the training program established under sub-
section (a) without increasing the amount of time in which 
claims are processed by the Department. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 303. NOTICE OF AVERAGE TIMES FOR PROCESSING 
CLAIMS AND PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMS AP-
PROVED. 
(a) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall post the information described in subsection 
(c)— 
(1) in a conspicuous place in each regional office 
and claims intake facilities of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs; and 
(2) on the Internet Web site of the Department. 
(b) NOTICE TO APPLICANTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide to 
each person who submits a claim for benefits under 
the laws administered by the Secretary before the per-
son submits such claim— 
(A) notice of the information described in 
subsection (c); and 
(B) notice that the person is eligible to re-
ceive up to an extra year of benefits payments if 
the person files a claim that is fully developed. 
(2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF
RECEIPT
OF
NO-
TICE.—Each person who submits a claim for benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary shall 
include in such application a signed form acknowl-
edging that the person received the information de-
scribed in subsection (c). 
(c) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The information described in 
this subsection is the following: 
(A) The average processing time of the 
claims described in paragraph (2) and the per-
centage of such submitted claims for which bene-
fits are awarded. 
(B) The percentage of each of the following 
types of submitted claims for benefits under the 
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laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs for which benefits are awarded: 
(i) Claims filed by veterans who au-
thorized a veterans service organization to 
act on the veterans’ behalf under a durable 
power of attorney. 
(ii) Claims filed by veterans who au-
thorized a person other than a veterans 
service organization to act on the veterans’ 
behalf under a durable power of attorney. 
(iii) Claims filed by veterans who did 
not authorize a person to act on the vet-
erans’ behalf under a durable power of at-
torney. 
(2) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—The claims described 
in this paragraph are each of the following types of 
claims for benefits under the laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: 
(A) A fully developed claim that is sub-
mitted in standard electronic form. 
(B) A fully developed claim that is sub-
mitted in standard paper form. 
(C) A claim that is not fully developed that 
is submitted in standard electronic form. 
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(D) A claim that is not fully developed that 
is submitted in standard paper form. 
(E) A claim that is not fully developed that 
is submitted in non-standard paper form. 
(3) UPDATE OF INFORMATION.—The information 
described in this subsection shall be updated not less 
frequently than once each fiscal quarter. 
TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 401. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS OF 
CERTAIN ACCRUED BENEFITS UPON DEATH 
OF BENEFICIARY. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY OF ESTATE.—Section 5121(a)(2) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by inserting ‘‘, or estate,’’ after ‘‘person’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) The estate of the veteran (unless the es-
tate will escheat).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to the death of an indi-
vidual on or after the date that is two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 402. OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY. 
(a) TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE.—Chapter 1 of title 36, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 145. Veterans Day 
‘‘The President shall issue each year a proclamation 
calling on the people of the United States to observe two 
minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service 
and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the Na-
tion, beginning at— 
‘‘(1) 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time; 
‘‘(2) 2:11 p.m. eastern standard time; 
‘‘(3) 1:11 p.m. central standard time; 
‘‘(4) 12:11 p.m. mountain standard time; 
‘‘(5) 11:11 a.m. Pacific standard time; 
‘‘(6) 10:11 a.m. Alaska standard time; and 
‘‘(7) 9:11 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian standard time.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by 
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 compensa-
tion 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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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 
rates of compensation for veterans with service- 
connected disabilities and the rates of depend-
ency and indemnity compensation for the sur-
vivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other 
purposes. 
JULY 16, 2015 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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