SEC. 2. PROVIDING INJURED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES INFORMATION CONCERNING BENE-
FITS. 
Section 1651 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 
476; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1651. HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES ON COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 
AVAILABLE FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND ILL-
NESSES. 
‘‘(a) INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE COMPENSATION 
AND BENEFITS.—Not later than October 1, 2008, the 
Secretary of Defense shall develop and maintain, in a 
handbook and on a publically-available Internet website, 
a comprehensive description of the compensation and 
other benefits to which a member of the Armed Forces, 
and the family of such member, would be entitled upon 
the separation or retirement of the member from the 
Armed Forces as a result of a serious injury or illness. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The handbook and Internet 
website shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) The range of compensation and benefits 
based on grade, length of service, degree of disability 
at separation or retirement, and other factors affect-
ing compensation and benefits as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
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‘‘(2) Information concerning the Disability 
Evaluation System of each military department, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) an explanation of the process of the 
Disability Evaluation System; 
‘‘(B) a general timeline of the process of 
the Disability Evaluation System; 
‘‘(C) the role and responsibilities of the 
military department throughout the process of 
the Disability Evaluation System; and 
‘‘(D) the role and responsibilities of a 
member of the Armed Forces throughout the 
process of the Disability Evaluation System. 
‘‘(3) Benefits administered by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs that a member of the Armed 
Forces would be entitled upon the separation or re-
tirement from the Armed Forces as a result of a se-
rious injury or illness. 
‘‘(4) The 20 most common serious injuries or 
illnesses that result in a member of the Armed 
Forces separating or retiring from the Armed 
Forces, and the benefits associated with each injury 
or illness. 
‘‘(5) A list of State veterans service organiza-
tions and nonprofit veterans service organizations, 
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and their contact information and Internet website 
addresses. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall develop and maintain the comprehensive description 
required by subsection (a) in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, and the Commissioner of Social Secu-
rity. 
‘‘(d) UPDATE.—The Secretary of Defense shall up-
date the comprehensive description required by subsection 
(a) on a periodic basis, but not less often than annually. 
‘‘(e) PROVISION TO MEMBERS.—The Secretary of the 
military department concerned shall provide the handbook 
to each member of the Armed Forces under the jurisdic-
tion of that Secretary as soon as practicable following an 
injury or illness for which the member may retire or sepa-
rate from the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(f) PROVISION TO REPRESENTATIVES.—If a mem-
ber is incapacitated or otherwise unable to receive the 
handbook, the handbook shall be provided to the next of 
kin or a legal representative of the member, as determined 
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
of the military department concerned for purposes of this 
section.’’. 
Æ 
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