SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health 
Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE I—DISABILITY COMPENSATION MATTERS 
Sec. 101. Expedited payment of survivors’ benefits. 
Sec. 102. Board of Veterans’ Appeals video hearings. 
Sec. 103. Requirement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs publish the average 
time required to adjudicate early-filed and later-filed appeals. 
Sec. 104. Comptroller General review of claims processing performance of re-
gional offices of Veterans Benefits Administration. 
Sec. 105. Report on staffing levels at regional offices of Department of Vet-
erans Affairs under National Work Queue. 
Sec. 106. Inclusion in annual budget submission of information on capacity of 
Veterans Benefits Administration to process benefits claims. 
Sec. 107. Report on plans of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reduce inventory 
of non-rating workload; sense of Congress regarding Monday 
Morning Workload Report. 
Sec. 108. Annual report on progress in implementing Veterans Benefits Man-
agement System. 
Sec. 109. Improvements to authority for performance of medical disabilities ex-
aminations by contract physicians. 
Sec. 110. Independent review of process by which Department of Veterans Af-
fairs assesses impairments that result from traumatic brain in-
jury for purposes of awarding disability compensation. 
Sec. 111. Reports on claims for disability compensation. 
Sec. 112. Sense of Congress regarding American veterans disabled for life. 
Sec. 113. Sense of Congress on submittal of information relating to claims for 
disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma. 
TITLE II—UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
CLAIMS 
Sec. 201. Extension of temporary increase in number of judges on United 
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 
Sec. 202. Life insurance program relating to judges of United States Court of 
Appeals for Veterans Claims. 
Sec. 203. Voluntary contributions to enlarge survivors’ annuity. 
Sec. 204. Selection of chief judge of United States Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims. 
TITLE III—BURIAL BENEFITS AND OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 301. Expansion of eligibility for headstones, markers, and medallions.
Sec. 302. Expansion of Presidential Memorial Certificate program. 
Sec. 303. Department of Veterans Affairs study on matters relating to burial 
of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries. 
Sec. 304. Study on provision of interments in veterans’ cemeteries during week-
ends. 
Sec. 305. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the 
reserve components of the Armed Forces. 
TITLE IV—EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND VOCATIONAL 
REHABILITATION 
Sec. 401. Clarification of eligibility for Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David 
Fry Scholarship. 
Sec. 402. Approval of courses of education and training for purposes of the vo-
cational rehabilitation program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
Sec. 403. Authority to prioritize vocational rehabilitation services based on 
need. 
Sec. 404. Reports on progress of students receiving Post-9/11 Educational As-
sistance. 
Sec. 405. Recodification and improvement of election process for Post-9/11 
Educational Assistance Program. 
Sec. 406. Work-study allowance. 
Sec. 407. Centralized reporting of veteran enrollment by certain groups, dis-
tricts, and consortiums of educational institutions. 
Sec. 408. Role of State approving agencies. 
Sec. 409. Modification of requirements for approval for purposes of educational 
assistance provided by Department of Veterans Affairs of pro-
grams designed to prepare individuals for licensure or certifi-
cation. 
Sec. 410. Criteria used to approve courses. 
Sec. 411. Compliance surveys. 
Sec. 412. Modification of reductions in reporting fee multipliers for payments 
by Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educational institutions. 
Sec. 413. Composition of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. 
Sec. 414. Survey of individuals using their entitlement to educational assistance 
under the educational assistance programs administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 415. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of information on articula-
tion agreements between institutions of higher learning. 
Sec. 416. Retention of entitlement to educational assistance during certain ad-
ditional periods of active duty. 
Sec. 417. Technical amendment relating to in-state tuition rate for individuals 
to whom entitlement is transferred under all-volunteer force 
educational assistance program and post-9/11 educational as-
sistance. 
Sec. 418. Study on the effectiveness of veterans transition efforts. 
TITLE V—SMALL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS 
Sec. 501. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and preferences of 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 502. Longitudinal study of job counseling, training, and placement service 
for veterans. 
Sec. 503. Limitation on administrative leave for employees of Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 504. Required coordination between Directors for Veterans’ Employment 
and Training with State departments of labor and veterans af-
fairs. 
TITLE VI—HEALTH CARE MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Medical Care 
Sec. 601. Requirement for advance appropriations for the Medical Community 
Care account of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 602. Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans. 
Sec. 603. Priority of medal of honor recipients in health care system of Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 604. Requirement that Department of Veterans Affairs collect health-plan 
contract information from veterans. 
Sec. 605. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified mis-
sions. 
Sec. 606. Examination and treatment by Department of Veterans Affairs for 
emergency medical conditions and women in labor. 
Subtitle B—Veterans Health Administration 
Sec. 611. Time period covered by annual report on Readjustment Counseling 
Service. 
Sec. 612. Annual report on Veterans Health Administration and furnishing of 
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care. 
Sec. 613. Expansion of qualifications for licensed mental health counselors of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to include doctoral de-
grees. 
Sec. 614. Modification of hours of employment for physicians employed by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 615. Repeal of compensation panels to determine market pay for physi-
cians and dentists. 
Sec. 616. Clarification regarding liability for breach of agreement under De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Employee Incentive Scholarship 
Program. 
Sec. 617. Extension of period for increase in graduate medical education resi-
dency positions at medical facilities of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
Sec. 618. Report on public access to research by Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
Sec. 619. Authorization of certain major medical facility projects of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Subtitle C—Toxic Exposure 
Sec. 631. Definitions. 
Sec. 632. National Academy of Medicine assessment on research relating to the 
descendants of individuals with toxic exposure. 
Sec. 633. Advisory board on research relating to health conditions of descend-
ants of veterans with toxic exposure while serving in the Armed 
Forces. 
Sec. 634. Research relating to health conditions of descendants of veterans with 
toxic exposure while serving in the Armed Forces. 
TITLE VII—HOMELESSNESS MATTERS
Subtitle A—Access of Homeless Veterans to Benefits 
Sec. 701. Expansion of definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
Sec. 702. Authorization to furnish certain benefits to homeless veterans with 
discharges or releases under other than honorable conditions. 
Sec. 703. Waiver of minimum period of continuous active duty in Armed Forces 
for certain benefits for homeless veterans. 
Sec. 704. Training of personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
grant recipients. 
Sec. 705. Regulations. 
Sec. 706. Effective date. 
Subtitle B—Other Homelessness Matters 
Sec. 711. Increased per diem payments for transitional housing assistance that 
becomes permanent housing for homeless veterans. 
Sec. 712. Program to improve retention of housing by formerly homeless vet-
erans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless. 
Sec. 713. Establishment of National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. 
Sec. 714. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs to assess com-
prehensive service programs for homeless veterans. 
Sec. 715. Report on outreach relating to increasing the amount of housing 
available to veterans. 
TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 801. Department of Veterans Affairs construction reforms. 
Sec. 802. Technical and clerical amendments. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE I—DISABILITY 
COMPENSATION MATTERS 
SEC. 101. EXPEDITED PAYMENT OF SURVIVORS’ BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5101(a)(1) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘A specific’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) 
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a specific’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B)(i) The Secretary may pay benefits under chap-
ters 13 and 15 and sections 2302, 2307, and 5121 of this 
title to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal 
claim if the Secretary determines that the record contains 
sufficient evidence to establish the entitlement of the sur-
vivor to such benefits. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph and section 
5110 of this title, the earlier of the following dates shall 
be treated as the date of the receipt of the survivor’s appli-
cation for benefits described in clause (i): 
‘‘(I) The date on which the survivor of a vet-
eran (or the representative of such a survivor) noti-
fies the Secretary of the death of the veteran 
through a death certificate or other relevant evidence 
that establishes entitlement to survivors’ benefits 
identified in clause (i). 
‘‘(II) The head of any other department or 
agency of the Federal Government notifies the Sec-
retary of the death of the veteran.
(ii) Claims in which the claimant was 
entitled to such benefits on the basis of the 
claimant’s status as the child of a deceased 
veteran. 
(iii) Claims in which the claimant was 
entitled to such benefits on the basis of the 
claimant’s status as the parent of a de-
ceased veteran. 
(B) The number of covered claims during 
such period for which such benefits were not 
awarded, disaggregated by clauses (i) through 
(iii) of subparagraph (A). 
(C) A comparison of the accuracy and 
timeliness of covered claims adjudicated during 
such period with noncovered claims filed by sur-
vivors of a veteran. 
(D) The findings of the Secretary with re-
spect to adjudicating covered claims. 
(E) Such recommendations as the Sec-
retary may have for legislative or administrative 
action to improve the adjudication of claims 
submitted to the Secretary for benefits under 
chapters 13 and 15 and sections 2302, 2307, 
and 5121 of title 38, United States Code.
(3) COVERED CLAIM DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘covered claim’’ means a claim 
covered by section 5101(a)(1)(B) of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to claims for bene-
fits based on a death occurring on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 102. BOARD OF VETERANS’ APPEALS VIDEO HEAR-
INGS. 
Section 7107 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by amending paragraph 
(1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1)(A)(i) Upon request for a hearing, the Board 
shall determine, for purposes of scheduling the hearing for 
the earliest possible date, whether a hearing before the 
Board will be held at its principal location or at a facility 
of the Department or other appropriate Federal facility 
located within the area served by a regional office of the 
Department. 
‘‘(ii) The Board shall also determine whether to pro-
vide a hearing through the use of the facilities and equip-
ment described in subsection (e)(1) or by the appellant 
personally appearing before a Board member or panel.
‘‘(B)(i) The Board shall notify the appellant of the 
determinations of the location and type of hearing made 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(ii) Upon notification, the appellant may request a 
different location or type of hearing as described in such 
subparagraph. 
‘‘(iii) If so requested, the Board shall grant such re-
quest and ensure that the hearing is scheduled at the ear-
liest possible date without any undue delay or other preju-
dice to the appellant.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by amending paragraph 
(2) to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) Any hearing provided through the use of the fa-
cilities and equipment described in paragraph (1) shall be 
conducted in the same manner as, and shall be considered 
the equivalent of, a personal hearing.’’. 
SEC. 103. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS PUBLISH THE AVERAGE TIME RE-
QUIRED TO ADJUDICATE EARLY-FILED AND 
LATER-FILED APPEALS. 
(a) PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On an ongoing basis, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available to 
the public the following:
(A) The average length of time to adju-
dicate an early-filed appeal. 
(B) The average length of time to adju-
dicate a later-filed appeal. 
(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall 
take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and shall apply until 
the date that is 3 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 39 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a re-
port on whether publication pursuant to subsection 
(a)(1) has had an effect on the number of early-filed 
appeals filed. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The number of appeals and early-filed 
appeals that were filed during the 1-year period 
ending on the effective date specified in sub-
section (a)(2).
(B) The number of appeals and early-filed 
appeals that were filed during the 1-year period 
ending on the date that is 2 years after the ef-
fective date specified in subsection (a)(2). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPEAL.—The term ‘‘appeal’’ means a no-
tice of disagreement filed pursuant to section 
7105(a) of title 38, United States Code, in response 
to notice of the result of an initial review or deter-
mination regarding a claim for a benefit under a law 
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) EARLY-FILED.—The term ‘‘early-filed’’ with 
respect to an appeal means that the notice of dis-
agreement was filed not more than 180 days after 
the date of mailing of the notice of the result of the 
initial review or determination described in para-
graph (1). 
(3) LATER-FILED.—The term ‘‘later-filed’’ with 
respect to an appeal means the notice of disagree-
ment was filed more than 180 days after the date 
of mailing of the notice of the result of the initial 
review or determination described in paragraph (1).
SEC. 104. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS 
PROCESSING PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL 
OFFICES OF VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Not later than 15 months 
after the effective date specified in subsection (e), the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall complete 
a review of the regional offices of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration to help the Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion achieve more consistent performance in the processing 
of claims for disability compensation. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The review required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) An identification of the following: 
(A) The factors, including management 
practices, that distinguish higher performing re-
gional offices from other regional offices with 
respect to claims for disability compensation. 
(B) The best practices employed by higher 
performing regional offices that distinguish the 
performance of such offices from other regional 
offices. 
(C) Such other management practices or 
tools as the Comptroller General determines 
could be used to improve the performance of re-
gional offices.
(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of com-
munication with respect to the processing of claims 
for disability compensation between the regional of-
fices and veterans service organizations and case-
workers employed by Members of Congress. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 15 months after the ef-
fective date specified in subsection (e), the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the re-
sults of the review completed under subsection (a). 
(d) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 
means any organization recognized by the Secretary for 
the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 270 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 105. REPORT ON STAFFING LEVELS AT REGIONAL OF-
FICES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS UNDER NATIONAL WORK QUEUE. 
Not later than 15 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives a report on the criteria and procedures 
that the Secretary will use to determine appropriate staff-
ing levels at the regional offices of the Department under 
the National Work Queue for the distribution of the claims 
processing workload. 
SEC. 106. INCLUSION IN ANNUAL BUDGET SUBMISSION OF 
INFORMATION ON CAPACITY OF VETERANS 
BENEFITS 
ADMINISTRATION 
TO 
PROCESS 
BENEFITS CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Along with the supporting infor-
mation included in the budget submitted to Congress by 
the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, 
United States Code, the President shall include informa-
tion on the capacity of the Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion to process claims for benefits under the laws adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including infor-
mation described in subsection (b), during the fiscal year 
covered by the budget with which the information is sub-
mitted. 
(b) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The information de-
scribed in this subsection is the following: 
(1) An estimate of the average number of 
claims for benefits under the laws administered by 
the Secretary, excluding such claims completed dur-
ing mandatory overtime, that a single full-time 
equivalent employee of the Administration should be 
able to process in a year, based on the following: 
(A) A time and motion study that the Sec-
retary shall conduct on the processing of such 
claims. 
(B) Such other information relating to 
such claims as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(2) A description of the actions the Secretary 
will take to improve the processing of such claims. 
(3) An assessment of the actions identified by 
the Secretary under paragraph (2) in the previous 
year and an identification of the effects of those ac-
tions. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to any budget submitted as described in subsection 
(a) with respect to any fiscal year after fiscal year 2018. 
SEC. 107. REPORT ON PLANS OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS TO REDUCE INVENTORY OF NON- 
RATING WORKLOAD; SENSE OF CONGRESS 
REGARDING MONDAY MORNING WORKLOAD 
REPORT. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives a report that details the 
plans of the Secretary to reduce the inventory of work 
items listed in the Monday Morning Workload Report 
under End Products 130, 137, 173, 290, 400, 600, 607, 
690, 930, and 960. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should include 
in each Monday Morning Workload Report published by 
the Secretary the following: 
(1) With respect to each regional office of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, the following: 
(A) The number of fully developed claims 
for benefits under the laws administered by the 
Secretary that have been received. 
(B) The number of claims described in 
subparagraph (A) that are pending a decision. 
(C) The number of claims described in 
subparagraph (A) that have been pending a de-
cision for more than 125 days. 
(2) Enhanced information on appeals of deci-
sions relating to claims for benefits under the laws 
administered by the Secretary that are pending, in-
cluding information contained in the reports of the
(3) Recommendations submitted to the Sec-
retary by veterans service organizations who use the 
Veterans Benefits Management System for such leg-
islative or administrative action as the veterans serv-
ice organizations consider appropriate to improve 
such system. 
(c) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 
means any organization recognized by the Secretary for 
the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 
38, United States Code. 
SEC. 109. IMPROVEMENTS TO AUTHORITY FOR PERFORM-
ANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINA-
TIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. 
(a) LICENSURE OF CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.— 
(1) TEMPORARY AUTHORITY.—Section 704 of 
the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 
note) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the 
following new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d) LICENSURE OF CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any law 
regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician de-
(B) by inserting after subsection (b) the 
following new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) LICENSURE OF CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any law 
regarding the licensure of physicians, a physician de-
scribed in paragraph (2) may conduct an examina-
tion pursuant to a contract entered into under sub-
section (a) at any location in any State, the District 
of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or pos-
session of the United States, so long as the examina-
tion is within the scope of the authorized duties 
under such contract. 
‘‘(2) PHYSICIAN DESCRIBED.—A physician de-
scribed in this paragraph is a physician who— 
‘‘(A) has a current unrestricted license to 
practice the health care profession of the physi-
cian; 
‘‘(B) is not barred from practicing such 
health care profession in any State, the District 
of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or 
possession of the United States; and 
‘‘(C) is performing authorized duties for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to 
a contract entered into under subsection (a).’’.
SEC. 110. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF PROCESS BY WHICH 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AS-
SESSES IMPAIRMENTS THAT RESULT FROM 
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FOR PURPOSES 
OF AWARDING DISABILITY COMPENSATION. 
(a) AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, 
and Medicine to perform the services covered by this 
section. 
(2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall seek to enter 
into the agreement described in paragraph (1) not 
later than 9 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under an agreement be-
tween the Secretary and the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under this sec-
tion, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine shall conduct a comprehensive re-
view of examinations furnished by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs to individuals who submit claims 
to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11 
of title 38, United States Code, for traumatic brain
injury to assess the impairments of such individuals 
relating to such injury. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The comprehensive review 
carried out pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include 
the following: 
(A) A determination of the adequacy of the 
tools and protocols used by the Department to 
provide examinations described in paragraph 
(1). 
(B) A determination of which credentials 
are necessary for health care specialists and 
providers to perform such portions of such ex-
aminations that relate to an assessment of all 
disabling effects. 
(3) GROUP
OF
EXPERIENCED
HEALTH
CARE 
PROVIDERS.—In carrying out the comprehensive re-
view pursuant to paragraph (1), the National Acad-
emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall 
convene a group of relevant experts, including ex-
perts 
in 
clinical 
neuropsychology, 
psychiatry, 
physiatry, neurosurgery, and neurology. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 540 days 
after the date on which the Secretary enters into an 
agreement under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on the comprehensive review conducted under this 
section. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The findings of the National Acad-
emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
with respect to the comprehensive review con-
ducted under this section. 
(B) Such recommendations for legislative 
or administrative action as the National Acad-
emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
may have for the improvement of the adjudica-
tion of claims described in subsection (b)(1). 
(d) ALTERNATE CONTRACT ORGANIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary is unable 
within the period prescribed in subsection (a)(2) to 
enter into an agreement described in subsection 
(a)(1) with the National Academies of Sciences, En-
gineering, and Medicine on terms acceptable to the 
Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to enter into such 
an agreement with another appropriate organization 
that— 
(A) is not part of the Government;
(B) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and 
(C) has expertise and objectivity com-
parable to that of the Health and Medicine Di-
vision of the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine. 
(2) TREATMENT.—If the Secretary enters into 
an agreement with another organization as described 
in paragraph (1), any reference in this section to the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine shall be treated as a reference to the other 
organization. 
SEC. 111. REPORTS ON CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COM-
PENSATION. 
(a) REPORT ON REASONABLY RAISED CLAIMS.—Not 
later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the policies of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to processing 
reasonably raised unrelated claims. Such report shall in-
clude— 
(1) any statistics on how frequently such unre-
lated claims are identified by the Secretary; 
(2) how frequently the Secretary notifies claim-
ants about potential unrelated claims; and
(3) how often the claimant later submits a 
claim for the condition described by the unrelated 
claim. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS ON COMPLETE AND INCOM-
PLETE CLAIMS.—During the 5-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives annual reports on com-
plete and incomplete claims for disability compensation 
submitted to the Secretary. Each such report shall in-
clude, for the 1-year period covered by the report— 
(1) the total number of claims submitted to the 
Secretary; 
(2) the total number of incomplete claims sub-
mitted to the Secretary; 
(3) the total number of complete claims sub-
mitted to the Secretary; 
(4) the total number of forms indicating an in-
tent to file a claim for benefits submitted to the Sec-
retary; 
(5) the total number of electronically filed 
claims submitted to the Secretary; 
(6) the total number of fully developed claims 
submitted to the Secretary;
(7) the total number of claims submitted to the 
Secretary that are not complete claims but that the 
Secretary treats as a request by the claimant for a 
form to file a claim; and 
(8) of the total number of claims identified 
under paragraph (7), the percent for which the Sec-
retary notified the claimant of the need to file a 
complete claim. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘claimant’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 5100 of title 38, United States 
Code, and includes a representative of a claimant. 
(2) The term ‘‘reasonably raised unrelated 
claim’’ means a claim for disability compensation 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs that, in addition to the condition for 
which such claim is made, includes evidence of a 
separate condition that is not specifically identified 
as part of the claim but may be inferred or logically 
placed at issue upon a sympathetic reading of the 
claim and the record developed with respect to that 
claim. 
SEC. 112. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AMERICAN 
VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) There are at least 4,200,000 veterans cur-
rently living with service-connected disabilities. 
(2) As a result of their service, many veterans 
are permanently disabled throughout their lives and 
in many cases must rely on the support of their fam-
ilies and friends when these visible and invisible bur-
dens become too much to bear alone. 
(3) October 5, which is the anniversary of the 
dedication of the American Veterans Disabled for 
Life Memorial, has been recognized as an appro-
priate day on which to honor American veterans dis-
abled for life each year. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Congress— 
(1) expresses its appreciation to the men and 
women left permanently wounded, ill, or injured as 
a result of their service in the Armed Forces; 
(2) supports the annual recognition of Amer-
ican veterans disabled for life each year; and 
(3) encourages the American people to honor 
American veterans disabled for life each year with 
appropriate programs and activities.
SEC. 113. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUBMITTAL OF INFOR-
MATION RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR DISABIL-
ITIES INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED BY MILI-
TARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should submit to Con-
gress information on the covered claims submitted to the 
Secretary during each fiscal year, including the informa-
tion specified in subsection (b). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The information specified in this 
subsection with respect to each fiscal year is the following: 
(1) The number of covered claims submitted to 
or considered by the Secretary during such fiscal 
year. 
(2) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1), 
the number and percentage of such claims— 
(A) submitted by each sex; 
(B) that were approved, including the 
number and percentage of such approved claims 
submitted by each sex; and 
(C) that were denied, including the number 
and percentage of such denied claims submitted 
by each sex. 
(3) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) 
that were approved, the number and percentage, list-
ed by each sex, of claims assigned to each rating 
percentage of disability. 
(4) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) 
that were denied— 
(A) the three most common reasons given 
by the Secretary under section 5104(b)(1) of 
title 38, United States Code, for such denials; 
and 
(B) the number of denials that were based 
on the failure of a veteran to report for a med-
ical examination. 
(5) The number of covered claims that, as of 
the end of such fiscal year, are pending and, sepa-
rately, the number of such claims on appeal. 
(6) The average number of days that covered 
claims take to complete beginning on the date on 
which the claim is submitted. 
(7) A description of the training that the Sec-
retary provides to employees of the Veterans Bene-
fits Administration specifically with respect to cov-
ered claims, including the frequency, length, and 
content of such training. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered claims’’ means claims 
for disability compensation submitted to the Sec-
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the effect of the ex-
pansions on ensuring appeals are handled in a 
timely manner. 
(B) A description of the ways in which the 
complexity levels of the appeals acted on by the 
Court may have changed based on service dur-
ing recent conflicts compared to those based on 
service from previous eras. 
(C) A recommendation on whether the 
number of judges should be adjusted at the end 
of the temporary expansion period, including 
statistics, projections, trend analyses, and other 
information to support the recommendation. 
SEC. 
202. 
LIFE 
INSURANCE 
PROGRAM 
RELATING 
TO 
JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT OF AP-
PEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7281 is amended by add-
ing 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 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.
‘‘(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Court may pay on behalf of its judges, who are age 65 
or older, any increase in the cost of Federal Employees’ 
Group Life Insurance imposed after April 24, 1999, in-
cluding any expenses generated by such payments, as au-
thorized by the chief judge of the Court in a manner con-
sistent with such payment authorized by the Judicial Con-
ference of the United States pursuant to section 604(a)(5) 
of title 28.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (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. 203. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENLARGE SUR-
VIVORS’ ANNUITY. 
Section 7297 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(p)(1) A covered judge who makes an election under 
subsection (b) may purchase, in 3-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-eli-
gible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of sec-
tion 7257 but for— 
‘‘(i) meeting the aggregate recall service 
requirements under subsection (b)(3) of such 
section; or 
‘‘(ii) being permanently disabled as de-
scribed by subsection (b)(4) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 204. SELECTION OF CHIEF JUDGE OF UNITED STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7253(d) 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) have at least 3 years remaining in term of 
office; and’’; and
(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 require-
ments under paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in reg-
ular active service who is senior in commission and meets 
subparagraph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of para-
graph (1) shall act as the chief judge. 
‘‘(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph in which there is no judge of the Court in reg-
ular active service who meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and 
subparagraph (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.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to the selection of a 
chief judge occurring on or after January 1, 2020. 
TITLE III—BURIAL BENEFITS 
AND OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, 
MARKERS, AND MEDALLIONS. 
Section 2306(d) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following new paragraph:
‘‘(4)(A) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker 
under this subsection to a deceased individual described 
in subparagraph (B), the Secretary may furnish, upon re-
quest, a medallion or other device of a design determined 
by the Secretary to signify the deceased individual’s status 
as a veteran, to be attached to a headstone or marker fur-
nished at private expense. 
‘‘(B) A deceased individual described in this sub-
section is an individual who— 
‘‘(i) served in the Armed Forces on or after 
April 6, 1917; and 
‘‘(ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker fur-
nished under paragraph (1) (or would be so eligible 
but for the date of the death of the individual).’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5)(A) In carrying out this subsection with respect 
to a deceased individual described in subparagraph (C), 
the Secretary shall furnish, upon request, a headstone or 
marker under paragraph (1) or a medallion under para-
graph (4) that signifies the deceased’s status as a medal 
of honor recipient. 
‘‘(B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, 
or medallion under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased
116 
(B) an ability to conduct research on those 
health conditions to address areas requiring 
further scientific study as described under para-
graph (2). 
(c) REPORT.—The agreement entered into under sub-
section (a) shall require the National Academy of Medicine 
to submit, not later than 2 years after entering into such 
agreement, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives— 
(1) the results of the assessment conducted 
pursuant to such agreement, including such rec-
ommendations as the National Academy of Medicine 
considers appropriate regarding the scope and meth-
odology required to conduct adequate scientific re-
search relating to the descendants of veterans with 
toxic exposure; and 
(2) a determination regarding whether the re-
sults of such assessment indicate that it is feasible 
to conduct further research regarding health condi-
tions of descendants of veterans with toxic exposure, 
including an explanation of the basis for the deter-
mination. 
(d) CERTIFICATION.—