I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6131 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to send electronic notice to claimants under laws administered 
by the Secretary. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 2, 2021 
Mrs. LURIA (for herself and Mr. NEHLS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to send electronic notice 
to claimants under laws administered by the Secretary. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Disability 
Claims Notification Improvement Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF ELECTRONIC NOTICE IN 
CLAIMS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Title 38, United States Code, 
is amended as follows: 
(1) By striking section 5100 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 5100. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘claimant’ means any individual 
applying for, or submitting a claim for, any benefit 
under the laws administered by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘notice’ means a communication 
issued through means (including electronic means) 
prescribed by the Secretary.’’. 
(2) In section 5104, by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary may provide notice under sub-
section (a) electronically if a claimant (or the claimant’s 
representative) elects to receive such notice electronically. 
A claimant (or the claimant’s representative) may revoke 
such an election at any time, by means prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(d) The Secretary shall annually— 
‘‘(1) solicit recommendations from stakeholders 
on how to improve notice under this section; and 
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‘‘(2) publish such recommendations on a pub-
licly available website of the Department.’’. 
(3) In section 5104B(c), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘in writing’’ and 
inserting ‘‘to the claimant (and any representative of 
such claimant)’’. 
(4) In section 7104— 
(A) in the heading, by adding ‘‘; deci-
sions; notice’’ at the end; and 
(B) by striking subsection (e) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(e) After reaching a decision on an appeal, the 
Board shall promptly issue notice (as that term is defined 
in section 5100 of this title) of such decision to the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) The appellant. 
‘‘(2) Any other party with a right to notice of 
such decision. 
‘‘(3) Any authorized representative of the appel-
lant or party described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(f) The Secretary may provide notice under sub-
section (e) electronically if a claimant (or the claimant’s 
representative) elects to receive such notice electronically. 
A claimant (or the claimant’s representative) may revoke 
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such an election at any time, by means prescribed by the 
Secretary.’’. 
(5) In section 7105(b)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘mail-
ing’’ and inserting ‘‘issuance’’. 
(6) In section 7105A(a), by striking ‘‘mailed’’ 
and inserting ‘‘issued’’. 
(7) In section 7266(a), by striking ‘‘mailed’’ 
and inserting ‘‘issued’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) CHAPTER 51.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 5100 and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘5100. Definitions.’’. 
(2) CHAPTER 71.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 71 of such title is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 7104 and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘7104. Jurisdiction of the Board; decisions; notice.’’. 
Æ 
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