(b) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report that includes the 
following information and recommendations: 
(1) The types of evidence sufficient to confirm 
combat experience for veterans filing claims for 
PTSD based on combat. 
(2) The policies and procedures used to obtain 
confirmation of a stressor, including documentation 
of service in combat for claims based on PTSD. 
(3) Based on a representative national sample, 
the number and percentage of veterans for each pe-
riod of war whose claims for PTSD have been de-
nied based upon the lack of a credible stressor. 
(4) Based on a representative national sample, 
the number and percentage of veterans for each pe-
riod of war whose claims for PTSD have been de-
nied based upon the lack of a diagnosis of PTSD. 
(5) Based on a representative national sample, 
the number and percentage of veterans for each pe-
riod of war whose claims for PTSD have been grant-
ed and the rating which was initially awarded for 
that claim.
(6) The number of initial and subsequent 
claims and average time to process claims for PTSD 
which have been granted (including the rating as-
signed and any determination as to employability) 
and denied for each regional office for a consecutive 
six month period. 
(7) The number and percentage of initial claims 
for PTSD selected from a representative national 
sample during a consecutive six month period which 
had a compensation and pension examination con-
ducted in compliance with best practices for PTSD 
examinations. 
(8) The number and percentage of examina-
tions selected from a representative national sample 
during a consecutive six month period in which the 
compensation and pension examinations for PTSD 
were judged to be inadequate. 
(9) The number and percentage of claims for 
PTSD selected from a representative national sam-
ple during that consecutive six month period for 
which the examination was returned as inadequate. 
(10) The maximum, minimum and average time 
based upon a representative national sample allo-
cated for completion of an initial compensation and 
pension examination for PTSD.
(11) An assessment comparing the employment 
of veterans rated for psychiatric impairments with 
similar ratings based upon physical impairments in-
cluding, the number of veterans in each sample who 
are employed on a full time or part time basis, the 
average time such veterans have been unemployed 
and a comparison of the amount of work lost from 
employment due to disability and the average earn-
ings of veterans in each group. 
(12) Taking into account criteria such as the 
information in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles 
(DOT), including its companion publication, the Se-
lected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the 
Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles (SCO), 
published by the Department of Labor, examples of 
the types of employment that an average veteran 
rated at 30 percent, at 50 percent, and at 70 per-
cent disabled for PTSD can be expected to obtain 
and retain. 
(13) The number of claims for PTSD appealed 
to the Board of Veterans Appeals during fiscal year 
2005, including the specific issue appealed (service- 
connection, effective date, rating) and the results of 
such appeals (affirmed, denied, remanded, other dis-
position).
(14) Recommendations for improving the accu-
racy and consistency of PTSD examinations, claim 
development and decisions. 
(15) Barriers to successful employment for vet-
erans who have been service-connected for PTSD. 
(16) Recommendations for removing barriers to 
employment for veterans who have been service-con-
nected for PTSD. 
(17) Recommendations for legislative changes 
which could improve the potential for vocational re-
habilitation and employment of persons service-con-
nected for PTSD. 
SEC. 192. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MEDICAL CONDI-
TIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PTSD. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop— 
(1) criteria for determining those medical condi-
tions that are as likely as not to be associated with 
PTSD; and 
(2) standards for determining when secondary 
service-connection should be granted for those condi-
tions. 
CHAPTER 10—PUBLIC AWARENESS 
SEC. 195. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an 
aggressive, comprehensive outreach program to enhance