(II) with respect to the Depart-
ment, the annual funding, number of 
full-time employees, workload manage-
ment practices, and the progress, as 
of the date of the study, of the stra-
tegic plan. 
(ii) Possible improvements to the 
claims process, including an evaluation and 
recommendations with respect to whether 
substantive and structural changes to the 
overall claims process are required. 
(iii) In carrying out the evaluation 
and recommendations under subparagraph 
(B), an examination of— 
(I) options that make no major 
substantive changes to the claims 
process; 
(II) options that maintain the 
process but make minor changes; and 
(III) options that make broad 
changes to the process. 
(2) APPEALS PROCESS STUDY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission or 
Task Force, acting through the subcommittee 
described in subsection (d)(2)(B), shall carry
out a study on the anticipated increase of ap-
peals of claims, including the current appeals 
process and the laws and regulations applicable 
to such appeals. Such study shall be a com-
prehensive evaluation and assessment of such 
anticipated increase of appeals claims, an anal-
ysis of possible improvements to the procedures 
used to process such appeals, and any related 
issues that the Commission or Task Force con-
siders relevant. 
(B) MATTERS INCLUDED.—In carrying out 
the study under subparagraph (A), the Com-
mission or Task Force shall examine the fol-
lowing: 
(i) The anticipated surge in appeals of 
claims, including an analysis of— 
(I) the most effective means to 
quickly and accurately resolve pending 
appeals and future appeals; 
(II) with respect to both the 
Board and the Court of Appeals for 
Veterans Claims, the annual funding, 
number of full-time employees, work-
load management practices, and the
progress, as of the date of the study, 
of the strategic plan; and 
(III) the efficiency, effectiveness, 
and utility of the Veterans Benefits 
Management System with respect to 
appeals operations, including an iden-
tification of key changes that may 
need to be implemented to such sys-
tem. 
(ii) Possible improvements to the ap-
peals process, including an evaluation and 
recommendations with respect to whether 
substantive and structural changes to the 
overall appeals process are required. 
(iii) In carrying out the evaluation 
and recommendations under clause (ii), an 
examination of— 
(I) options that make no major 
substantive changes to the appeals 
process; 
(II) options that maintain the 
process but make minor changes; 
(III) options that make broad 
changes to the process;
(IV) the necessity of the multi- 
tiered levels of appeals at the regional 
office level, including filing a notice of 
disagreement, receipt of a statement 
of the case, supplemental statement of 
the case (if applicable), and sub-
stantive appeal (VA Form 9); 
(V) the role of the Board and the 
Appeals Management Center, includ-
ing— 
(aa) the effectiveness of the 
workload management of the 
Board and the Center; 
(bb) whether the Board and 
Center should be regionalized or 
maintain the centralized struc-
ture in the District of Columbia; 
(cc) whether Board members 
should be required to pass the 
administrative law judges certifi-
cation examination; and 
(dd) 
whether 
the 
Board 
should continue to require de 
novo review of appeals; and
(VI) the role of the Court of Ap-
peals for Veterans Claims and the 
United States Court of Appeals for 
the Federal Circuit, including— 
(aa) the continued effective-
ness and necessity of a multi- 
tiered structure of judicial re-
view; 
(bb) whether the Court of 
Appeals 
for 
Veterans 
Claims 
should have Article I or Article 
III status; 
(cc) expansion of either the 
Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims or the United States 
Court of Appeals for the Federal 
Circuit jurisdiction, including by 
allowing such courts to hear class 
action lawsuits with respect to 
claims; and 
(dd) the possibility of ex-
panding judicial review of claims 
to all Federal circuit courts of 
appeals or allowing judicial re-
view beyond the Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims only by the 
Supreme Court. 
(3) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out the stud-
ies under paragraph (1)(A) and (2)(A) and making 
any recommendations under this section, the Com-
mission or Task Force shall consider the following: 
(A) The interests of veterans, including 
with respect to accuracy, fairness, and trans-
parency in the claims process of the Depart-
ment. 
(B) The values and requirements of the 
Constitution, including with respect to compli-
ance with procedural and substantive due proc-
ess. 
(C) The public interest, including with re-
spect to the responsible use of available re-
sources. 
(D) With respect to the study conducted 
under paragraph (1)(A), the importance of the 
claimant friendly, nonadversarial nature of the 
claims process. 
(E) With respect to the study conducted 
under paragraph (2)(A), the importance of an 
appeals process that is efficient and easily un-
derstandable by a claimant.
(4) ROLE OF SECRETARY, CHAIRMAN OF THE 
BOARD, AND CHIEF JUDGE.— 
(A) INFORMATION.—In carrying out each 
study under paragraph (1)(A) and (2)(A), at 
times that the Commission or Task Force de-
termines appropriate, the Commission or Task 
Force shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, the Chairman of the Board, and the 
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims, as the case may be, information 
with respect to remedies and solutions that the 
Commission or Task Force identifies pursuant 
to such a study. 
(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary, 
the Chairman of the Board, and the Chief 
Judge shall each— 
(i) fully consider the remedies and so-
lutions submitted to the Secretary, the 
Chairman, or the Chief Judge, as the case 
may be, under subparagraph (A); 
(ii) implement such remedies and so-
lutions as the Secretary, the Chairman, or 
the Chief Judge, respectively, determines 
appropriate; and
(iii) submit to Congress justification 
for failing to implement any such remedy 
or solution. 
(C) PLAN.—The Commission or Task 
Force shall submit to the Secretary, the Chair-
man of the Board, and the Chief Judge a fea-
sible, timely, and cost-effective plan to eliminate 
the backlog of appeals of claims based on the 
remedies and solutions identified pursuant to 
the study under paragraph (2)(A) and the in-
formation submitted under subparagraph (A). 
(c) COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL
COMPREHENSIVE
REPORT.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date on which the Com-
mission or Task Force first meets, the Commission 
or Task Force shall submit to the President and 
Congress an initial comprehensive report on the 
studies conducted under paragraphs (1)(A) and 
(2)(A) of subsection (b), including— 
(A) the findings of the causes of the back-
log of claims; 
(B) a proposed plan to handle the antici-
pated surge in appeals of claims; and 
(C) the level of cooperation the Commis-
sion or Task Force has received from the Sec-
retary and the heads of other departments or 
agencies of the Federal Government. 
(2) INTERIM COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date on which the Com-
mission or Task Force first meets, and each 30-day 
period thereafter ending on the date on which the 
Commission or Task Force submits the final com-
prehensive report under paragraph (3), the Commis-
sion or Task Force shall submit to the President 
and Congress a comprehensive report on— 
(A) the progress of the Secretary with re-
spect to implementing solutions to expedite the 
elimination of the backlog of claims pursuant to 
subsection (b)(4)(B)(ii); 
(B) the progress of the Secretary, the 
Chairman of the Board, and the Chief Judge of 
the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with 
respect to implementing solutions to complete 
appeals of claims in a timely manner in a time-
ly manner pursuant to such subsection; and 
(C) the level of cooperation the Commis-
sion or Task Force has received from the Sec-
retary and the heads of other departments or 
agencies of the Federal Government.
(3) FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE
REPORT.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date on which the 
Commission or Task Force first meets, the Commis-
sion or Task Force shall submit to the President 
and Congress a comprehensive report on the fol-
lowing: 
(A) With respect to the study conducted 
under subsection (b)(1)(A)— 
(i) The findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Commission or Task 
Force with respect to the matters referred 
to in such subsection. 
(ii) The recommendations of the Com-
mission or Task Force for revising and im-
proving the backlog of claims and the pro-
cedures used to process claims. 
(iii) The progress of the Secretary 
with respect to implementing solutions to 
expedite the elimination of the backlog of 
claims pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(B)(ii). 
(iv) 
Other 
information 
and 
rec-
ommendations with respect to claims as 
the Commission or Task Force considers 
appropriate.
(B) With respect to the study conducted 
under subsection (b)(2)(A)— 
(i) The findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Commission or Task 
Force with respect to the matters referred 
to in such subsection. 
(ii) The recommendations of the Com-
mission or Task Force for revising and im-
proving the appeals process; 
(iii) The information described in sub-
section (b)(4)(A). 
(iv) The feasible, timely, and cost ef-
fective 
plan 
described 
in 
subsection 
(b)(4)(C). 
(v) The progress of the Secretary, the 
Chairman of the Board, and the Chief 
Judge of the Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims with respect to implementing 
solutions to provide timely appeals of 
claims. 
(vi) 
Other 
information 
and 
rec-
ommendations with respect to the appeals 
process as the Commission or Task Force 
considers appropriate. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission or Task Force shall be composed of 15 
members, appointed as follows: 
(A) Two members appointed by the Speak-
er of the House of Representatives, one of 
whom shall be designated to serve upon the 
Subcommittee on the Backlog of Claims and 
one of whom shall be designated to serve upon 
the Subcommittee on Appeals. 
(B) Two members appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the House of Representatives, one 
of whom shall be designated to serve upon the 
Subcommittee on the Backlog of Claims and 
one of whom shall be designated to serve upon 
the Subcommittee on Appeals. 
(C) Two members appointed by the major-
ity leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be 
designated to serve upon the Subcommittee on 
the Backlog of Claims and one of whom shall 
be designated to serve upon the Subcommittee 
on Appeals. 
(D) Two members appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be 
designated to serve upon the Subcommittee on 
the Backlog of Claims and one of whom shall
be designated to serve upon the Subcommittee 
on Appeals. 
(E) Three members appointed by the 
President, two of whom shall be designated to 
serve upon the Subcommittee on the Backlog of 
Claims and one of whom shall be designated to 
serve upon the Subcommittee on Appeals. 
(F) One member appointed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, whom shall be designated to 
serve upon the Subcommittee on the Backlog of 
Claims. 
(G) Two members appointed by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, one of whom shall be 
designated to serve upon the Subcommittee on 
the Backlog of Claims and one of whom shall 
be designated to serve upon the Subcommittee 
on Appeals. 
(H) One member appointed by the Chief 
Judge of the Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims, whom shall be designated to serve upon 
the Subcommittee on Appeals. 
(2) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Commission or 
Task Force shall have two subcommittees as follows:
(A) A Subcommittee on the Backlog of 
Claims consisting of the eight members des-
ignated in accordance with paragraph (1). 
(B) A Subcommittee on Appeals consisting 
of the seven members designated in accordance 
with paragraph (1). 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each member appointed 
under paragraph (1) shall be appointed based on the 
experience of the member as a veteran or on the 
subject matter expertise or other relevant experience 
of the member. 
(4) ADVISORS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the 15 
members appointed under paragraph (1), the 
Commission or Task Force shall— 
(i) have five nonvoting, nonmember 
advisors, appointed by a majority of the 
Commission or Task Force, each from a 
different organization that represents the 
interests of veterans; and 
(ii) seek advice from experts from 
nongovernmental organizations (including 
veterans service organizations and military 
organizations), the Internet technology in-
dustry, and the insurance industry.
(B) ADVICE.—Individuals described in 
clause (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall 
provide advice to both subcommittees described 
in paragraph (2). 
(5) CHAIRMAN.—The President shall designate 
a member of the Commission or Task Force who is 
appointed by the President and designated to serve 
upon the Subcommittee on the Backlog of Claims to 
serve as the chairman of the Commission or Task 
Force. The chairman may designate a member to 
serve as the chairman of the Subcommittee on the 
Backlog of Claims and a member to serve as the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Appeals to chair 
such subcommittees as the designee of the chairman 
of the Commission or Task Force. 
(6) PERIOD
OF
APPOINTMENT.—Members of 
the Commission or Task Force shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission or Task Force. A va-
cancy shall not affect its powers. 
(7) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Commission 
or Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. 
(8) APPOINTMENT
DEADLINE.—The appoint-
ment of members of the Commission or Task Force 
established in this section shall be made not later
than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(e) MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL
MEETING.—The Commission or 
Task Force shall hold its first meeting not later 
than 15 days after the date on which a majority of 
the members are appointed. 
(2) MEETINGS.—The Commission or Task 
Force shall meet at the call of the chairman. 
(3) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Commission or Task Force shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. 
(f) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE.— 
(1) HEARINGS.—The Commission or Task 
Force may hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
times and places, take such testimony, and receive 
such evidence as the Commission or Task Force con-
siders advisable to carry out the purposes of this 
section. 
(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
The Commission or Task Force may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the Federal Gov-
ernment such information as the Commission or 
Task Force considers necessary to carry out the pro-
visions of this section. Upon request of the chair-
man, the head of such department or agency shall 
furnish such information to the Commission or Task 
Force. 
(3) POSTAL
SERVICES.—The Commission or 
Task Force may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as 
other departments and agencies of the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
(4) GIFTS.—The Commission or Task Force 
may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
service or property. 
(g) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber of the Commission or Task Force who is not an 
officer or employee of the United States shall be 
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
travel time) during which the member is engaged in 
the performance of the duties of the Commission or 
Task Force. All members of the Commission or 
Task Force who are officers or employees of the 
United States shall serve without compensation in
addition to that received for their services as officers 
or employees of the United States. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Commission or Task Force shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
at rates authorized for employees of agencies under 
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of service of the 
Commission or Task Force. 
(3) STAFF.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The chairman of the 
Commission or Task Force may, without regard 
to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint 
an executive director and such other personnel 
as may be necessary to enable the Commission 
or Task Force to perform its duties. The ap-
pointment of an executive director shall be sub-
ject to the approval of the Commission or Task 
Force. 
(B) COMPENSATION.—The chairman of 
the Commission or Task Force may fix the 
compensation of the executive director and 
other personnel without regard to the provisions 
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code, relating to classi-
fication of positions and General Schedule pay 
rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu-
tive director and other personnel may not ex-
ceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(4) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Upon request of the chairman of the Commission or 
Task Force, the head of any department or agency 
of the Federal Government may detail, on a nonre-
imbursable basis, any personnel of that department 
or agency to the Commission or Task Force to assist 
it in carrying out its duties. 
(5) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTER-
MITTENT SERVICES.—The chairman of the Commis-
sion or Task Force may procure temporary and 
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 
5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which 
do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(h) TERMINATION
OF
COMMISSION
OR
TASK 
FORCE.—The Commission or Task Force shall terminate 
60 days after the date on which the Commission or Task
Force submits the final comprehensive report under sub-
section (c)(3). 
(i) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, upon 
the request of the chairman of the Commission or 
Task Force, make available to the Commission or 
Task Force such amounts as the Commission or 
Task Force may require to carry out the duties of 
the Commission or Task Force under this section. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums made available 
to the Commission or Task Force shall remain avail-
able, without fiscal year limitation, until the termi-
nation of the Commission or Task Force. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appeals process’’ means the 
process to appeal the determination by the Secretary 
of a claim beginning with the notice of disagreement 
filed pursuant to section 7105 of title 38, United 
States Code, and ending with the review of a deci-
sion by the Supreme Court pursuant to section 
7292(c) of such title. 
(2) The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Vet-
erans’ Appeals. 
(3) The term ‘‘strategic plan’’ means the Stra-
tegic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims
Backlog, published by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs on January 25, 2013. 
(k) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 15. METHODS FOR VALIDATING CERTAIN WORLD WAR 
II MERCHANT MARINER SERVICE CONSID-
ERED TO BE ACTIVE SERVICE BY THE SEC-
RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of verifying that 
an individual performed service under honorable condi-
tions that satisfies the requirements of a coastwise mer-
chant seaman who is recognized pursuant to section 401 
of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95– 
202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note) as having performed active duty 
service for the purposes described in subsection (c)(1), the 
Secretary of Defense shall accept the following: 
(1) In the case of an individual who served on 
a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 
for whom no applicable Coast Guard shipping or dis-
charge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s docu-
ment or Z-card, or other official employment record 
is available, the Secretary shall provide such recogni-
tion on the basis of applicable Social Security Ad-
ministration records submitted for or by the indi-
vidual, together with validated testimony given by 
the individual or the primary next of kin of the indi-
vidual that the individual performed such service 
during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, 
and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(2) In the case of an individual who served on 
a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 
for whom the applicable Coast Guard shipping or 
discharge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s 
document or Z-card, or other official employment 
record has been destroyed or otherwise become un-
available by reason of any action committed by a 
person responsible for the control and maintenance 
of such form, logbook, or record, the Secretary shall 
accept other official documentation demonstrating 
that the individual performed such service during pe-
riod beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on 
December 31, 1946. 
(3) For the purpose of determining whether to 
recognize service allegedly performed during the pe-
riod beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on 
December 31, 1946, the Secretary shall recognize 
masters of seagoing vessels or other officers in com-
mand of similarly organized groups as agents of the 
United States who were authorized to document any
individual for purposes of hiring the individual to 
perform service in the merchant marine or dis-
charging an individual from such service. 
(b) TREATMENT
OF OTHER DOCUMENTATION.— 
Other documentation accepted by the Secretary of Defense 
pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall satisfy all requirements 
for eligibility of service during the period beginning on De-
cember 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(c) BENEFITS ALLOWED.— 
(1) BURIAL BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY.—Service of 
an individual that is considered active duty pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall be considered as active duty 
service with respect to providing burial benefits 
under chapters 23 and 24 of title 38, United States 
Code, to the individual. 
(2) MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND DECORATIONS.— 
An individual whose service is recognized as active 
duty pursuant to subsection (a) may be awarded an 
appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decora-
tion based on such service. 
(3) STATUS OF VETERAN.—An individual whose 
service is recognized as active duty pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall be honored as a veteran but shall 
not be entitled by reason of such recognized service
to any benefit that is not described in this sub-
section. 
(d) DETERMINATION
OF COASTWISE MERCHANT 
SEAMAN.—The Secretary of Defense shall verify that an 
individual performed service under honorable conditions 
that satisfies the requirements of a coastwise merchant 
seaman pursuant to this section without regard to the sex, 
age, or disability of the individual during the period in 
which the individual served as such a coastwise merchant 
seaman. 
(e) DEFINITION OF PRIMARY NEXT OF KIN.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘primary next of kin’’ with respect to 
an individual seeking recognition for service under this 
section means the closest living relative of the individual 
who was alive during the period of such service. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 16. DESIGNATION OF AMERICAN WORLD WAR II CIT-
IES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall designate at least one city in the United States each 
year as an ‘‘American World War II City’’. 
(b) CRITERIA
FOR DESIGNATION.—After the des-
ignation made under subsection (c), the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall make each
designation under subsection (a) based on the following 
criteria: 
(1) Contributions by a city to the war effort 
during World War II, including those related to de-
fense manufacturing, bond drives, service in the 
Armed Forces, and the presence of military facilities 
within the city. 
(2) Efforts by a city to preserve the history of 
the city’s contributions during World War II, includ-
ing through the establishment of preservation orga-
nizations or museums, restoration of World War II 
facilities, and recognition of World War II veterans. 
(c) FIRST AMERICAN WORLD WAR II CITY.—The 
city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is designated as an 
‘‘American World War II City’’. 
SEC. 17. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AMERICAN VET-
ERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) There are at least 3,600,000 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. 18. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING 
IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VET-
ERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
Section 203(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omni-
bus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163;
38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 
2016. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 677 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide 
for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made 
automatically by law each year in the rates of 
disability compensation for veterans with service- 
connected disabilities and the rates of depend-
ency and indemnity compensation for survivors of 
certain service-connected disabled veterans, and 
for other purposes.