I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5928 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of processing 
certain claims for disability compensation by veterans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2010 
Mr. WALZ (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, 
and Mr. HEINRICH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
efficiency of processing certain claims for disability com-
pensation by veterans. 
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 Efficiency Act of 2010’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:51 Jul 30, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5928.IH
H5928
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF DISABILITY CLAIMS PROC-
ESSING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF FAST TRACK INTERIM DIS-
ABILITY RATINGS.—Section 1157 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) FAST TRACK INTERIM DISABILITY RATINGS.— 
(1) In the case of a veteran who submits to the Secretary 
a claim for compensation under this chapter for more than 
one condition and the Secretary determines that a dis-
ability rating can be assigned without further development 
for one or more conditions but not all conditions in the 
claim, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) expeditiously review the claim in ac-
cordance with section 5103B of this title; 
‘‘(B) assign an interim disability rating for 
each condition that the Secretary determines 
could be assigned without further development 
(except as provided in paragraph (3)(A)); and 
‘‘(C) continue development of the remain-
ing conditions. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:51 Jul 30, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5928.IH
H5928
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) If the Secretary is able to assign a disability rat-
ing for a condition described in paragraph (1)(C) with re-
spect to a claim, the Secretary shall assign such rating 
and combine such rating with each interim rating pre-
viously assigned under paragraph (1)(B) with respect to 
that claim. 
‘‘(3)(A) With respect to an interim disability rating 
assigned under paragraph (1)(B) for a condition that is 
rated less than the maximum rate, the Secretary shall con-
tinue development of such condition. 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), an in-
terim disability rating assigned under paragraph (1)(B) 
for a condition shall remain in effect unless the Secretary 
later assigns an increased rating for such condition. 
‘‘(C) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, 
subparagraph (B) shall not apply to an interim disability 
rating assigned under paragraph (1)(B) for a condition 
if— 
‘‘(i) such rating was based on fraud; or 
‘‘(ii) such condition improves.’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF FAST TRACK CLAIM RE-
VIEW PROCESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 51 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by in-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:51 Jul 30, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5928.IH
H5928
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
serting after section 5103A the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘§ 5103B. Expedited review of initial claims for dis-
ability compensation 
‘‘(a) PROCESS REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a process for the rapid identification of initial 
claims for disability compensation that should, in the adju-
dication of such claims, receive priority in the order of re-
view. 
‘‘(b) REVIEW OF INITIAL CLAIMS.—As part of the 
process required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
carry out a preliminary review of all initial claims for dis-
ability compensation submitted to the Secretary in order 
to identify whether— 
‘‘(1) the claims have the potential of being ad-
judicated quickly, including claims where an interim 
disability rating could be assigned under section 
1157(b)(1)(B) of this title; 
‘‘(2) the claims qualify for priority treatment 
under paragraph (2) of subsection (c); and 
‘‘(3) a temporary disability rating could be as-
signed with respect to the claims under section 1156 
of this title. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY
IN
ADJUDICATION
OF
INITIAL 
CLAIMS.—(1) As part of the process required by sub-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:51 Jul 30, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5928.IH
H5928
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS