I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2377 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for expedited procedures 
for the consideration of certain veterans claims, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2011 
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. COURT-
NEY, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOLT, and Mr. BOREN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for expe-
dited procedures for the consideration of certain veterans 
claims, and for other purposes. 
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 Rating and Processing 
Individuals’ Disability Claims Act’’ or the ‘‘RAPID Claims 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. WAIVER OF CLAIM DEVELOPMENT PERIOD FOR 
CLAIMS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1) If a claimant submits to the Secretary a claim 
that the Secretary determines is a fully developed claim, 
the Secretary shall provide— 
‘‘(A) the claimant with the opportunity to waive 
any claim development period otherwise made avail-
able by the Secretary with respect to such claim; and 
‘‘(B) expeditious treatment to such claim. 
‘‘(2) If a person submits to the Secretary any written 
notification sufficient to inform the Secretary that the per-
son plans to submit a fully developed claim and, not later 
than one year after submitting such notification submits 
to the Secretary a claim that the Secretary determines is 
a fully developed claim, the Secretary shall provide expedi-
tious treatment to the claim. 
‘‘(3) If the Secretary determines that a claim sub-
mitted by a claimant as a fully developed claim is not fully 
developed, the Secretary shall provide such claimant with 
the notice described in section 5103(a) within 30 days 
after the Secretary makes such determination. 
‘‘(4) For purposes of this section: 
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‘‘(A) The term ‘fully developed claim’ means a 
claim— 
‘‘(i) for which the claimant— 
‘‘(I) received assistance from a vet-
erans service officer, a State or county vet-
erans service organization, an agent, or an 
attorney; or 
‘‘(II) submits, together with the claim, 
an appropriate indication that the claimant 
does not intend to submit any additional 
information or evidence in support of the 
claim and does not require additional as-
sistance with respect to the claim; and 
‘‘(ii) for which the claimant or the claim-
ant’s representative, if any, each signs, dates, 
and submits a certification in writing stating 
that, as of such date, no additional information 
or evidence is available or needs to be submitted 
in order for the claim to be adjudicated. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘expeditious treatment’ means, 
with respect to a claim for benefits under the laws 
administered by the Secretary, treatment of such 
claim so that the claim is fully processed and adju-
dicated within 90 days after the Secretary receives 
an application for such claim.’’. 
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SEC. 3. APPEALS FORM AVAILABILITY. 
Subsection (b) of section 5104 of such title is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘(2)’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, and (3) any form or application re-
quired by the Secretary to appeal such decision’’. 
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with 
respect to claims submitted on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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