I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4727 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to assign temporary disability ratings to certain veterans for 
purposes of compensation and health care, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 21, 2017 
Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to assign temporary disability 
ratings to certain veterans for purposes of compensation 
and health care, 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 ‘‘Improving Access to 
VA Care Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TEMPORARY DISABILITY RATING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1156 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)(1), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) To a veteran who— 
‘‘(i) is not described in subparagraph (A), 
(B), (C), or (D); and 
‘‘(ii) files a claim for disability compensa-
tion under this chapter.’’; 
(2) by adding after paragraph (3) of subsection 
(a) the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph 
(1)(E), the Secretary shall schedule a medical examination 
for such veteran concerning the disability of the veteran 
as soon as is practicable after the veteran files a claim 
for disability compensation under this chapter.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by adding after sub-
paragraph (D) the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) For a veteran who is assigned a tem-
porary disability rating under subsection (a)(1)(E), 
until the date on which a rating decision is issued 
to such veteran following the medical examination 
scheduled under subsection (a)(4).’’. 
(b) HEALTH CARE.—Section 1705 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘and veterans described’’ 
and inserting ‘‘veterans described’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and veterans assigned 
a temporary disability rating under section 
1156(a)(1)(E) of this title’’ after ‘‘of this title’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section (d): 
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary shall assist a veteran described 
in paragraph (3) in finding hospital care and medical serv-
ices to be provided to the veteran by non-Department fa-
cilities or providers after the Secretary ceases to furnish 
such care and services under this chapter to the veteran. 
‘‘(2) A veteran described in paragraph (3) shall not 
owe the United States for any costs of hospital care or 
medical services described in subparagraph (A) of such 
paragraph. 
‘‘(3) A veteran described in this paragraph is a vet-
eran who— 
‘‘(A) received hospital care and medical services 
under this chapter pursuant to a temporary dis-
ability rating assigned under section 1156(a)(1)(E) 
of this title; and 
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‘‘(B) the Secretary determines does not have a 
service-connected disability.’’. 
Æ 
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