I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5801 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to correct and prevent variances in disability compensation pay-
ments made by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2006 
Mr. PASCRELL (for himself, Mr. HOLT, Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan, Mr. 
GUTIERREZ, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, and Ms. 
DELAURO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to correct and prevent 
variances in disability compensation payments made by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REDUC-
TION OF VARIANCES IN THE ADJUDICATION 
AND AWARDING OF DISABILITY COMPENSA-
TION BENEFITS. 
(a) REDUCTION OF VARIANCES REQUIRED.—Chapter 
11 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1164. Reduction of variances in adjudication and 
awarding of benefits 
‘‘(a) REDUCTION
OF VARIANCES.—The Secretary 
shall take steps to reduce variances in the adjudication 
and awarding of benefits under this chapter in accordance 
with this section. 
‘‘(b) DATA COLLECTION.—In order to carry out sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall develop and implement a 
comprehensive and systematic method for collecting data 
on variances in the adjudication and awarding of benefits 
under this chapter. 
‘‘(c) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—In collecting data 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall include the 
following matters: 
‘‘(1) The percentage of claims for disability 
compensation that are paid and the percentage of 
such claims that are denied during each fiscal year. 
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‘‘(2) The number of veterans who receive dis-
ability compensation payments during each fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(3) The amount paid to each veteran receiving 
a disability compensation payment. 
‘‘(4) The type of disability for which each such 
veteran receives a disability compensation payment. 
‘‘(5) The amount of any payment made to each 
such veteran as additional compensation for a de-
pendent under section 1115 or 1135 of this title. 
‘‘(6) The amount of any payment made to each 
such veteran by reason of the veteran’s total 
unemployability. 
‘‘(7) Data reflecting any patterns of disability 
compensation claims submission across veteran sub- 
populations, including any differences in such sub-
missions among veterans of different conflicts and 
veterans living in different locations. 
‘‘(8) Any other demographic information the 
Secretary determines is appropriate for evaluating 
and explaining variances in the adjudication and 
awarding of benefits under this chapter.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 1164. Reduction of variances in adjudication and awarding of benefits’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ANALYSIS 
AND REPORT ON VARIANCES IN ADJUDICA-
TION AND AWARDING OF DISABILITY COM-
PENSATION BENEFITS. 
(a) ANALYSIS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall conduct an analysis of any data avail-
able to the Secretary concerning variances in the adjudica-
tion and awarding of benefits under chapter 11 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a report, which shall include the following: 
(1) The findings of the analysis conducted 
under subsection (a). 
(2) Recommendations for the future detection, 
correction, and prevention of variances in the adju-
dication and awarding of benefits. 
Æ 
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