114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 675 
AN ACT 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2015, the rates 
of compensation for veterans with service-connected dis-
abilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity com-
pensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, 
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 
to improve the processing of claims by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 
Sec. 101. Increase in rates of disability compensation and dependency and in-
demnity compensation. 
Sec. 102. Publication of adjusted rates. 
TITLE II—UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
CLAIMS 
Sec. 201. Extending temporary expansion of United States Court of Appeals 
for Veterans Claims. 
Sec. 202. Recall of retired judges of United States Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims. 
Sec. 203. Life insurance program relating to judges of United States Court of 
Appeals for Veterans Claims. 
Sec. 204. Voluntary contributions to enlarge survivors’ annuity. 
Sec. 205. Salaries of judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims. 
Sec. 206. Selection of chief judge of United States Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims. 
TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS PROCESSING 
Sec. 301. Interim payments of compensation benefits under laws administered 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 302. Claims processors training. 
Sec. 303. Notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of 
claims approved. 
TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 401. Clarification of eligible recipients of certain accrued benefits upon 
death of beneficiary. 
Sec. 402. Observance of Veterans Day.
TITLE I—COMPENSATION COST- 
OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 
SEC. 101. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA-
TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 
2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 
accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in ef-
fect on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability 
compensation and dependency and indemnity compensa-
tion under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 
(b) AMOUNTS
TO
BE
INCREASED.—The dollar 
amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are 
the following: 
(1) WARTIME
DISABILITY
COMPENSATION.— 
Each of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of 
title 38, United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND-
ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 
1115(1) of such title. 
(3) 
CLOTHING
ALLOWANCE.—The 
dollar 
amount under section 1162 of such title. 
(4) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA-
TION TO SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar
amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of sec-
tion 1311 of such title. 
(5) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA-
TION TO CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 
under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.— 
(1) PERCENTAGE.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each dollar amount described in sub-
section (b) shall be increased by the same percentage 
as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable 
under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 
2015, as a result of a determination under section 
215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 
(2) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount increased 
under paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, 
shall be rounded to the next lower whole dollar 
amount. 
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the in-
creases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability 
compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Pub-
lic Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
Code.
SEC. 102. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 
Federal Register the amounts specified in section 101(b), 
as increased under that section, not later than the date 
on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are re-
quired to be published by reason of a determination made 
under section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2016. 
TITLE 
II—UNITED 
STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VET-
ERANS CLAIMS 
SEC. 201. EXTENDING TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF UNITED 
STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2013’’ and inserting 
‘‘January 1, 2020’’. 
SEC. 202. RECALL OF RETIRED JUDGES OF UNITED STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Paragraph (1) of section 7257(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1)(A) The chief judge may recall for further service 
on the Court a recall-eligible retired judge in accordance 
with this section. Such a recall shall be made upon written 
certification by the chief judge that substantial service is 
expected to be performed by the retired judge for such
period, not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent), as deter-
mined by the chief judge to be necessary to meet the needs 
of the Court. 
‘‘(B)(i) A recall-eligible judge may request that the 
chief judge recall the recall-eligible judge for a period of 
service of not less than 90 days (or the equivalent). 
‘‘(ii) The chief judge shall approve a request made 
by a recall-eligible judge pursuant to clause (i) unless the 
chief judge certifies, in writing, that the Court does not 
have— 
‘‘(I) sufficient work to assign such recall-eligible 
judge during the period of recalled service; or 
‘‘(II) sufficient resources to provide to such re-
call-eligible judge appropriate administrative and of-
fice support. 
‘‘(iii) At any time during the period of recalled service 
of a judge who is recalled pursuant to clause (i), the chief 
judge may terminate such recalled service if the chief 
judge makes a written certification described in clause 
(ii).’’.
SEC. 
203. 
LIFE 
INSURANCE 
PROGRAM 
RELATING 
TO 
JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT OF AP-
PEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7281 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) For purposes of chapter 87 of title 5, a judge 
who is in regular active service and a judge who is retired 
under section 7296 of this title or under chapter 83 or 
84 of title 5 shall be treated as an employee described 
in section 8701(a)(5) of title 5.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any payment 
made on or after the first day of the first applicable pay 
period beginning on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 204. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENLARGE SUR-
VIVORS’ ANNUITY. 
Section 7297 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(p)(1) A covered judge who makes an election under 
subsection (b) may purchase, in 3-month increments, up 
to an additional year of service credit for each year of Fed-
eral judicial service completed, under the terms set forth 
in this section.
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘covered judge’ 
means any of the following: 
‘‘(A) A judge in regular active service. 
‘‘(B) A retired judge who is a recall-eligible re-
tired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 
7257 of this title. 
‘‘(C) A retired judge who would be a recall-eli-
gible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of sec-
tion 7257 but for— 
‘‘(i) meeting the aggregate recall service 
requirements under subsection (b)(3) of such 
section; or 
‘‘(ii) being permanently disabled as de-
scribed by subsection (b)(4) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 205. SALARIES OF JUDGES OF UNITED STATES COURT 
OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(e) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘district courts’’ and inserting 
‘‘courts of appeals’’. 
SEC. 206. SELECTION OF CHIEF JUDGE OF UNITED STATES 
COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 
Section 7253(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following new subparagraph (B): 
‘‘(B) are 64 years of age or under and have at 
least 3 years remaining in term of office; and’’; and 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2)(A) In any case in which there is no judge of 
the Court in regular active service who meets the require-
ments under paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in reg-
ular active service who is senior in commission and meets 
subparagraph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of para-
graph (1) shall act as the chief judge. 
‘‘(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph in which there is no judge of the Court in reg-
ular active service who meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and 
subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), the judge of the Court 
in regular active service who is senior in commission and 
meets subparagraph (C) shall act as the chief judge.’’.
TITLE III—IMPROVEMENT OF 
CLAIMS PROCESSING 
SEC. 301. INTERIM PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION BENE-
FITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 51 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a claim described 
in subsection (b), prior to adjudicating the claim, the Sec-
retary shall make interim payments of monetary benefits 
to the claimant based on any disability for which the Sec-
retary has made a decision or, with respect to such a dis-
ability that is not compensable, notify the claimant of the 
rating relating to such disability. Upon the adjudication 
of the claim, the Secretary shall pay to the claimant any 
monetary benefits awarded to the claimant for the period 
of payment under section 5111 of this title less the 
amount of such benefits paid to the claimant under this 
section. 
‘‘(b) CLAIM DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 
subsection is a claim for disability compensation under 
chapter 11 of this title (including a claim regarding an 
increased rating)—
‘‘(1) the adjudication of which requires the Sec-
retary to make decisions with respect to two or more 
disabilities; and 
‘‘(2) for which, before completing the adjudica-
tion of the claim, the Secretary makes a decision 
with respect to a disability that would result in the 
payment of monetary benefits to the claimant upon 
the adjudication of the claim.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end of the items relating to such subchapter the 
following new item: 
‘‘5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits.’’. 
SEC. 302. CLAIMS PROCESSORS TRAINING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a training program to provide newly 
hired claims processors of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs with training for a period of not less than 2 years. 
In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall identify 
successful claims processors of the Department who can 
assist in the training of newly hired claims processors. 
(b) ABILITY TO PROCESS CLAIMS.—The Secretary 
shall carry out the training program established under 
subsection (a) without increasing the amount of time in 
which claims are processed by the Department.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 303. NOTICE OF AVERAGE TIMES FOR PROCESSING 
CLAIMS AND PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMS AP-
PROVED. 
(a) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall post the information described in subsection 
(c)— 
(1) in a conspicuous place in each regional of-
fice and claims intake facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and 
(2) on the Internet Web site of the Department. 
(b) NOTICE TO APPLICANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
to each person who submits a claim for benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary before 
the person submits such claim— 
(A) notice of the information described in 
subsection (c); and 
(B) notice that the person is eligible to re-
ceive up to an extra year of benefits payments 
if the person files a claim that is fully devel-
oped.
(2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF
RECEIPT
OF
NO-
TICE.—Each person who submits a claim for bene-
fits under the laws administered by the Secretary 
shall include in such application a signed form ac-
knowledging that the person received the informa-
tion described in subsection (c). 
(c) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The information described in 
this subsection is the following: 
(A) The average processing time of the 
claims described in paragraph (2) and the per-
centage of such submitted claims for which ben-
efits are awarded. 
(B) The percentage of each of the fol-
lowing types of submitted claims for benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for which benefits are award-
ed: 
(i) Claims filed by veterans who au-
thorized a veterans service organization to 
act on the veterans’ behalf under a durable 
power of attorney. 
(ii) Claims filed by veterans who au-
thorized a person other than a veterans