I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5089 
To reform the veterans’ disability determination process by requiring the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay disability compensation to certain 
veterans based on the concurring diagnoses of two physicians. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2008 
Mr. BARROW introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To reform the veterans’ disability determination process by 
requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay dis-
ability compensation to certain veterans based on the 
concurring diagnoses of two physicians. 
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 
Reform Act of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. PAYMENT OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION BY SEC-
RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SOLELY ON 
THE BASIS OF CONCURRING DIAGNOSES BY 
ANY TWO PHYSICIANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
Code, to an eligible veteran. 
(b) ELIGIBLE VETERAN.—For the purposes of this 
Act, the term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran who— 
(1) is discharged or released on or after Sep-
tember 11, 2001, under conditions other than dis-
honorable, from a period of service in the active mili-
tary, naval, or air service; and 
(2) submits to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
the concurring diagnoses of any two physicians stat-
ing that the veteran has a service-connected dis-
ability compensable under chapter 11 of title 38, 
United States Code, and the assignment by such 
physicians of a concurring rating of such disability. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF DIAGNOSES.—Concurring diag-
noses and disability ratings shall be submitted to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of this section in 
the manner the Secretary determines is appropriate. 
(d) AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall pay to an eligible veteran monthly 
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compensation in the amount payable under chapter 11 of 
title 38, United States Code for a disability rated at the 
same percentage assigned to the eligible veteran’s dis-
ability by the two physicians, regardless of whether the 
rating assigned by the physicians is the same rating that 
would have been assigned by the Secretary. 
(e) NO REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT A CLAIM.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not require an eligible 
veteran to submit a claim in accordance with chapter 51 
of title 38, United States Code, or otherwise, in order to 
receive compensation under this Act. 
(f) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall prescribe final regulations to carry 
out this section not later than the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(g) APPLICABILITY.—This Act shall apply with re-
spect to compensation payable for months beginning on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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