‘‘(B) Responsibility for determinations of fit-
ness for active duty of each such member. 
‘‘(C) Complete operational and administrative 
control of each such member at every stage of the 
implementation of the Integrated Disability Evalua-
tion System, or successor system, from the begin-
ning of the medical evaluation board to the conclu-
sion of the physical evaluation board, including the 
authority to pause for a reasonable amount of time 
or completely withdraw the member from such sys-
tem if the military commander with jurisdiction over 
the Wounded Warrior finds that any policies, proce-
dures, regulations, or other related guidance has not 
been followed in the case of the member.’’. 
(d) OPPORTUNITY FOR DUE PROCESS HEARING IN 
THE MILITARY CHAIN OF COMMAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall update the policies and procedures 
applicable to the implementation of the Integrated 
Disability Evaluation System of the Department of 
Defense, or successor system, to ensure that appeals 
made by Wounded Warriors under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary concerned include (if the member de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:08 Jun 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3517.IH
H3517
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
mands it) a full and fair hearing on such determina-
tion, to be conducted by the Secretary concerned. 
(2) CHARACTERIZATION OF APPEAL.—An ap-
peal made under paragraph (1) is separate from and 
in addition to any appellate options available to a 
Wounded Warrior under the Integrated Disability 
Evaluation System of the Department of Defense, or 
successor system. 
(3) TIMELY MANNER.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—Upon 
request 
by 
Wounded Warrior, the military commander with 
jurisdiction over the Wounded Warrior shall 
process an appeal under paragraph (1). 
(B) ADJUDICATION.—Not later than 90 
days after the initiation by a Wounded Warrior 
of an appeal under paragraph (1) the military 
commander with jurisdiction over the Wounded 
Warrior, and every echelon of command all the 
way up to the general court-martial convening 
authority if the commander denies the appeal, 
shall complete adjudication of the appeal. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than February 1, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a briefing on the status of the im-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:08 Jun 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3517.IH
H3517
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
plementation of this section and the amendments made 
by this section. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) WOUNDED WARRIOR.—The term ‘‘Wounded 
Warrior’’ means a member of the Armed Forces 
being processed for potential medical separation at 
any point in the Integrated Disability Evaluation 
System of the Department of Defense, or successor 
system. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:08 Jun 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3517.IH
H3517
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS