H. R. 4986—428 
year 2008 between any such authorizations for that fiscal year 
(or any subdivisions thereof). Amounts of authorizations so 
transferred shall be merged with and be available for the 
same purposes as the authorization to which transferred. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The total amount of authorizations that 
the Secretary may transfer under the authority of this section 
may not exceed $3,500,000,000. 
(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Transfers under this section shall 
be subject to the same terms and conditions as transfers under 
section 1001. 
(c) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—The transfer authority provided 
by this section is in addition to the transfer authority provided 
under section 1001. 
TITLE XVI—WOUNDED WARRIOR 
MATTERS 
Sec. 1601. Short title. 
Sec. 1602. General definitions. 
Sec. 1603. Consideration of gender-specific needs of recovering service members 
and veterans. 
Subtitle A—Policy on Improvements to Care, Management, and Transition of 
Recovering Service Members 
Sec. 1611. Comprehensive policy on improvements to care, management, and tran-
sition of recovering service members. 
Sec. 1612. Medical evaluations and physical disability evaluations of recovering 
service members. 
Sec. 1613. Return of recovering service members to active duty in the Armed 
Forces. 
Sec. 1614. Transition of recovering service members from care and treatment 
through the Department of Defense to care, treatment, and rehabilita-
tion through the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 1615. Reports. 
Sec. 1616. Establishment of a wounded warrior resource center. 
Sec. 1617. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded service 
members. 
Sec. 1618. Comprehensive plan on prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of, and research on, traumatic brain injury, post-trau-
matic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions in members 
of the Armed Forces. 
Subtitle B—Centers of Excellence in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treat-
ment, and Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Dis-
order, and Eye Injuries 
Sec. 1621. Center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, 
and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury. 
Sec. 1622. Center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health 
conditions. 
Sec. 1623. Center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of military eye injuries. 
Sec. 1624. Report on establishment of centers of excellence. 
Subtitle C—Health Care Matters 
Sec. 1631. Medical care and other benefits for members and former members of the 
Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses. 
Sec. 1632. Reimbursement of travel expenses of retired members with combat-re-
lated disabilities for follow-on specialty care, services, and supplies. 
Sec. 1633. Respite care and other extended care benefits for members of the uni-
formed services who incur a serious injury or illness on active duty. 
Sec. 1634. Reports. 
Sec. 1635. Fully interoperable electronic personal health information for the De-
partment of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.
H. R. 4986—429 
Sec. 1636. Enhanced personnel authorities for the Department of Defense for 
health care professionals for care and treatment of wounded and injured 
members of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 1637. Continuation of transitional health benefits for members of the Armed 
Forces pending resolution of service-related medical conditions. 
Subtitle D—Disability Matters 
Sec. 1641. Utilization of veterans’ presumption of sound condition in establishing 
eligibility of members of the Armed Forces for retirement for disability. 
Sec. 1642. Requirements and limitations on Department of Defense determinations 
of disability with respect to members of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 1643. Review of separation of members of the Armed Forces separated from 
service with a disability rating of 20 percent disabled or less. 
Sec. 1644. Authorization of pilot programs to improve the disability evaluation sys-
tem for members of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 1645. Reports on Army action plan in response to deficiencies in the Army 
physical disability evaluation system. 
Sec. 1646. Enhancement of disability severance pay for members of the Armed 
Forces. 
Sec. 1647. Assessments of continuing utility and future role of temporary disability 
retired list. 
Sec. 1648. Standards for military medical treatment facilities, specialty medical 
care facilities, and military quarters housing patients and annual report 
on such facilities. 
Sec. 1649. Reports on Army Medical Action Plan in response to deficiencies identi-
fied at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia. 
Sec. 1650. Required certifications in connection with closure of Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center, District of Columbia. 
Sec. 1651. Handbook for members of the Armed Forces on compensation and bene-
fits available for serious injuries and illnesses. 
Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 
Sec. 1661. Study on physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of 
members and former members of the Armed Forces who deployed in Op-
eration Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their fami-
lies. 
Sec. 1662. Access of recovering service members to adequate outpatient residential 
facilities. 
Sec. 1663. Study and report on support services for families of recovering service 
members. 
Sec. 1664. Report on traumatic brain injury classifications. 
Sec. 1665. Evaluation of the Polytrauma Liaison Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer 
program. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
Sec. 1671. Prohibition on transfer of resources from medical care. 
Sec. 1672. Medical care for families of members of the Armed Forces recovering 
from serious injuries or illnesses. 
Sec. 1673. Improvement of medical tracking system for members of the Armed 
Forces deployed overseas. 
Sec. 1674. Guaranteed funding for Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of 
Columbia. 
Sec. 1675. Use of leave transfer program by wounded veterans who are Federal em-
ployees. 
Sec. 1676. Moratorium on conversion to contractor performance of Department of 
Defense functions at military medical facilities. 
SEC. 1601. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Wounded Warrior Act’’. 
SEC. 1602. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CONGRESS.—The term 
‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committees on Armed Services, Veterans’ 
Affairs, and Appropriations of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committees on Armed Services, Veterans’ 
Affairs, and Appropriations of the House of Representa-
tives.
H. R. 4986—430 
(2) BENEFITS DELIVERY AT DISCHARGE PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program’’ means a program 
administered jointly by the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to provide information and assistance 
on available benefits and other transition assistance to mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed 
Forces, including assistance to obtain any disability benefits 
for which such members may be eligible. 
(3) DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Disability 
Evaluation System’’ means the following: 
(A) A system or process of the Department of Defense 
for evaluating the nature and extent of disabilities affecting 
members of the Armed Forces that is operated by the 
Secretaries of the military departments and is comprised 
of medical evaluation boards, physical evaluation boards, 
counseling of members, and mechanisms for the final dis-
position of disability evaluations by appropriate personnel. 
(B) A system or process of the Coast Guard for evalu-
ating the nature and extent of disabilities affecting mem-
bers of the Coast Guard that is operated by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security and is similar to the system or 
process of the Department of Defense described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(4) ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER.—The term ‘‘eligible family 
member’’, with respect to a recovering service member, means 
a family member (as defined in section 411 h(b) of title 37, 
United States Code) who is on invitational travel orders or 
serving as a non-medical attendee while caring for the recov-
ering service member for more than 45 days during a one- 
year period. 
(5) MEDICAL
CARE.—The term ‘‘medical care’’ includes 
mental health care. 
(6) OUTPATIENT
STATUS.—The term ‘‘outpatient status’’, 
with respect to a recovering service member, means the status 
of a recovering service member assigned to— 
(A) a military medical treatment facility as an out-
patient; or 
(B) a unit established for the purpose of providing 
command and control of members of the Armed Forces 
receiving medical care as outpatients. 
(7) RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBER.—The term ‘‘recovering 
service member’’ means a member of the Armed Forces, 
including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who 
is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and 
is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious 
injury or illness related to the member’s military service. 
(8) SERIOUS INJURY OR ILLNESS.—The term ‘‘serious injury 
or illness’’, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces, 
means an injury or illness incurred by the member in line 
of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces that may render 
the member medically unfit to perform the duties of the mem-
ber’s office, grade, rank, or rating. 
(9) TRICARE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 
10, United States Code.
H. R. 4986—431 
SEC. 1603. CONSIDERATION OF GENDER-SPECIFIC NEEDS OF RECOV-
ERING SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In developing and implementing the policy 
required by section 1611(a), and in otherwise carrying out any 
other provision of this title or any amendment made by this title, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall take into account and fully address any unique gender-specific 
needs of recovering service members and veterans under such policy 
or other provision. 
(b) REPORTS.—In submitting any report required by this title 
or an amendment made by this title, the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the extent applicable, 
include a description of the manner in which the matters covered 
by such report address the unique gender-specific needs of recov-
ering service members and veterans. 
Subtitle A—Policy on Improvements to 
Care, Management, and Transition of Re-
covering Service Members 
SEC. 1611. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON IMPROVEMENTS TO CARE, 
MANAGEMENT, 
AND 
TRANSITION 
OF 
RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2008, the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the 
extent feasible, jointly develop and implement a comprehensive 
policy on improvements to the care, management, and transi-
tion of recovering service members. 
(2) SCOPE OF POLICY.—The policy shall cover each of the 
following: 
(A) The care and management of recovering service 
members. 
(B) The medical evaluation and disability evaluation 
of recovering service members. 
(C) The return of service members who have recovered 
to active duty when appropriate. 
(D) The transition of recovering service members from 
receipt of care and services through the Department of 
Defense to receipt of care and services through the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall develop the policy in consulta-
tion with the heads of other appropriate departments and agen-
cies of the Federal Government and with appropriate non- 
governmental organizations having an expertise in matters 
relating to the policy. 
(4) UPDATE.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall jointly update the policy on a periodic 
basis, but not less often than annually, in order to incorporate 
in the policy, as appropriate, the following: 
(A) The results of the reviews required under sub-
sections (b) and (c). 
(B) Best practices identified through pilot programs 
carried out under this title.
H. R. 4986—432 
(C) Improvements to matters under the policy other-
wise identified and agreed upon by the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) REVIEW OF CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.— 
(1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—In developing the policy required 
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall, to the extent necessary, jointly and 
separately conduct a review of all policies and procedures of 
the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs that apply to, or shall be covered by, the policy. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the review shall be to identify 
the most effective and patient-oriented approaches to care and 
management of recovering service members for purposes of— 
(A) incorporating such approaches into the policy; and 
(B) extending such approaches, where applicable, to 
the care and management of other injured or ill members 
of the Armed Forces and veterans. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the review, the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(A) identify among the policies and procedures 
described in paragraph (1) best practices in approaches 
to the care and management of recovering service members; 
(B) identify among such policies and procedures 
existing and potential shortfalls in the care and manage-
ment of recovering service members (including care and 
management of recovering service members on the tem-
porary disability retired list), and determine means of 
addressing any shortfalls so identified; 
(C) determine potential modifications of such policies 
and procedures in order to ensure consistency and uni-
formity, where appropriate, in the application of such poli-
cies and procedures— 
(i) among the military departments; 
(ii) among the Veterans Integrated Services Net-
works (VISNs) of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and 
(iii) between the military departments and the Vet-
erans Integrated Services Networks; and 
(D) develop recommendations for legislative and 
administrative action necessary to implement the results 
of the review. 
(4) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION.—The review shall be com-
pleted not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, 
AND PRACTICES.—In developing the policy required by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall take into account the following: 
(1) The findings and recommendations of applicable studies, 
reviews, reports, and evaluations that address matters relating 
to the policy, including, but not limited, to the following: 
(A) The Independent Review Group on Rehabilitative 
Care and Administrative Processes at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center, 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
H. R. 4986—433 
(B) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs Task Force on 
Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, appointed by the 
President. 
(C) The President’s Commission on Care for America’s 
Returning Wounded Warriors. 
(D) The Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission 
established by title XV of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 
Stat. 1676; 38 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
(E) The President’s Task Force to Improve Health Care 
Delivery for Our Nation’s Veterans, of March 2003. 
(F) The Report of the Congressional Commission on 
Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance, of 
1999, chaired by Anthony J. Principi. 
(G) The President’s Commission on Veterans’ Pensions, 
of 1956, chaired by General Omar N. Bradley. 
(2) The experience and best practices of the Department 
of Defense and the military departments on matters relating 
to the policy. 
(3) The experience and best practices of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs on matters relating to the policy. 
(4) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs consider appropriate. 
(d) TRAINING AND SKILLS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, 
RECOVERY CARE COORDINATORS, MEDICAL CARE CASE MANAGERS, 
AND NON-MEDICAL CARE MANAGERS
FOR RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The policy required by subsection (a) 
shall provide for uniform standards among the military depart-
ments for the training and skills of health care professionals, 
recovery care coordinators, medical care case managers, and 
non-medical care managers for recovering service members 
under subsection (e) in order to ensure that such personnel 
are able to— 
(A) detect early warning signs of post-traumatic stress 
disorder (PTSD), suicidal or homicidal thoughts or behav-
iors, and other behavioral health concerns among recov-
ering service members; and 
(B) promptly notify appropriate health care profes-
sionals following detection of such signs. 
(2) TRACKING OF NOTIFICATIONS.—In providing for uniform 
standards under paragraph (1), the policy shall include a 
mechanism or system to track the number of notifications made 
by recovery care coordinators, medical care case managers, 
and non-medical care managers to health care professionals 
under paragraph (1)(A) regarding early warning signs of post- 
traumatic stress disorder and suicide in recovering service 
members. 
(e) SERVICES FOR RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS.—The policy 
required by subsection (a) shall provide for improvements as follows 
with respect to the care, management, and transition of recovering 
service members: 
(1) COMPREHENSIVE
RECOVERY
PLAN
FOR
RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for uniform stand-
ards and procedures for the development of a comprehensive 
recovery plan for each recovering service member that covers
H. R. 4986—434 
the full spectrum of care, management, transition, and 
rehabilitation of the service member during recovery. 
(2) RECOVERY
CARE
COORDINATORS
FOR
RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The policy shall provide for a uniform 
program for the assignment to recovering service members 
of recovery care coordinators having the duties specified 
in subparagraph (B). 
(B) DUTIES.—The duties under the program of a 
recovery care coordinator for a recovering service member 
shall include, but not be limited to, overseeing and assisting 
the service member in the service member’s course through 
the entire spectrum of care, management, transition, and 
rehabilitation services available from the Federal Govern-
ment, including services provided by the Department of 
Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Depart-
ment of Labor, and the Social Security Administration. 
(C) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS MAN-
AGED BY COORDINATORS.—The maximum number of recov-
ering service members whose cases may be assigned to 
a recovery care coordinator under the program at any one 
time shall be such number as the policy shall specify, 
except that the Secretary of the military department con-
cerned may waive such limitation with respect to a given 
coordinator for not more than 120 days in the event of 
unforeseen circumstances (as specified in the policy). 
(D) TRAINING.—The policy shall specify standard 
training requirements and curricula for recovery care 
coordinators under the program, including a requirement 
for successful completion of the training program before 
a person may assume the duties of such a coordinator. 
(E) RESOURCES.—The policy shall include mechanisms 
to ensure that recovery care coordinators under the pro-
gram have the resources necessary to expeditiously carry 
out the duties of such coordinators under the program. 
(F) SUPERVISION.—The policy shall specify require-
ments for the appropriate rank or grade, and appropriate 
occupation, for persons appointed to head and supervise 
recovery care coordinators. 
(3) MEDICAL
CARE
CASE
MANAGERS
FOR
RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The policy shall provide for a uniform 
program among the military departments for the assign-
ment to recovering service members of medical care case 
managers having the duties specified in subparagraph (B). 
(B) DUTIES.—The duties under the program of a med-
ical care case manager for a recovering service member 
(or the service member’s immediate family or other des-
ignee if the service member is incapable of making judg-
ments about personal medical care) shall include, at a 
minimum, the following: 
(i) Assisting in understanding the service member’s 
medical status during the care, recovery, and transition 
of the service member. 
(ii) Assisting in the receipt by the service member 
of prescribed medical care during the care, recovery, 
and transition of the service member.
H. R. 4986—435 
(iii) Conducting a periodic review of the medical 
status of the service member, which review shall be 
conducted, to the extent practicable, in person with 
the service member, or, whenever the conduct of the 
review in person is not practicable, with the medical 
care case manager submitting to the manager’s super-
visor a written explanation why the review in person 
was not practicable (if the Secretary of the military 
department concerned elects to require such written 
explanations for purposes of the program). 
(C) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS MAN-
AGED BY MANAGERS.—The maximum number of recovering 
service members whose cases may be assigned to a medical 
care case manager under the program at any one time 
shall be such number as the policy shall specify, except 
that the Secretary of the military department concerned 
may waive such limitation with respect to a given manager 
for not more than 120 days in the event of unforeseen 
circumstances (as specified in the policy). 
(D) TRAINING.—The policy shall specify standard 
training requirements and curricula for medical care case 
managers under the program, including a requirement for 
successful completion of the training program before a per-
son may assume the duties of such a manager. 
(E) RESOURCES.—The policy shall include mechanisms 
to ensure that medical care case managers under the pro-
gram have the resources necessary to expeditiously carry 
out the duties of such managers under the program. 
(F) SUPERVISION AT ARMED FORCES MEDICAL FACILI-
TIES.—The policy shall specify requirements for the appro-
priate rank or grade, and appropriate occupation, for per-
sons appointed to head and supervise the medical care 
case managers at each medical facility of the Armed Forces. 
Persons so appointed may be appointed from the Army 
Medical Corps, Army Medical Service Corps, Army Nurse 
Corps, Navy Medical Corps, Navy Medical Service Corps, 
Navy Nurse Corps, Air Force Medical Service, or other 
corps or civilian health care professional, as applicable, 
at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. 
(4) NON-MEDICAL CARE MANAGERS FOR RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The policy shall provide for a uniform 
program among the military departments for the assign-
ment to recovering service members of non-medical care 
managers having the duties specified in subparagraph (B). 
(B) DUTIES.—The duties under the program of a non- 
medical care manager for a recovering service member 
shall include, at a minimum, the following: 
(i) Communicating with the service member and 
with the service member’s family or other individuals 
designated by the service member regarding non-med-
ical matters that arise during the care, recovery, and 
transition of the service member. 
(ii) Assisting with oversight of the service mem-
ber’s welfare and quality of life.
H. R. 4986—436 
(iii) Assisting the service member in resolving 
problems involving financial, administrative, per-
sonnel, transitional, and other matters that arise 
during the care, recovery, and transition of the service 
member. 
(C) DURATION
OF
DUTIES.—The policy shall provide 
that a non-medical care manager shall perform duties 
under the program for a recovering service member until 
the service member is returned to active duty or retired 
or separated from the Armed Forces. 
(D) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS MAN-
AGED BY MANAGERS.—The maximum number of recovering 
service members whose cases may be assigned to a non- 
medical care manager under the program at any one time 
shall be such number as the policy shall specify, except 
that the Secretary of the military department concerned 
may waive such limitation with respect to a given manager 
for not more than 120 days in the event of unforeseen 
circumstances (as specified in the policy). 
(E) TRAINING.—The policy shall specify standard 
training requirements and curricula among the military 
departments for non-medical care managers under the pro-
gram, including a requirement for successful completion 
of the training program before a person may assume the 
duties of such a manager. 
(F) RESOURCES.—The policy shall include mechanisms 
to ensure that non-medical care managers under the pro-
gram have the resources necessary to expeditiously carry 
out the duties of such managers under the program. 
(G) SUPERVISION AT ARMED FORCES MEDICAL FACILI-
TIES.—The policy shall specify requirements for the appro-
priate rank and occupational speciality for persons 
appointed to head and supervise the non-medical care man-
agers at each medical facility of the Armed Forces. 
(5) ACCESS
OF
RECOVERING
SERVICE
MEMBERS
TO
NON- 
URGENT HEALTH CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR 
OTHER PROVIDERS UNDER TRICARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The policy shall provide for appro-
priate minimum standards for access of recovering service 
members to non-urgent medical care and other health care 
services as follows: 
(i) In medical facilities of the Department of 
Defense. 
(ii) Through the TRICARE program. 
(B) MAXIMUM WAITING TIMES FOR CERTAIN CARE.—The 
standards for access under subparagraph (A) shall include 
such standards on maximum waiting times of recovering 
service members as the policy shall specify for care that 
includes, but is not limited to, the following: 
(i) Follow-up care. 
(ii) Specialty care. 
(iii) Diagnostic referrals and studies. 
(iv) Surgery based on a physician’s determination 
of medical necessity. 
(C) WAIVER BY RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS.—The 
policy shall permit any recovering service member to waive
H. R. 4986—437 
a standard for access under this paragraph under such 
circumstances and conditions as the policy shall specify. 
(6) ASSIGNMENT OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS TO LOCA-
TIONS OF CARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The policy shall provide for uniform 
guidelines among the military departments for the assign-
ment of recovering service members to a location of care, 
including guidelines that provide for the assignment of 
recovering service members, when medically appropriate, 
to care and residential facilities closest to their duty station 
or home of record or the location of their designated care 
giver at the earliest possible time. 
(B) REASSIGNMENT FROM DEFICIENT FACILITIES.—The 
policy shall provide for uniform guidelines and procedures 
among the military departments for the reassignment of 
recovering service members from a medical or medical- 
related support facility determined by the Secretary of 
Defense to violate the standards required by section 1648 
to another appropriate medical or medical-related support 
facility until the correction of violations of such standards 
at the medical or medical-related support facility from 
which such service members are reassigned. 
(7) TRANSPORTATION
AND
SUBSISTENCE
FOR
RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for uniform stand-
ards among the military departments on the availability of 
appropriate transportation and subsistence for recovering 
service members to facilitate their obtaining needed medical 
care and services. 
(8) WORK AND DUTY ASSIGNMENTS FOR RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for uniform criteria among 
the military departments for the assignment of recovering 
service members to work and duty assignments that are 
compatible with their medical conditions. 
(9) ACCESS
OF
RECOVERING
SERVICE
MEMBERS
TO
EDU-
CATIONAL
AND
VOCATIONAL
TRAINING
AND
REHABILITATION.— 
The policy shall provide for uniform standards among the mili-
tary departments on the provision of educational and vocational 
training and rehabilitation opportunities for recovering service 
members at the earliest possible point in their recovery. 
(10) TRACKING
OF
RECOVERING
SERVICE
MEMBERS.—The 
policy shall provide for uniform procedures among the military 
departments on tracking recovering service members to facili-
tate— 
(A) locating each recovering service member; and 
(B) tracking medical care appointments of recovering 
service members to ensure timeliness and compliance of 
recovering service members with appointments, and other 
physical and evaluation timelines, and to provide any other 
information needed to conduct oversight of the care, 
management, and transition of recovering service members. 
(11) REFERRALS
OF
RECOVERING
SERVICE
MEMBERS
TO 
OTHER CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDERS.—The policy shall provide 
for uniform policies, procedures, and criteria among the military 
departments on the referral of recovering service members to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs and other private and
H. R. 4986—438 
public entities (including universities and rehabilitation hos-
pitals, centers, and clinics) in order to secure the most appro-
priate care for recovering service members, which policies, 
procedures, and criteria shall take into account, but not be 
limited to, the medical needs of recovering service members 
and the geographic location of available necessary recovery 
care services. 
(f) SERVICES
FOR FAMILIES
OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEM-
BERS.—The policy required by subsection (a) shall provide for 
improvements as follows with respect to services for families of 
recovering service members: 
(1) SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for uniform guidelines 
among the military departments on the provision by the mili-
tary departments of support for family members of recovering 
service members who are not otherwise eligible for care under 
section 1672 in caring for such service members during their 
recovery. 
(2) ADVICE AND TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF RECOV-
ERING SERVICE MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for uniform 
requirements and standards among the military departments 
on the provision by the military departments of advice and 
training, as appropriate, to family members of recovering 
service members with respect to care for such service members 
during their recovery. 
(3) MEASUREMENT OF SATISFACTION OF FAMILY MEMBERS 
OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS WITH QUALITY OF HEALTH 
CARE SERVICES.—The policy shall provide for uniform proce-
dures among the military departments on the measurement 
of the satisfaction of family members of recovering service 
members with the quality of health care services provided 
to such service members during their recovery. 
(4) JOB
PLACEMENT
SERVICES
FOR
FAMILY
MEMBERS
OF 
RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS.—The policy shall provide for 
procedures for application by eligible family members during 
a one-year period for job placement services otherwise offered 
by the Department of Defense. 
(g) OUTREACH TO RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES ON COMPREHENSIVE POLICY.—The policy required by sub-
section (a) shall include procedures and mechanisms to ensure 
that recovering service members and their families are fully 
informed of the policies required by this section, including policies 
on medical care for recovering service members, on the management 
and transition of recovering service members, and on the respon-
sibilities of recovering service members and their family members 
throughout the continuum of care and services for recovering service 
members under this section. 
(h) APPLICABILITY OF COMPREHENSIVE POLICY TO RECOVERING 
SERVICE MEMBERS
ON TEMPORARY DISABILITY RETIRED LIST.— 
Appropriate elements of the policy required by this section shall 
apply to recovering service members whose names are placed on 
the temporary disability retired list in such manner, and subject 
to such terms and conditions, as the Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe in regulations for purposes of this subsection.
H. R. 4986—439 
SEC. 
1612. 
MEDICAL 
EVALUATIONS 
AND 
PHYSICAL 
DISABILITY 
EVALUATIONS OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS. 
(a) MEDICAL EVALUATIONS
OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEM-
BERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2008, the Secretary 
of Defense shall develop a policy on improvements to the proc-
esses, procedures, and standards for the conduct by the military 
departments of medical evaluations of recovering service mem-
bers. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The policy on improvements to processes, 
procedures, and standards required under this subsection shall 
include and address the following: 
(A) Processes for medical evaluations of recovering 
service members that— 
(i) apply uniformly throughout the military depart-
ments; and 
(ii) apply uniformly with respect to recovering 
service members who are members of the regular 
components of the Armed Forces and recovering service 
members who are members of the National Guard 
and Reserve. 
(B) Standard criteria and definitions for determining 
the achievement for recovering service members of the 
maximum medical benefit from treatment and rehabilita-
tion. 
(C) Standard timelines for each of the following: 
(i) Determinations of fitness for duty of recovering 
service members. 
(ii) Specialty care consultations for recovering 
service members. 
(iii) Preparation of medical documents for recov-
ering service members. 
(iv) Appeals by recovering service members of med-
ical evaluation determinations, including determina-
tions of fitness for duty. 
(D) Procedures for ensuring that— 
(i) upon request of a recovering service member 
being considered by a medical evaluation board, a 
physician or other appropriate health care professional 
who is independent of the medical evaluation board 
is assigned to the service member; and 
(ii) the physician or other health care professional 
assigned to a recovering service member under clause 
(i)— 
(I) serves as an independent source for review 
of the findings and recommendations of the med-
ical evaluation board; 
(II) provides the service member with advice 
and counsel regarding the findings and rec-
ommendations of the medical evaluation board; 
and 
(III) advises the service member on whether 
the findings of the medical evaluation board ade-
quately reflect the complete spectrum of injuries 
and illness of the service member. 
(E) Standards for qualifications and training of medical 
evaluation board personnel, including physicians, case
H. R. 4986—440 
workers, and physical disability evaluation board liaison 
officers, in conducting medical evaluations of recovering 
service members. 
(F) Standards for the maximum number of medical 
evaluation cases of recovering service members that are 
pending before a medical evaluation board at any one time, 
and requirements for the establishment of additional med-
ical evaluation boards in the event such number is 
exceeded. 
(G) Standards for information for recovering service 
members, and their families, on the medical evaluation 
board process and the rights and responsibilities of recov-
ering service members under that process, including a 
standard handbook on such information (which handbook 
shall also be available electronically). 
(b) PHYSICAL DISABILITY EVALUATIONS OF RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2008, the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
a policy on improvements to the processes, procedures, and 
standards for the conduct of physical disability evaluations 
of recovering service members by the military departments 
and by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The policy on improvements to processes, 
procedures, and standards required under this subsection shall 
include and address the following: 
(A) A clearly-defined process of the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for dis-
ability determinations of recovering service members. 
(B) To the extent feasible, procedures to eliminate 
unacceptable discrepancies and improve consistency among 
disability ratings assigned by the military departments 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs, particularly in 
the disability evaluation of recovering service members, 
which procedures shall be subject to the following require-
ments and limitations: 
(i) Such procedures shall apply uniformly with 
respect to recovering service members who are mem-
bers of the regular components of the Armed Forces 
and recovering service members who are members of 
the National Guard and Reserve. 
(ii) Under such procedures, each Secretary of a 
military department shall, to the extent feasible, utilize 
the standard schedule for rating disabilities in use 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including any 
applicable interpretation of such schedule by the 
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 
in making any determination of disability of a recov-
ering service member, except as otherwise authorized 
by section 1216a of title 10, United States Code (as 
added by section 1642 of this Act). 
(C) Uniform timelines among the military departments 
for appeals of determinations of disability of recovering 
service members, including timelines for presentation, 
consideration, and disposition of appeals. 
(D) Uniform standards among the military depart-
ments for qualifications and training of physical disability
H. R. 4986—441 
evaluation board personnel, including physical evaluation 
board liaison personnel, in conducting physical disability 
evaluations of recovering service members. 
(E) Uniform standards among the military depart-
ments for the maximum number of physical disability 
evaluation cases of recovering service members that are 
pending before a physical disability evaluation board at 
any one time, and requirements for the establishment of 
additional physical disability evaluation boards in the event 
such number is exceeded. 
(F) Uniform standards and procedures among the mili-
tary departments for the provision of legal counsel to recov-
ering service members while undergoing evaluation by a 
physical disability evaluation board. 
(G) Uniform standards among the military depart-
ments on the roles and responsibilities of non-medical care 
managers under section 1611(e)(4) and judge advocates 
assigned to recovering service members undergoing evalua-
tion by a physical disability board, and uniform standards 
on the maximum number of cases involving such service 
members that are to be assigned to judge advocates at 
any one time. 
(c) ASSESSMENT
OF
CONSOLIDATION
OF
DEPARTMENT
OF 
DEFENSE
AND
DEPARTMENT
OF
VETERANS
AFFAIRS
DISABILITY 
EVALUATION SYSTEMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the feasability and advis-
ability of consolidating the disability evaluation systems of 
the military departments and the disability evaluation system 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs into a single disability 
evaluation system. The report shall be submitted together with 
the report required by section 1611(a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the feasability and advisability 
of consolidating the disability evaluation systems described 
in paragraph (1) as specified in that paragraph. 
(B) If the consolidation of the systems is considered 
feasible and advisable— 
(i) recommendations for various options for consoli-
dating the systems as specified in paragraph (1); and 
(ii) recommendations for mechanisms to evaluate 
and assess any progress made in consolidating the 
systems as specified in that paragraph. 
SEC. 1613. RETURN OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS TO ACTIVE 
DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
The Secretary of Defense shall establish standards for deter-
minations by the military departments on the return of recovering 
service members to active duty in the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 1614. TRANSITION OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS FROM 
CARE AND TREATMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE TO CARE, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION 
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2008, the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly
H. R. 4986—442 
develop and implement processes, procedures, and standards for 
the transition of recovering service members from care and treat-
ment through the Department of Defense to care, treatment, and 
rehabilitation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The processes, procedures, and standards 
required under this section shall include the following: 
(1) Uniform, patient-focused procedures to ensure that the 
transition described in subsection (a) occurs without gaps in 
medical care and in the quality of medical care, benefits, and 
services. 
(2) Procedures for the identification and tracking of recov-
ering service members during the transition, and for the 
coordination of care and treatment of recovering service mem-
bers during the transition, including a system of cooperative 
case management of recovering service members by the Depart-
ment of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs during 
the transition. 
(3) Procedures for the notification of Department of Vet-
erans Affairs liaison personnel of the commencement by recov-
ering service members of the medical evaluation process and 
the physical disability evaluation process. 
(4) Procedures and timelines for the enrollment of recov-
ering service members in applicable enrollment or application 
systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect 
to health care, disability, education, vocational rehabilitation, 
or other benefits. 
(5) Procedures to ensure the access of recovering service 
members during the transition to vocational, educational, and 
rehabilitation benefits available through the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(6) Standards for the optimal location of Department of 
Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs liaison and case 
management personnel at military medical treatment facilities, 
medical centers, and other medical facilities of the Department 
of Defense. 
(7) Standards and procedures for integrated medical care 
and management of recovering service members during the 
transition, including procedures for the assignment of medical 
personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs to Department 
of Defense facilities to participate in the needs assessments 
of recovering service members before, during, and after their 
separation from military service. 
(8) Standards for the preparation of detailed plans for 
the transition of recovering service members from care and 
treatment by the Department of Defense to care, treatment, 
and rehabilitation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which 
plans shall— 
(A) be based on standardized elements with respect 
to care and treatment requirements and other applicable 
requirements; and 
(B) take into account the comprehensive recovery plan 
for the recovering service member concerned as developed 
under section 1611(e)(1). 
(9) Procedures to ensure that each recovering service 
member who is being retired or separated under chapter 61 
of title 10, United States Code, receives a written transition 
plan, prior to the time of retirement or separation, that—
H. R. 4986—444 
(13) Procedures to ensure that, before the transmittal of 
records and other information with respect to a recovering 
service member under this section, a meeting regarding the 
transmittal of such records and other information occurs among 
the service member, appropriate family members of the service 
member, representatives of the Secretary of the military depart-
ment concerned, and representatives of the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs, with at least 30 days advance notice of the 
meeting being given to the service member unless the service 
member waives the advance notice requirement in order to 
accelerate transmission of the service member’s records and 
other information to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(14) Procedures to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs gives appropriate consideration to a written statement 
submitted to the Secretary by a recovering service member 
regarding the transition. 
(15) Procedures to provide access for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to the military health records of recovering 
service members who are receiving care and treatment, or 
are anticipating receipt of care and treatment, in Department 
of Veterans Affairs health care facilities, which procedures shall 
be consistent with the procedures and requirements in para-
graphs (11) and (13). 
(16) A process for the utilization of a joint separation 
and evaluation physical examination that meets the require-
ments of both the Department of Defense and the Department 
of Veterans Affairs in connection with the medical separation 
or retirement of a recovering service member from military 
service and for use by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
in disability evaluations. 
(17) Procedures for surveys and other mechanisms to 
measure patient and family satisfaction with the provision by 
the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs of care and services for recovering service members, 
and to facilitate appropriate oversight by supervisory personnel 
of the provision of such care and services. 
(18) Procedures to ensure the participation of recovering 
service members who are members of the National Guard or 
Reserve in the Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program, 
including procedures to ensure that, to the maximum extent 
feasible, services under the Benefits Delivery at Discharge Pro-
gram are provided to recovering service members at— 
(A) appropriate military installations; 
(B) appropriate armories and military family support 
centers of the National Guard; 
(C) appropriate military medical care facilities at which 
members of the Armed Forces are separated or discharged 
from the Armed Forces; and 
(D) in the case of a member on the temporary disability 
retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United 
States Code, who is being retired under another provision 
of such title or is being discharged, at a location reasonably 
convenient to the member. 
SEC. 1615. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORT ON POLICY.—Upon the development of the policy 
required by subsection (a) of section 1611 but not later than July
H. R. 4986—445 
1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the policy, including a comprehensive and detailed 
description of the policy and of the manner in which the policy 
addresses the detailed elements of the policy specified in subsections 
(d) through (h) of section 1611, and the findings and recommenda-
tions of the reviews under subsections (b) and (c) of section 1611. 
(b) INTERIM REPORT ON POLICY.—Not later than February 1, 
2008, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
an interim report on the policy, which shall include a comprehensive 
and detailed description of the matters specified in subsection (a) 
current as of the date of such interim report. 
(c) REPORT ON UPDATE OF POLICY.—Upon updating the policy 
under section 1611(a)(4), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report on the update of the policy, including 
a comprehensive and detailed description of such update and of 
the reasons for such update. 
(d) COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION 
OF POLICY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than six months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and every year thereafter through 
2010, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report setting 
forth the assessment of the Comptroller General of the progress 
of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs in developing and implementing the policy required 
by section 1611(a). Each report shall include a certification 
by the Comptroller General as to whether the Comptroller 
General has had timely access to sufficient information to 
enable the Comptroller General to make informed judgments 
on the matters covered by the report. 
(2) ACCESS INFORMATION.—The Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall facilitate the ability 
of the Comptroller General to conduct any review required 
for a report under this subsection within the time period 
required for such report, including prompt and complete access 
to such information as the Comptroller General considers nec-
essary to perform such review. 
(e) REPORT
ON REDUCTION
IN DISABILITY RATINGS
BY
THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Not later than February 1, 2009, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on 
the number of instances during the period beginning on October 
7, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2006, in which a disability 
rating assigned to a member of the Armed Forces by an informal 
physical evaluation board of the Department of Defense was reduced 
upon appeal, and the reasons for such reduction. 
SEC. 1616. ESTABLISHMENT OF A WOUNDED WARRIOR RESOURCE 
CENTER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
a wounded warrior resource center (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘center’’) to provide wounded warriors, their families, and 
their primary caregivers with a single point of contact for assistance 
with reporting deficiencies in covered military facilities, obtaining
H. R. 4986—446 
health care services, receiving benefits information, and any other 
difficulties encountered while supporting wounded warriors. The 
Secretary shall widely disseminate information regarding the exist-
ence and availability of the center, including contact information, 
to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents. In carrying 
out this subsection, the Secretary may use existing infrastructure 
and organizations but shall ensure that the center has the ability 
to separately keep track of calls from wounded warriors. 
(b) ACCESS.—The center shall provide multiple methods of 
access, including at a minimum an Internet website and a toll- 
free telephone number (commonly referred to as a ‘‘hot line’’) at 
which personnel are accessible at all times to receive reports of 
deficiencies or provide information about covered military facilities, 
health care services, or military benefits. 
(c) CONFIDENTIALITY.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—Individuals who seek to provide 
information through the center under subsection (a) shall be 
notified, immediately before they provide such information, of 
their option to elect, at their discretion, to have their identity 
remain confidential. 
(2) PROHIBITION ON FURTHER DISCLOSURE.—In the case of 
information provided through use of the toll-free telephone 
number by an individual who elects to maintain the confiden-
tiality of his or her identity, any individual who, by necessity, 
has had access to such information for purposes of investigating 
or responding to the call as required under subsection (d) 
may not disclose the identity of the individual who provided 
the information. 
(d) FUNCTIONS.—The center shall perform the following func-
tions: 
(1) CALL TRACKING.—The center shall be responsible for 
documenting receipt of a call, referring the call to the appro-
priate office within a military department for answer or inves-
tigation, and tracking the formulation and notification of the 
response to the call. 
(2) INVESTIGATION
AND
RESPONSE.—The center shall be 
responsible for ensuring that, not later than 96 hours after 
a call— 
(A) if a report of deficiencies is received in a call— 
(i) any deficiencies referred to in the call are inves-
tigated; 
(ii) if substantiated, a plan of action for remedi-
ation of the deficiencies is developed and implemented; 
and 
(iii) if requested, the individual who made the 
report is notified of the current status of the report; 
or 
(B) if a request for information is received in a call— 
(i) the information requested by the caller is pro-
vided by the center; 
(ii) all requests for information from the call are 
referred to the appropriate office or offices of a military 
department for response; and 
(iii) the individual who made the report is notified, 
at a minimum, of the current status of the query. 
(3) FINAL NOTIFICATION.—The center shall be responsible 
for ensuring that, if requested, the caller is notified when
H. R. 4986—447 
the deficiency has been corrected or when the request for 
information has been fulfilled to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, as determined by the Secretary. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED MILITARY FACILITY.—The term ‘‘covered mili-
tary facility’’ has the meaning provided in section 1648(b) of 
this Act. 
(2) CALL.—The term ‘‘call’’ means any query or report that 
is received by the center by means of the toll-free telephone 
number or other source. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) TOLL-FREE
TELEPHONE
NUMBER.—The toll-free tele-
phone number required to be established by subsection (a), 
shall be fully operational not later than April 1, 2008. 
(2) INTERNET WEBSITE.—The Internet website required to 
be established by subsection (a), shall be fully operational not 
later than July 1, 2008. 
SEC. 1617. NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF HOSPITALIZATION OF 
COMBAT WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS. 
(a) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United States 
Code, is further amended by inserting after section 1074k the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 1074l. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat 
wounded members 
‘‘(a) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary concerned shall 
provide notification of the hospitalization of any member of the 
armed forces evacuated from a theater of combat and admitted 
to a military treatment facility within the United States to the 
appropriate Members of Congress. 
‘‘(b) APPROPRIATE MEMBERS.—In this section, the term ‘appro-
priate Members of Congress’, with respect to the member of the 
armed forces about whom notification is being made, means the 
Senators representing the State, and the Member, Delegate, or 
Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives rep-
resenting the district, that includes the member’s home of record 
or a different location as provided by the member. 
‘‘(c) CONSENT OF MEMBER REQUIRED.—The notification under 
subsection (a) may be provided only with the consent of the member 
of the armed forces about whom notification is to be made. In 
the case of a member who is unable to provide consent, information 
and consent may be provided by next of kin.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The notification requirement under 
section 1074l(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
paragraph (1), shall apply beginning 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item: 
‘‘1074l. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded members.’’.