1123 
(A) The address and contact information 
of the service member. 
(B) The DD–214 discharge form of the 
service member, which shall be transmitted 
under such procedures electronically. 
(C) A copy of the military service record of 
the service member, including medical records 
and any results of a physical evaluation board. 
(D) Information on whether the service 
member is entitled to transitional health care, a 
conversion health policy, or other health bene-
fits through the Department of Defense under 
section 1145 of title 10, United States Code. 
(E) A copy of any request of the service 
member for assistance in enrolling in, or com-
pleted applications for enrollment in, the health 
care system of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs for health care benefits for which the serv-
ice member may be eligible under laws adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(F) A copy of any request by the service 
member for assistance in applying for, or com-
pleted applications for, compensation and voca-
tional rehabilitation benefits to which the serv-
1124 
ice member may be entitled under laws admin-
istered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(11) A process to ensure that, before trans-
mittal of medical records of a recovering service 
member to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
Secretary of Defense ensures that the service mem-
ber (or an individual legally recognized to make 
medical decisions on behalf of the service member) 
authorizes the transfer of the medical records of the 
service member from the Department of Defense to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
of 1996. 
(12) Procedures to ensure that, with the con-
sent of the recovering service member concerned, the 
address and contact information of the service mem-
ber is transmitted to the department or agency for 
veterans affairs of the State in which the service 
member intends to reside after the retirement or 
separation of the service member from the Armed 
Forces. 
(13) Procedures to ensure that, before the 
transmittal of records and other information with re-
spect to a recovering service member under this sec-
tion, a meeting regarding the transmittal of such
1125 
records and other information occurs among the 
service member, appropriate family members of the 
service member, representatives of the Secretary of 
the military department concerned, and representa-
tives of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with at 
least 30 days advance notice of the meeting being 
given to the service member unless the service mem-
ber 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 De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to the military health 
records of recovering service members who are re-
ceiving care and treatment, or are anticipating re-
ceipt of care and treatment, in Department of Vet-
erans Affairs health care facilities, which procedures 
shall be consistent with the procedures and require-
ments in paragraphs (11) and (13). 
(16) A process for the utilization of a joint sep-
aration and evaluation physical examination that
1126 
meets the requirements 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 mecha-
nisms 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 fa-
cilitate appropriate oversight by supervisory per-
sonnel 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 en-
sure that, to the maximum extent feasible, services 
under the Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program 
are provided to recovering service members at— 
(A) appropriate military installations; 
(B) appropriate armories and military fam-
ily support centers of the National Guard; 
(C) appropriate military medical care fa-
cilities at which members of the Armed Forces
1129 
formed judgments on the matters covered by the re-
port. 
(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 con-
siders necessary 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 in-
stances 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 RE-
SOURCE CENTER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a wounded warrior resource center (in this
1130 
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 defi-
ciencies in covered military facilities, obtaining health care 
services, receiving benefits information, and any other dif-
ficulties encountered while supporting wounded warriors. 
The Secretary shall widely disseminate information re-
garding the existence and availability of the center, includ-
ing contact information, to members of the Armed Forces 
and their dependents. In carrying out this subsection, the 
Secretary may use existing infrastructure and organiza-
tions 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 meth-
ods 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 informa-
tion about covered military facilities, health care services, 
or military benefits. 
(c) CONFIDENTIALITY.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—Individuals who seek to 
provide information through the center under sub-
section (a) shall be notified, immediately before they 
provide such information, of their option to elect, at
1131 
their discretion, to have their identity remain con-
fidential. 
(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 confidentiality of his or her 
identity, any individual who, by necessity, has had 
access to such information for purposes of inves-
tigating 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 fol-
lowing functions: 
(1) CALL TRACKING.—The center shall be re-
sponsible for documenting receipt of a call, referring 
the call to the appropriate office within a military 
department for answer or investigation, and tracking 
the formulation and notification of the response to 
the call. 
(2) INVESTIGATION AND RESPONSE.—The cen-
ter 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—
1132 
(i) any deficiencies referred to in the 
call are investigated; 
(ii) if substantiated, a plan of action 
for remediation of the deficiencies is devel-
oped 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 provided by the center; 
(ii) all requests for information from 
the call are referred to the appropriate of-
fice or offices of a military department for 
response; and 
(iii) the individual who made the re-
port is notified, at a minimum, of the cur-
rent status of the query. 
(3) FINAL NOTIFICATION.—The center shall be 
responsible for ensuring that, if requested, the caller 
is notified when the deficiency has been corrected or 
when the request for information has been fulfilled 
to the maximum extent practicable, as determined 
by the Secretary.
1133 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED MILITARY FACILITY.—The term 
‘‘covered military 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 telephone 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 HOSPITALIZA-
TION OF COMBAT WOUNDED SERVICE MEM-
BERS. 
(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:
1135 
beginning 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1074l. Notification to Congress of hospitalization of combat wounded mem-
bers.’’. 
SEC. 1618. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON PREVENTION, DIAG-
NOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND REHA-
BILITATION OF, AND RESEARCH ON, TRAU-
MATIC 
BRAIN 
INJURY, 
POST-TRAUMATIC 
STRESS DISORDER, AND OTHER MENTAL 
HEALTH CONDITIONS IN MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF POLICY.—The 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall direct joint planning among the Department of 
Defense, the military departments, and the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for the prevention, diagnosis, mitiga-
tion, treatment, and rehabilitation of, and research on, 
traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
other mental health conditions in members of the Armed 
Forces, including planning for the seamless transition of 
such members from care through the Department of De-
fense to care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1136 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, submit to the congressional 
defense committees a comprehensive plan for programs 
and activities of the Department of Defense to prevent, 
diagnose, mitigate, treat, research, and otherwise respond 
to traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, 
and other mental health conditions in members of the 
Armed Forces, including— 
(1) an assessment of the current capabilities of 
the Department for the prevention, diagnosis, miti-
gation, treatment, and rehabilitation of, and re-
search on, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic 
stress disorder, and other mental health conditions 
in members of the Armed Forces; 
(2) the identification of gaps in current capa-
bilities of the Department for the prevention, diag-
nosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of, 
and research on, traumatic brain injury, post-trau-
matic stress disorder, and other mental health condi-
tions in members of the Armed Forces; and 
(3) the identification of the resources required 
for the Department in fiscal years 2009 through
1137 
2013 to address the gaps in capabilities identified 
under paragraph (2). 
(c) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—One of the programs con-
tained in the comprehensive plan submitted under sub-
section (b) shall be a Department of Defense program, de-
veloped in collaboration with the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, under which each member of the Armed Forces 
who incurs a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic 
stress disorder during service in the Armed Forces— 
(1) is enrolled in the program; and 
(2) receives treatment and rehabilitation meet-
ing a standard of care such that each individual who 
qualifies for care under the program shall— 
(A) be provided the highest quality, evi-
dence-based care in facilities that most appro-
priately meet the specific needs of the indi-
vidual; and 
(B) be rehabilitated to the fullest extent 
possible using up-to-date evidence-based med-
ical technology, and physical and medical reha-
bilitation practices and expertise. 
(d) PROVISION OF INFORMATION REQUIRED.—The 
comprehensive plan submitted under subsection (b) shall 
require the provision of information by the Secretary of 
Defense to members of the Armed Forces with traumatic
1138 
brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other men-
tal health conditions and their families about their options 
with respect to the following: 
(1) The receipt of medical and mental health 
care from the Department of Defense and the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) Additional options available to such mem-
bers for treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic 
brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
other mental health conditions. 
(3) The options available, including obtaining a 
second opinion, to such members for a referral to an 
authorized provider under chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, as determined under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 
(e) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The com-
prehensive plan submitted under subsection (b) shall in-
clude comprehensive proposals of the Department on the 
following: 
(1) LEAD AGENT.—The designation by the Sec-
retary of Defense of a lead agent or executive agent 
for the Department to coordinate development and 
implementation of the plan. 
(2) DETECTION
AND
TREATMENT.—The im-
provement of methods and mechanisms for the de-
1139 
tection and treatment of traumatic brain injury, 
post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental 
health conditions in members of the Armed Forces 
in the field. 
(3) REDUCTION OF PTSD.—The development of 
a plan for reducing post traumatic-stress disorder, 
incorporating evidence-based preventive and early- 
intervention measures, practices, or procedures that 
reduce the likelihood that personnel in combat will 
develop post-traumatic stress disorder or other 
stress-related conditions (including substance abuse 
conditions) into— 
(A) basic and pre-deployment training for 
enlisted members of the Armed Forces, non-
commissioned officers, and officers; 
(B) combat theater operations; and 
(C) post-deployment service. 
(4) RESEARCH.—Requirements for research on 
traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress dis-
order, and other mental health conditions including 
(in particular) research on pharmacological and 
other approaches to treatment for traumatic brain 
injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other men-
tal health conditions, as applicable, and the alloca-
tion of priorities among such research.
1140 
(5) DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA.—The development, 
adoption, and deployment of joint Department of 
Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs evidence- 
based diagnostic criteria for the detection and eval-
uation of the range of traumatic brain injury, post- 
traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health 
conditions in members of the Armed Forces, which 
criteria shall be employed uniformly across the mili-
tary departments in all applicable circumstances, in-
cluding provision of clinical care and assessment of 
future deployability of members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(6) ASSESSMENT.—The development and de-
ployment of evidence-based means of assessing trau-
matic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, 
and other mental health conditions in members of 
the Armed Forces, including a system of pre-deploy-
ment and post-deployment screenings of cognitive 
ability in members for the detection of cognitive im-
pairment. 
(7) MANAGING AND MONITORING.—The devel-
opment and deployment of effective means of man-
aging and monitoring members of the Armed Forces 
with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress 
disorder, or other mental health conditions in the re-
1141 
ceipt of care for traumatic brain injury, post-trau-
matic stress disorder, or other mental health condi-
tions, as applicable, including the monitoring and as-
sessment of treatment and outcomes. 
(8) EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.—The devel-
opment and deployment of an education and aware-
ness training initiative designed to reduce the nega-
tive stigma associated with traumatic brain injury, 
post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental 
health conditions, and mental health treatment. 
(9) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—The provi-
sion of education and outreach to families of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain in-
jury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental 
health conditions on a range of matters relating to 
traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress dis-
order, or other mental health conditions, as applica-
ble, including detection, mitigation, and treatment. 
(10) RECORDING OF BLASTS.—A requirement 
that exposure to a blast or blasts be recorded in the 
records of members of the Armed Forces. 
(11) GUIDELINES FOR BLAST INJURIES.—The 
development of clinical practice guidelines for the di-
agnosis and treatment of blast injuries in members
1143 
Subtitle B—Centers of Excellence 
in the Prevention, Diagnosis, 
Mitigation, Treatment, and Re-
habilitation of Traumatic Brain 
Injury, 
Post-Traumatic 
Stress 
Disorder, and Eye Injuries 
SEC. 1621. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN THE PREVENTION, 
DIAGNOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND 
REHABILITATION OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN IN-
JURY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish within the Department of Defense a center of ex-
cellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treat-
ment, and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury, includ-
ing mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury, to 
carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the Center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions of 
higher education, and other appropriate public and private 
entities (including international entities) to carry out the 
responsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall have re-
sponsibilities as follows:
1144 
(1) To implement the comprehensive plan and 
strategy for the Department of Defense, required by 
section 1618 of this Act, for the prevention, diag-
nosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of 
traumatic brain injury, including research on gender 
and ethnic group-specific health needs related to 
traumatic brain injury. 
(2) To provide for the development, testing, and 
dissemination within the Department of best prac-
tices for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. 
(3) To provide guidance for the mental health 
system of the Department in determining the mental 
health and neurological health personnel required to 
provide quality mental health care for members of 
the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury. 
(4) To establish, implement, and oversee a com-
prehensive program to train mental health and neu-
rological health professionals of the Department in 
the treatment of traumatic brain injury. 
(5) To facilitate advancements in the study of 
the short-term and long-term psychological effects of 
traumatic brain injury. 
(6) To disseminate within the military medical 
treatment facilities of the Department best practices 
for training mental health professionals, including
1145 
neurological health professionals, with respect to 
traumatic brain injury. 
(7) To conduct basic science and translational 
research on traumatic brain injury for the purposes 
of understanding the etiology of traumatic brain in-
jury and developing preventive interventions and new 
treatments. 
(8) To develop programs and outreach strate-
gies for families of members of the Armed Forces 
with traumatic brain injury in order to mitigate the 
negative impacts of traumatic brain injury on such 
family members and to support the recovery of such 
members from traumatic brain injury. 
(9) To conduct research on the mental health 
needs of families of members of the Armed Forces 
with traumatic brain injury and develop protocols to 
address any needs identified through such research. 
(10) To conduct longitudinal studies (using im-
aging technology and other proven research meth-
ods) on members of the Armed Forces with trau-
matic brain injury to identify early signs of Alz-
heimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other mani-
festations of neurodegeneration, as well as epilepsy, 
in such members, in coordination with the studies 
authorized by section 721 of the John Warner Na-
1146 
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2294) and 
other studies of the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs that address the 
connection between exposure to combat and the de-
velopment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s dis-
ease, and other neurodegenerative disorders, as well 
as epilepsy. 
(11) To develop and oversee a long-term plan to 
increase the number of mental health and neuro-
logical health professionals within the Department in 
order to facilitate the meeting by the Department of 
the needs of members of the Armed Forces with 
traumatic brain injury until their transition to care 
and treatment from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(12) To develop a program on comprehensive 
pain management, including management of acute 
and chronic pain, to utilize current and develop new 
treatments for pain, and to identify and disseminate 
best practices on pain management related to trau-
matic brain injury. 
(13) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary 
shall specify.
1147 
SEC. 1622. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PREVENTION, DIAG-
NOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND REHA-
BILITATION 
OF 
POST-TRAUMATIC 
STRESS 
DISORDER AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH 
CONDITIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish within the Department of Defense a center of ex-
cellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treat-
ment, and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder 
(PTSD) and other mental health conditions, including 
mild, moderate, and severe post-traumatic stress disorder 
and other mental health conditions, to carry out the re-
sponsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable 
with the National Center on Post-Traumatic Stress Dis-
order of the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions 
of higher education, and other appropriate public and pri-
vate entities (including international entities) to carry out 
the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The center shall have re-
sponsibilities as follows: 
(1) To implement the comprehensive plan and 
strategy for the Department of Defense, required by 
section 1618 of this Act, for the prevention, diag-
nosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of
1148 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions, including research on gender- and 
ethnic group-specific health needs related to post- 
traumatic stress disorder and other mental health 
conditions. 
(2) To provide for the development, testing, and 
dissemination within the Department of best prac-
tices for the treatment of post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
(3) To provide guidance for the mental health 
system of the Department in determining the mental 
health and neurological health personnel required to 
provide quality mental health care for members of 
the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress dis-
order and other mental health conditions. 
(4) To establish, implement, and oversee a com-
prehensive program to train mental health and neu-
rological health professionals of the Department in 
the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and 
other mental health conditions. 
(5) To facilitate advancements in the study of 
the short-term and long-term psychological effects of 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions.
1149 
(6) To disseminate within the military medical 
treatment facilities of the Department best practices 
for training mental health professionals, including 
neurological health professionals, with respect to 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions. 
(7) To conduct basic science and translational 
research on post-traumatic stress disorder for the 
purposes of understanding the etiology of post-trau-
matic stress disorder and developing preventive 
interventions and new treatments. 
(8) To develop programs and outreach strate-
gies for families of members of the Armed Forces 
with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions in order to mitigate the negative 
impacts of post-traumatic stress disorder and other 
mental health conditions on such family members 
and to support the recovery of such members from 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions. 
(9) To conduct research on the mental health 
needs of families of members of the Armed Forces 
with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions and develop protocols to address 
any needs identified through such research.
1150 
(10) To develop and oversee a long-term plan to 
increase the number of mental health and neuro-
logical health professionals within the Department in 
order to facilitate the meeting by the Department of 
the needs of members of the Armed Forces with 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions until their transition to care and 
treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 1623. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PREVENTION, DIAG-
NOSIS, MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND REHA-
BILITATION OF MILITARY EYE INJURIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish within the Department of Defense a center of ex-
cellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treat-
ment, and rehabilitation of military eye injuries to carry 
out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable 
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, institutions of 
higher education, and other appropriate public and private 
entities (including international entities) to carry out the 
responsibilities specified in subsection (c). 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The center shall—
1151 
(A) implement a comprehensive plan and 
strategy for the Department of Defense, as de-
veloped by the Secretary of Defense, for a reg-
istry of information for the tracking of the di-
agnosis, surgical intervention or other operative 
procedure, other treatment, and follow up for 
each case of significant eye injury incurred by 
a member of the Armed Forces while serving on 
active duty; 
(B) ensure the electronic exchange with 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of information 
obtained through tracking under subparagraph 
(A); and 
(C) enable the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs to access the registry and add information 
pertaining to additional treatments or surgical 
procedures and eventual visual outcomes for 
veterans who were entered into the registry and 
subsequently received treatment through the 
Veterans Health Administration. 
(2) DESIGNATION OF REGISTRY.—The registry 
under this subsection shall be known as the ‘‘Mili-
tary Eye Injury Registry’’ (hereinafter referred to as 
the ‘‘Registry’’).
1152 
(3) CONSULTATION
IN
DEVELOPMENT.—The 
center shall develop the Registry in consultation with 
the ophthalmological specialist personnel and opto-
metric specialist personnel of the Department of De-
fense and the ophthalmological specialist personnel 
and optometric specialist personnel of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. The mechanisms and pro-
cedures of the Registry shall reflect applicable expert 
research on military and other eye injuries. 
(4) MECHANISMS.—The mechanisms of the 
Registry for tracking under paragraph (1)(A) shall 
ensure that each military medical treatment facility 
or other medical facility shall submit to the center 
for inclusion in the Registry information on the di-
agnosis, surgical intervention or other operative pro-
cedure, other treatment, and follow up for each case 
of eye injury described in that paragraph as follows 
(to the extent applicable): 
(A) Not later than 30 days after surgery 
or other operative intervention, including a sur-
gery or other operative intervention carried out 
as a result of a follow-up examination. 
(B) Not later than 180 days after the sig-
nificant eye injury is reported or recorded in 
the medical record.
1153 
(5) COORDINATION OF CARE AND BENEFITS.— 
(A) The center shall provide notice to the Blind Re-
habilitation Service of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and to the eye care services of the Veterans 
Health Administration on each member of the 
Armed Forces described in subparagraph (B) for 
purposes of ensuring the coordination of the provi-
sion of ongoing eye care and visual rehabilitation 
benefits and services by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs after the separation or release of such mem-
ber from the Armed Forces. 
(B) A member of the Armed Forces described 
in this subparagraph is a member of the Armed 
Forces as follows: 
(i) A member with a significant eye injury 
incurred while serving on active duty, including 
a member with visual dysfunction related to 
traumatic brain injury. 
(ii) A member with an eye injury incurred 
while serving on active duty who has a visual 
acuity of 20/200 or less in the injured eye. 
(iii) A member with an eye injury incurred 
while serving on active duty who has a loss of 
peripheral vision resulting in 20 degrees or less 
of visual field in the injured eye.
1154 
(d) UTILIZATION OF REGISTRY INFORMATION.—The 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall jointly ensure that information in the Registry 
is available to appropriate ophthalmological and opto-
metric personnel of the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of encour-
aging and facilitating the conduct of research, and the de-
velopment of best practices and clinical education, on eye 
injuries incurred by members of the Armed Forces in com-
bat. 
(e) INCLUSION
OF RECORDS
OF OIF/OEF VET-
ERANS.—The Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate 
actions to include in the Registry such records of members 
of the Armed Forces who incurred an eye injury while 
serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, 
but before the establishment of the Registry, as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate for purposes of the Registry. 
(f) TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY POST TRAUMATIC 
VISUAL SYNDROME.—In carrying out the program at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia, 
on traumatic brain injury post traumatic visual syndrome, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs shall jointly provide for the conduct of a coopera-
tive program for members of the Armed Forces and vet-
erans with traumatic brain injury by military medical
1155 
treatment facilities of the Department of Defense and 
medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs se-
lected for purposes of this subsection for purposes of vi-
sion screening, diagnosis, rehabilitative management, and 
vision research, including research on prevention, on visual 
dysfunction related to traumatic brain injury. 
SEC. 1624. REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS OF 
EXCELLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to Congress a report on— 
(1) the establishment of the center of excellence 
in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury under sec-
tion 1621; 
(2) the establishment of the center of excellence 
in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder and 
other mental health conditions under section 1622; 
and 
(3) the establishment of the center of excellence 
in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of military eye injuries under section 
1623.
1156 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The report shall, for each 
such center— 
(1) describe in detail the activities and proposed 
activities of such center; and 
(2) assess the progress of such center in dis-
charging the responsibilities of such center. 
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. 
(a) MEDICAL
AND DENTAL CARE
FOR FORMER 
MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act and subject to regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary may authorize that any former member of the 
Armed Forces with a serious injury or illness may 
receive the same medical and dental care as a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces on active duty for medical 
and dental care not reasonably available to such 
former member in the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
(2) SUNSET.—The Secretary of Defense may 
not provide medical or dental care to a former mem-
1157 
ber of the Armed Forces under this subsection after 
December 31, 2012, if the Secretary has not pro-
vided medical or dental care to the former member 
under this subsection before that date. 
(b) REHABILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act, a member of the Armed 
Forces with a severe injury or illness is entitled to 
such benefits (including rehabilitation and vocational 
benefits, but not including compensation) from the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to facilitate the recov-
ery and rehabilitation of such member as the Sec-
retary otherwise provides to veterans of the Armed 
Forces receiving medical care in medical facilities of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in 
order to facilitate the recovery and rehabilitation of 
such members. 
(2) SUNSET.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs may not provide benefits to a member of the 
Armed Forces under this subsection after December 
31, 2012, if the Secretary has not provided benefits 
to the member under this subsection before that 
date.
1158 
SEC. 1632. REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES OF RE-
TIRED MEMBERS WITH COMBAT-RELATED 
DISABILITIES FOR FOLLOW-ON SPECIALTY 
CARE, SERVICES, AND SUPPLIES. 
(a) TRAVEL.—Section 1074i of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) OUTREACH
PROGRAM
AND
TRAVEL
REIM-
BURSEMENT FOR FOLLOW-ON SPECIALTY CARE AND RE-
LATED SERVICES.—The Secretary concerned shall ensure 
that an outreach program is implemented for each mem-
ber of the uniformed services who incurred a combat-re-
lated disability and is entitled to retired or retainer pay, 
or equivalent pay, so that— 
‘‘(1) the progress of the member is closely mon-
itored; and 
‘‘(2) the member receives the travel reimburse-
ment authorized by subsection (a) whenever the 
member requires follow-on specialty care, services, or 
supplies.’’. 
(b) COMBAT-RELATED DISABILITY DEFINED.—Sub-
section (c) of such section, as redesignated by subsection
1159 
(a)(1), is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘combat-related disability’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 1413a of this 
title.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (b) of section 
1074i of title 10, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a)(2), shall apply with respect to travel described 
in subsection (a) of such section that occurs on or after 
January 1, 2008, for follow-on specialty care, services, or 
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. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1074(c) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4)(A) Subject to such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, coverage com-
parable to that provided by the Secretary under sub-
sections (d) and (e) of section 1079 of this title shall be 
provided under this subsection to members of the uni-
formed services who incur a serious injury or illness on
1160 
active duty as defined by regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in reg-
ulations— 
‘‘(i) the individuals who shall be treated as the 
primary caregivers of a member of the uniformed 
services for purposes of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(ii) the definition of serious injury or illness 
for the purposes of this paragraph.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2008. 
SEC. 1634. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
describing the progress in implementing the requirements 
as follows: 
(1) The requirements of section 721 of the 
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 
Stat. 2294), relating to a longitudinal study on trau-
matic brain injury incurred by members of the 
Armed Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Op-
eration Enduring Freedom.
1161 
(2) The requirements of section 741 of the 
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2007 (120 Stat. 2304), relating to 
pilot projects on early diagnosis and treatment of 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS ON EXPENDITURES FOR AC-
TIVITIES ON TBI AND PTSD.— 
(1) REPORTS
REQUIRED.—Not later than 
March 1, 2008, and each year thereafter through 
2013, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report setting 
forth the amounts expended by the Department of 
Defense during the preceding calendar year on ac-
tivities described in paragraph (2), including the 
amount allocated during such calendar year to the 
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center of the 
Department. 
(2) COVERED
ACTIVITIES.—The activities de-
scribed in this paragraph are activities as follows: 
(A) Activities relating to the improved di-
agnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain 
injury (TBI).
1162 
(B) Activities relating to the improved di-
agnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic 
stress disorder (PTSD). 
(3) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
(A) a description of the amounts expended 
as described in that paragraph, including a de-
scription of the activities for which expended; 
(B) a description and assessment of the 
outcome of such activities; 
(C) a statement of priorities of the Depart-
ment in activities relating to the prevention, di-
agnosis, research, treatment, and rehabilitation 
of traumatic brain injury in members of the 
Armed Forces during the year in which such re-
port is submitted and in future calendar years; 
(D) a statement of priorities of the De-
partment in activities relating to the prevention, 
diagnosis, research, treatment, and rehabilita-
tion of post-traumatic stress disorder and other 
mental health conditions in members of the 
Armed Forces during the year in which such re-
port is submitted and in future calendar years; 
and
1163 
(E) an assessment of the progress made 
toward achieving the priorities stated in sub-
paragraphs (C) and (D) in the report under 
paragraph (1) in the previous year, and a de-
scription of any actions planned during the year 
in which such report is submitted to achieve 
any unfulfilled priorities during such year. 
SEC. 1635. FULLY INTEROPERABLE ELECTRONIC PER-
SONAL HEALTH INFORMATION FOR THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly— 
(1) develop and implement electronic health 
record systems or capabilities that allow for full 
interoperability of personal health care information 
between the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs; and 
(2) accelerate the exchange of health care infor-
mation between the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in order to support 
the delivery of health care by both Departments. 
(b) DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT
OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE.—
1164 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is hereby established 
an interagency program office of the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’) for the pur-
poses described in paragraph (2). 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Office 
shall be as follows: 
(A) To act as a single point of account-
ability for the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in the rapid de-
velopment and implementation of electronic 
health record systems or capabilities that allow 
for full interoperability of personal health care 
information between the Department of Defense 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(B) To accelerate the exchange of health 
care information between the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs in order to support the delivery of health 
care by both Departments. 
(c) LEADERSHIP.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Office 
shall be the head of the Office. 
(2) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—The Deputy Director 
of the Office shall be the deputy head of the Office
1165 
and shall assist the Director in carrying out the du-
ties of the Director. 
(3) APPOINTMENTS.—(A) The Director shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense, with the con-
currence of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, from 
among persons who are qualified to direct the devel-
opment, acquisition, and integration of major infor-
mation technology capabilities. 
(B) The Deputy Director shall be appointed by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with the concur-
rence of the Secretary of Defense, from among em-
ployees of the Department of Defense and the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs in the Senior Execu-
tive Service who are qualified to direct the develop-
ment, acquisition, and integration of major informa-
tion technology capabilities. 
(4) ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.—In addition to the 
direction, supervision, and control provided by the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, the Office shall also receive guidance from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of 
Defense Joint Executive Committee under section 
320 of title 38, United States Code, in the discharge 
of the functions of the Office under this section.
1166 
(5) TESTIMONY.—Upon request by any of the 
appropriate committees of Congress, the Director 
and the Deputy Director shall testify before such 
committee regarding the discharge of the functions 
of the Office under this section. 
(d) FUNCTION.—The function of the Office shall be 
to implement, by not later than September 30, 2009, elec-
tronic health record systems or capabilities that allow for 
full interoperability of personal health care information be-
tween the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, which health records shall comply with 
applicable interoperability standards, implementation 
specifications, and certification criteria (including for the 
reporting of quality measures) of the Federal Government. 
(e) SCHEDULES AND BENCHMARKS.—Not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall jointly establish a schedule and benchmarks for 
the discharge by the Office of its function under this sec-
tion, including each of the following: 
(1) A schedule for the establishment of the Of-
fice. 
(2) A schedule and deadline for the establish-
ment of the requirements for electronic health record 
systems or capabilities described in subsection (d),
1167 
including coordination with the Office of the Na-
tional Coordinator for Health Information Tech-
nology in the development of a nationwide interoper-
able health information technology infrastructure. 
(3) A schedule and associated deadlines for any 
acquisition and testing required in the implementa-
tion of electronic health record systems or capabili-
ties that allow for full interoperability of personal 
health care information between the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(4) A schedule and associated deadlines and re-
quirements for the implementation of electronic 
health record systems or capabilities that allow for 
full interoperability of personal health care informa-
tion between the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(f) PILOT PROJECTS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—In order to assist the Office 
in the discharge of its function under this section, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs may, acting jointly, carry out one or 
more pilot projects to assess the feasibility and ad-
visability of various technological approaches to the 
achievement of the electronic health record systems 
or capabilities described in subsection (d).
1168 
(2) SHARING OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFOR-
MATION.—For purposes of each pilot project carried 
out under this subsection, the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, for pur-
poses of the regulations promulgated under section 
264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Ac-
countability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note), 
ensure the effective sharing of protected health in-
formation between the health care system of the De-
partment of Defense and the health care system of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs as needed to 
provide all health care services and other benefits al-
lowed by law. 
(g) STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assign to 
the Office such personnel and other resources of the 
Department of Defense and the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs as are required for the discharge of its 
function under this section. 
(2) ADDITIONAL SERVICES.—Subject to the ap-
proval of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, the Director may utilize the 
services of private individuals and entities as con-
sultants to the Office in the discharge of its function
1169 
under this section. Amounts available to the Office 
shall be available for payment for such services. 
(h) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 
2009, and each year thereafter through 2014, the 
Director shall submit to the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and to the 
appropriate committees of Congress, a report on the 
activities of the Office during the preceding calendar 
year. Each report shall include, for the year covered 
by such report, the following: 
(A) A detailed description of the activities 
of the Office, including a detailed description of 
the amounts expended and the purposes for 
which expended. 
(B) An assessment of the progress made 
by the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs in the full implemen-
tation of electronic health record systems or ca-
pabilities described in subsection (d). 
(2) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall make available to the public each report sub-
mitted under paragraph (1), including by posting 
such report on the Internet website of the Depart-
1170 
ment of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, respectively, that is available to the public. 
(i) COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF IM-
PLEMENTATION.—Not later than six months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and every six months 
thereafter until the completion of the implementation of 
electronic health record systems or capabilities described 
in subsection (d), the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report setting forth the assessment of the Comp-
troller General of the progress of the Department of De-
fense and the Department of Veterans Affairs in imple-
menting electronic health record systems or capabilities 
described in subsection (d). 
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. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1599c of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
1171 
‘‘§ 1599c. Health care professionals: enhanced ap-
pointment and compensation authority 
for personnel for care and treatment of 
wounded and injured members of the 
armed forces 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may, 
at the discretion of the Secretary, exercise any authority 
for the appointment and pay of health care personnel 
under chapter 74 of title 38 for purposes of the recruit-
ment, employment, and retention of civilian health care 
professionals for the Department of Defense if the Sec-
retary determines that the exercise of such authority is 
necessary in order to provide or enhance the capacity of 
the Department to provide care and treatment for mem-
bers of the armed forces who are wounded or injured on 
active duty in the armed forces and to support the ongoing 
patient care and medical readiness, education, and train-
ing requirements of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(b) RECRUITMENT OF PERSONNEL.—(1) The Secre-
taries of the military departments shall each develop and 
implement a strategy to disseminate among appropriate 
personnel of the military departments authorities and best 
practices for the recruitment of medical and health profes-
sionals, including the authorities under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) Each strategy under paragraph (1) shall—
1172 
‘‘(A) assess current recruitment policies, proce-
dures, and practices of the military department con-
cerned to assure that such strategy facilitates the 
implementation of efficiencies which reduce the time 
required to fill vacant positions for medical and 
health professionals; and 
‘‘(B) clearly identify processes and actions that 
will be used to inform and educate military and civil-
ian personnel responsible for the recruitment of 
medical and health professionals. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority 
of the Secretary of Defense to exercise authorities avail-
able under chapter 74 of title 38 for purposes of the re-
cruitment, employment, and retention of civilian health 
care professionals for the Department of Defense expires 
September 30, 2010.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 81 of such title is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 1599c and insert-
ing the following new item: 
‘‘1599c. Health care professionals: enhanced appointment and compensation au-
thority for personnel for care and treatment of wounded and 
injured members of the armed forces.’’. 
(c) REPORTS ON STRATEGIES ON RECRUITMENT OF 
MEDICAL AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.—Not later than 
six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
each Secretary of a military department shall submit to
1173 
the congressional defense committees a report setting 
forth the strategy developed by such Secretary under sec-
tion 1599c(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a). 
SEC. 1637. CONTINUATION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH BEN-
EFITS 
FOR 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED 
FORCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF SERVICE- 
RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS. 
Section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Transitional 
health care’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
paragraph (6), transitional health care’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6)(A) A member who has a medical condition relat-
ing to service on active duty that warrants further medical 
care that has been identified during the member’s 180- 
day transition period, which condition can be resolved 
within 180 days as determined by a Department of De-
fense physician, shall be entitled to receive medical and 
dental care for that medical condition, and that medical 
condition only, as if the member were a member of the 
armed forces on active duty for 180 days following the 
diagnosis of the condition.
1174 
‘‘(B) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that the 
Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System 
(DEERS) is continually updated in order to reflect the 
continuing entitlement of members covered by subpara-
graph (A) to the medical and dental care referred to in 
that subparagraph.’’. 
Subtitle D—Disability Matters 
SEC. 1641. UTILIZATION OF VETERANS’ PRESUMPTION OF 
SOUND CONDITION IN ESTABLISHING ELIGI-
BILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
FOR RETIREMENT FOR DISABILITY. 
(a) RETIREMENT OF REGULARS AND MEMBERS ON 
ACTIVE DUTY FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS.—Clause (i) of 
section 1201(b)(3)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) the member has six months or 
more of active military service and the dis-
ability was not noted at the time of the 
member’s entrance on active duty (unless 
compelling evidence or medical judgment is 
such to warrant a finding that the dis-
ability existed before the member’s en-
trance on active duty);’’. 
(b) SEPARATION OF REGULARS AND MEMBERS ON 
ACTIVE DUTY
FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS.—Section
1175 
1203(b)(4)(B) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘and 
the member has at least eight years of service computed 
under section 1208 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘, the mem-
ber has six months or more of active military service, and 
the disability was not noted at the time of the member’s 
entrance on active duty (unless evidence or medical judg-
ment is such to warrant a finding that the disability ex-
isted before the member’s entrance on active duty)’’. 
SEC. 1642. REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS ON DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE DETERMINATIONS OF 
DISABILITY WITH RESPECT TO MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 61 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1216 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1216a. Determinations of disability: requirements 
and limitations on determinations 
‘‘(a) UTILIZATION OF VA SCHEDULE FOR RATING 
DISABILITIES IN DETERMINATIONS OF DISABILITY.—(1) 
In making a determination of disability of a member of 
the armed forces for purposes of this chapter, the Sec-
retary concerned— 
‘‘(A) shall, to the extent feasible, utilize the 
schedule for rating disabilities in use by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, including any applicable
1177 
‘‘1216a. Determinations of disability: requirements and limitations on deter-
minations.’’. 
SEC. 1643. REVIEW OF SEPARATION OF MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES SEPARATED FROM SERVICE 
WITH A DISABILITY RATING OF 20 PERCENT 
DISABLED OR LESS. 
(a) BOARD REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 79 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1554 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1554a. Review of separation with disability rating 
of 20 percent disabled or less 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish within the Office of the Secretary of De-
fense a board of review to review the disability determina-
tions of covered individuals by Physical Evaluation 
Boards. The board shall be known as the ‘Physical Dis-
ability Board of Review’. 
‘‘(2) The Physical Disability Board of Review shall 
consist of not less than three members appointed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 
section, covered individuals are members and former mem-
bers of the armed forces who, during the period beginning 
on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 
2009—
1178 
‘‘(1) are separated from the armed forces due 
to unfitness for duty due to a medical condition with 
a disability rating of 20 percent disabled or less; and 
‘‘(2) are found to be not eligible for retirement. 
‘‘(c) REVIEW.—(1) Upon the request of a covered in-
dividual, or a surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal rep-
resentative of a covered individual, the Physical Disability 
Board of Review shall review the findings and decisions 
of the Physical Evaluation Board with respect to such cov-
ered individual. Subject to paragraph (3), upon its own 
motion, the Physical Disability Board of Review may re-
view the findings and decisions of the Physical Evaluation 
Board with respect to a covered individual. 
‘‘(2) The review by the Physical Disability Board of 
Review under paragraph (1) shall be based on the records 
of the armed force concerned and such other evidence as 
may be presented to the Physical Disability Board of Re-
view. A witness may present evidence to the Board by affi-
davit or by any other means considered acceptable by the 
Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(3) If the Physical Disability Board of Review pro-
poses to review, upon its own motion, the findings and 
decisions of the Physical Evaluation Board with respect 
to a covered individual, the Physical Disability Board of 
Review shall notify the covered individual, or a surviving
1179 
spouse, next of kin, or legal representative of the covered 
individual, of the proposed review and obtain the consent 
of the covered individual or a surviving spouse, next of 
kin, or legal representative of the covered individual before 
proceeding with the review. 
‘‘(4) With respect to any review by the Physical Dis-
ability Board of Review of the findings and decisions of 
the Physical Evaluation Board with respect to a covered 
individual, whether initiated at the request of the covered 
individual or a surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal rep-
resentative of the covered individual or initiated by the 
Physical Disability Board of Review, the Physical Dis-
ability Board of Review shall notify the covered individual 
or a surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal representative 
of the covered individual that, as a result of the request 
or consent, the covered individual or a surviving spouse, 
next of kin, or legal representative of the covered indi-
vidual may not seek relief from the Board for Correction 
of Military Records operated by the Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZED RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Phys-
ical Disability Board of Review may, as a result of its find-
ings under a review under subsection (c), recommend to 
the Secretary concerned the following (as applicable) with 
respect to a covered individual:
1180 
‘‘(1) No recharacterization of the separation of 
such individual or modification of the disability rat-
ing previously assigned such individual. 
‘‘(2) The recharacterization of the separation of 
such individual to retirement for disability. 
‘‘(3) The modification of the disability rating 
previously assigned such individual by the Physical 
Evaluation Board concerned, which modified dis-
ability rating may not be a reduction of the dis-
ability rating previously assigned such individual by 
that Physical Evaluation Board. 
‘‘(4) The issuance of a new disability rating for 
such individual. 
‘‘(e) CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS.—(1) The 
Secretary concerned may correct the military records of 
a covered individual in accordance with a recommendation 
made by the Physical Disability Board of Review under 
subsection (d). Any such correction may be made effective 
as of the effective date of the action taken on the report 
of the Physical Evaluation Board to which such rec-
ommendation relates. 
‘‘(2) In the case of a member previously separated 
pursuant to the findings and decision of a Physical Eval-
uation Board together with a lump-sum or other payment 
of back pay and allowances at separation, the amount of
1181 
pay or other monetary benefits to which such member 
would be entitled based on the member’s military record 
as corrected shall be reduced to take into account receipt 
of such lump-sum or other payment in such manner as 
the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) If the Physical Disability Board of Review 
makes a recommendation not to correct the military 
records of a covered individual, the action taken on the 
report of the Physical Evaluation Board to which such rec-
ommendation relates shall be treated as final as of the 
date of such action. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—(1) This section shall be carried 
out in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense. 
‘‘(2) The regulations under paragraph (1) shall speci-
fy reasonable deadlines for the performance of reviews re-
quired by this section. 
‘‘(3) The regulations under paragraph (1) shall speci-
fy the effect of a determination or pending determination 
of a Physical Evaluation Board on considerations by 
boards for correction of military records under section 
1552 of this title.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 79 of such title is
1182 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 1554 the following new item: 
‘‘1554a. Review of separation with disability rating of 20 percent disabled or 
less.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish the board of review required by section 
1554a of title 10, United States Code (as added by sub-
section (a)), and prescribe the regulations required by 
such section, not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1644. AUTHORIZATION OF PILOT PROGRAMS TO IM-
PROVE THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SYS-
TEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) PROGRAMS
AUTHORIZED.—For the pur-
poses set forth in subsection (c), the Secretary of 
Defense may establish and conduct pilot programs 
with respect to the system of the Department of De-
fense for the evaluation of the disabilities of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who are being separated 
or retired from the Armed Forces for disability 
under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘disability evaluation 
system’’). 
(2) TYPES OF PILOT PROGRAMS.—In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary of Defense may con-
1183 
duct one or more of the pilot programs described in 
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b) or such 
other pilot programs as the Secretary of Defense 
considers appropriate. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In establishing and con-
ducting any pilot program under this section, the 
Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) SCOPE OF PILOT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) DISABILITY DETERMINATIONS BY DOD UTI-
LIZING
VA
ASSIGNED
DISABILITY
RATING.—Under 
one of the pilot programs authorized by subsection 
(a), for purposes of making a determination of dis-
ability of a member of the Armed Forces under sec-
tion 1201(b) of title 10, United States Code, for the 
retirement, separation, or placement of the member 
on the temporary disability retired list under chapter 
61 of such title, upon a determination by the Sec-
retary of the military department concerned that the 
member is unfit to perform the duties of the mem-
ber’s office, grade, rank, or rating because of a 
physical disability as described in section 1201(a) of 
such title— 
(A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may—
1184 
(i) conduct an evaluation of the mem-
ber for physical disability; and 
(ii) assign the member a rating of dis-
ability in accordance with the schedule for 
rating disabilities utilized by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs based on all medical 
conditions (whether individually or collec-
tively) that render the member unfit for 
duty; and 
(B) the Secretary of the military depart-
ment concerned may make the determination of 
disability regarding the member utilizing the 
rating of disability assigned under subpara-
graph (A)(ii). 
(2) DISABILITY
DETERMINATIONS
UTILIZING 
JOINT
DOD/VA
ASSIGNED
DISABILITY
RATING.— 
Under one of the pilot programs authorized by sub-
section (a), in making a determination of disability 
of a member of the Armed Forces under section 
1201(b) of title 10, United States Code, for the re-
tirement, separation, or placement of the member on 
the temporary disability retired list under chapter 61 
of such title, the Secretary of the military depart-
ment concerned may, upon determining that the 
member is unfit to perform the duties of the mem-
1185 
ber’s office, grade, rank, or rating because of a 
physical disability as described in section 1201(a) of 
such title— 
(A) provide for the joint evaluation of the 
member for disability by the Secretary of the 
military department concerned and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, including the assign-
ment of a rating of disability for the member in 
accordance with the schedule for rating disabil-
ities utilized by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs based on all medical conditions (whether 
individually or collectively) that render the 
member unfit for duty; and 
(B) make the determination of disability 
regarding the member utilizing the rating of 
disability assigned under subparagraph (A). 
(3) ELECTRONIC
CLEARING
HOUSE.—Under 
one of the pilot programs authorized by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Defense may establish and op-
erate a single Internet website for the disability eval-
uation system of the Department of Defense that 
enables participating members of the Armed Forces 
to fully utilize such system through the Internet, 
with such Internet website to include the following:
1186 
(A) The availability of any forms required 
for the utilization of the disability evaluation 
system by members of the Armed Forces under 
the system. 
(B) Secure mechanisms for the submission 
of such forms by members of the Armed Forces 
under the system, and for the tracking of the 
acceptance and review of any forms so sub-
mitted. 
(C) Secure mechanisms for advising mem-
bers of the Armed Forces under the system of 
any additional information, forms, or other 
items that are required for the acceptance and 
review of any forms so submitted. 
(D) The continuous availability of assist-
ance to members of the Armed Forces under 
the system (including assistance through the 
caseworkers assigned to such members of the 
Armed Forces) in submitting and tracking such 
forms, including assistance in obtaining infor-
mation, forms, or other items described by sub-
paragraph (C). 
(E) Secure mechanisms to request and re-
ceive personnel files or other personnel records 
of members of the Armed Forces under the sys-
1187 
tem that are required for submission under the 
disability evaluation system, including the capa-
bility to track requests for such files or records 
and to determine the status of such requests 
and of responses to such requests. 
(4) OTHER PILOT PROGRAMS.—The pilot pro-
grams authorized by subsection (a) may also provide 
for the development, evaluation, and identification of 
such practices and procedures under the disability 
evaluation system as the Secretary considers appro-
priate for purposes set forth in subsection (c). 
(c) PURPOSES.—A pilot program established under 
subsection (a) may have one or more of the following pur-
poses: 
(1) To provide for the development, evaluation, 
and identification of revised and improved practices 
and procedures under the disability evaluation sys-
tem in order to— 
(A) reduce the processing time under the 
disability evaluation system of members of the 
Armed Forces who are likely to be retired or 
separated for disability, and who have not re-
quested continuation on active duty, including, 
in particular, members who are severely wound-
ed;
1188 
(B) identify and implement or seek the 
modification of statutory or administrative poli-
cies and requirements applicable to the dis-
ability evaluation system that— 
(i) are unnecessary or contrary to ap-
plicable best practices of civilian employers 
and civilian healthcare systems; or 
(ii) otherwise result in hardship, arbi-
trary, or inconsistent outcomes for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces, or unwarranted 
inefficiencies and delays; 
(C) eliminate material variations in poli-
cies, interpretations, and overall performance 
standards among the military departments 
under the disability evaluation system; and 
(D) determine whether it enhances the ca-
pability of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to receive and determine claims from members 
of the Armed Forces for compensation, pension, 
hospitalization, or other veterans benefits. 
(2) In conjunction with the findings and rec-
ommendations of applicable Presidential and De-
partment of Defense study groups, to provide for the 
eventual development of revised and improved prac-
tices and procedures for the disability evaluation sys-
1189 
tem in order to achieve the objectives set forth in 
paragraph (1). 
(d) UTILIZATION OF RESULTS IN UPDATES OF COM-
PREHENSIVE
POLICY
ON
CARE, MANAGEMENT, AND 
TRANSITION OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS.—The 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, acting jointly, may incorporate responses to any 
findings and recommendations arising under the pilot pro-
grams conducted under subsection (a) in updating the 
comprehensive policy on the care and management of cov-
ered service members under section 1611(a)(4). 
(e) CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), in 
carrying out a pilot program under subsection (a)— 
(A) the rules and regulations of the De-
partment of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs relating to methods of deter-
mining fitness or unfitness for duty and dis-
ability ratings for members of the Armed 
Forces shall apply to the pilot program only to 
the extent provided in the report on the pilot 
program under subsection (g)(1); and 
(B) the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may waive any provi-
sion of title 10, 37, or 38, United States Code,
1190 
relating to methods of determining fitness or 
unfitness for duty and disability ratings for 
members of the Armed Forces if the Secretaries 
determine in writing that the application of 
such provision would be inconsistent with the 
purpose of the pilot program. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in paragraph (1) 
shall be construed to authorize the waiver of any 
provision of section 1216a of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by section 1642 of this Act. 
(f) DURATION.—Each pilot program conducted under 
subsection (a) shall be completed not later than one year 
after the date of the commencement of such pilot program 
under that subsection. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on each pilot pro-
gram that has been commenced as of that date 
under subsection (a). The report shall include— 
(A) a description of the scope and objec-
tives of the pilot program; 
(B) a description of the methodology to be 
used under the pilot program to ensure rapid
1191 
identification under such pilot program of re-
vised or improved practices under the disability 
evaluation system in order to achieve the objec-
tives set forth in subsection (c)(1); and 
(C) a statement of any provision described 
in subsection (e)(1)(B) that will not apply to 
the pilot program by reason of a waiver under 
that subsection. 
(2) INTERIM
REPORT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the submittal of the report re-
quired by paragraph (1) with respect to a pilot pro-
gram, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report describing the cur-
rent status of the pilot program. 
(3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the completion of all of the pilot programs con-
ducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a re-
port setting forth a final evaluation and assessment 
of the pilot programs. The report shall include such 
recommendations for legislative or administrative ac-
tion as the Secretary considers appropriate in light 
of such pilot programs.
1192 
SEC. 1645. REPORTS ON ARMY ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE 
TO DEFICIENCIES IN THE ARMY PHYSICAL 
DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than June 1, 
2008, and June 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
on the implementation of corrective measures by the De-
partment of Defense with respect to the Physical Dis-
ability Evaluation System (PDES) in response to the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The report of the Inspector General of the 
Army on that system of March 6, 2007. 
(2) The report of the Independent Review 
Group on Rehabilitation Care and Administrative 
Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and 
National Naval Medical Center. 
(3) The report of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Task Force on Returning Global War on 
Terror Heroes. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—Each report under sub-
section (a) shall include current information on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The total number of cases, and the number 
of cases involving combat disabled service members, 
pending resolution before the Medical and Physical 
Disability Evaluation Boards of the Army, including
1193 
information on the number of members of the Army 
who have been in a medical hold or holdover status 
for more than each of 100, 200, and 300 days. 
(2) The status of the implementation of modi-
fications to disability evaluation processes of the De-
partment of Defense in response to the following: 
(A) The report of the Inspector General on 
such processes dated March 6, 2007. 
(B) The report of the Independent Review 
Group on Rehabilitation Care and Administra-
tive Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center and National Naval Medical Center. 
(C) The report of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Task Force on Returning Global 
War on Terror Heroes. 
(c) POSTING
ON INTERNET.—Not later than 24 
hours after submitting a report under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall post such report on the Internet website 
of the Department of Defense that is available to the pub-
lic. 
SEC. 1646. ENHANCEMENT OF DISABILITY SEVERANCE PAY 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1212 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended—
1194 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘his years 
of service, but not more than 12, computed under 
section 1208 of this title’’ in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) and inserting ‘‘the member’s years 
of service computed under section 1208 of this title 
(subject to the minimum and maximum years of 
service provided for in subsection (c))’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c)(1) The minimum years of service of a member 
for purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be as follows: 
‘‘(A) Six years in the case of a member sepa-
rated from the armed forces for a disability incurred 
in line of duty in a combat zone (as designated by 
the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this sub-
section) or incurred during the performance of duty 
in combat-related operations as designated by the 
Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(B) Three years in the case of any other mem-
ber. 
‘‘(2) The maximum years of service of a member for 
purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be 19 years.’’.
1195 
(b) NO DEDUCTION FROM COMPENSATION OF SEV-
ERANCE PAY FOR DISABILITIES INCURRED IN COMBAT 
ZONES.—Subsection (d) of such section, as redesignated 
by subsection (a)(2) of this section, is further amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; 
(2) by striking the second sentence; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) 
in the case of disability severance pay received by a mem-
ber for a disability incurred in line of duty in a combat 
zone or incurred during performance of duty in combat- 
related operations as designated by the Secretary of De-
fense. 
‘‘(3) No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) 
from any death compensation to which a member’s de-
pendents become entitled after the member’s death.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and shall apply with respect to members of 
the Armed Forces separated from the Armed Forces 
under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code, on or 
after that date.
1196 
SEC. 1647. ASSESSMENTS OF CONTINUING UTILITY AND FU-
TURE ROLE OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY RE-
TIRED LIST. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report containing— 
(1) a statistical history since January 1, 2000, 
of the numbers of members of the Armed Forces 
who are returned to duty or separated following a 
tenure on the temporary disability retired list and, 
in the case of members who were separated, how 
many of the members were granted disability separa-
tion or retirement and what were their disability rat-
ings; 
(2) the results of the assessments required by 
subsection (b); and 
(3) such recommendations for the modification 
or improvement of the temporary disability retired 
list as the Secretary considers appropriate in re-
sponse to the assessments. 
(b) REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS.—The assessments re-
quired to be conducted as part of the report under sub-
section (a) are the following: 
(1) An assessment of the continuing utility of 
the temporary disability retired list in satisfying the
1197 
purposes for which the temporary disability retired 
list was established. 
(2) An assessment of the need to require that 
the condition of a member be permanent and stable 
before the member is separated with less than a 30 
percent disability rating prior to exceeding the max-
imum tenure allowed on the temporary disability re-
tired list. 
(3) An assessment of the future role of the tem-
porary disability retired list in the Disability Evalua-
tion System of the Department of Defense and the 
changes in policy and law required to fulfill the fu-
ture role of the temporary disability retire list. 
SEC. 1648. STANDARDS FOR MILITARY MEDICAL TREAT-
MENT 
FACILITIES, 
SPECIALTY 
MEDICAL 
CARE FACILITIES, AND MILITARY QUARTERS 
HOUSING PATIENTS AND ANNUAL REPORT 
ON SUCH FACILITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF STANDARDS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall establish for the military facilities 
of the Department of Defense and the military depart-
ments referred to in subsection (b) standards with respect 
to the matters set forth in subsection (c). To the max-
imum extent practicable, the standards shall—
1198 
(1) be uniform and consistent for all such facili-
ties; and 
(2) be uniform and consistent throughout the 
Department of Defense and the military depart-
ments. 
(b) COVERED MILITARY FACILITIES.—The military 
facilities covered by this section are the following: 
(1) Military medical treatment facilities. 
(2) Specialty medical care facilities. 
(3) Military quarters or leased housing for pa-
tients. 
(c) SCOPE OF STANDARDS.—The standards required 
by subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Generally accepted standards for the ac-
creditation of medical facilities, or for facilities used 
to quarter individuals that may require medical su-
pervision, as applicable, in the United States. 
(2) To the extent not inconsistent with the 
standards described in paragraph (1), minimally ac-
ceptable conditions for the following: 
(A) Appearance and maintenance of facili-
ties generally, including the structure and roofs 
of facilities.
1199 
(B) Size, appearance, and maintenance of 
rooms housing or utilized by patients, including 
furniture and amenities in such rooms. 
(C) Operation and maintenance of primary 
and back-up facility utility systems and other 
systems required for patient care, including 
electrical systems, plumbing systems, heating, 
ventilation, and air conditioning systems, com-
munications systems, fire protection systems, 
energy management systems, and other systems 
required for patient care. 
(D) Compliance of facilities, rooms, and 
grounds, to the maximum extent practicable, 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). 
(E) Such other matters relating to the ap-
pearance, size, operation, and maintenance of 
facilities and rooms as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS.— 
(1) 
DEADLINE.—In 
establishing 
standards 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall specify a 
deadline for compliance with such standards by each 
facility referred to in subsection (b). The deadline 
shall be at the earliest date practicable after the
1200 
date of the enactment of this Act, and shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, be uniform across the 
facilities referred to in subsection (b). 
(2) INVESTMENT.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall also establish guidelines for in-
vestment to be utilized by the Department of De-
fense and the military departments in determining 
the allocation of financial resources to facilities re-
ferred to in subsection (b) in order to meet the dead-
line specified under paragraph (1). 
(e) REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTA-
TION OF STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 
2008, the Secretary shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report on the actions 
taken to carry out subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) The standards established under sub-
section (a). 
(B) An assessment of the appearance, con-
dition, and maintenance of each facility referred 
to in subsection (b), including—
1201 
(i) an assessment of the compliance of 
the facility with the standards established 
under subsection (a); and 
(ii) a description of any deficiency or 
noncompliance in each facility with the 
standards. 
(C) A description of the investment to be 
allocated to address each deficiency or non-
compliance 
identified 
under 
subparagraph 
(B)(ii). 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than the date on 
which the President submits the budget for a fiscal year 
to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the adequacy, suitability, and 
quality of each facility referred to in subsection (b). The 
Secretary shall include in each report information regard-
ing— 
(1) any deficiencies in the adequacy, quality, or 
state of repair of medical-related support facilities 
raised as a result of information received during the 
period covered by the report through the toll-free hot 
line required by section 1616; and
1202 
(2) the investigations conducted and plans of 
action prepared under such section to respond to 
such deficiencies. 
SEC. 1649. REPORTS ON ARMY MEDICAL ACTION PLAN IN 
RESPONSE TO DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED AT 
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, DIS-
TRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until 
March 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report on the im-
plementation of the Army Medical Action Plan to correct 
deficiencies identified in the condition of facilities and pa-
tient administration. 
SEC. 1650. REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION 
WITH CLOSURE OF WALTER REED ARMY 
MEDICAL CENTER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) CERTIFICATIONS.—In implementing the decision 
to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Co-
lumbia, required as a result of the 2005 round of defense 
base closure and realignment under the Defense Base Clo-
sure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX 
of Public Law 101–510; U.S.C. 2687 note), the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a certification of each of the following:
1203 
(1) That a transition plan has been developed, 
and resources have been committed, to ensure that 
patient care services, medical operations, and facili-
ties are sustained at the highest possible level at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center until facilities to 
replace Walter Reed Army Medical Center are 
staffed and ready to assume at least the same level 
of care previously provided at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center. 
(2) That the closure of Walter Reed Army Med-
ical Center will not result in a net loss of capacity 
in the major medical centers in the National Capitol 
Region in terms of total bed capacity or staffed bed 
capacity. 
(3) That the capacity of medical hold and out- 
patient lodging facilities operating at Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center as of the date of the certifi-
cation will be available in sufficient quantities at the 
facilities designated to replace Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center by the date of the closure of Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center. 
(b) TIME FOR SUBMITTAL.—The Secretary shall sub-
mit the certifications required by subsection (a) not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
If the Secretary is unable to make one or more of the cer-
1204 
tifications by the end of the 90-day period, the Secretary 
shall notify the congressional defense committees of the 
delay and the reasons for the delay. 
SEC. 1651. HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES ON COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 
AVAILABLE FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND ILL-
NESSES. 
(a) INFORMATION
ON AVAILABLE COMPENSATION 
AND BENEFITS.—Not later than October 1, 2008, the 
Secretary of Defense shall develop and maintain, in hand-
book and electronic form, a comprehensive description of 
the compensation and other benefits to which a member 
of the Armed Forces, and the family of such member, 
would be entitled upon the separation or retirement of the 
member from the Armed Forces as a result of a serious 
injury or illness. The handbook shall set forth the range 
of such compensation and benefits based on grade, length 
of service, degree of disability at separation or retirement, 
and such other factors affecting such compensation and 
benefits as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop and maintain the comprehensive description re-
quired by subsection (a), including the handbook and elec-
tronic form of the description, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and
1205 
Human Services, and the Commissioner of Social Secu-
rity. 
(c) UPDATE.—The Secretary of Defense shall update 
the comprehensive description required by subsection (a), 
including the handbook and electronic form of the descrip-
tion, on a periodic basis, but not less often than annually. 
(d) PROVISION TO MEMBERS.—The Secretary of the 
military department concerned shall provide the descrip-
tive handbook under subsection (a) to each member of the 
Armed Forces described in that subsection as soon as 
practicable following the injury or illness qualifying the 
member for coverage under such subsection. 
(e) PROVISION TO REPRESENTATIVES.—If a member 
is incapacitated or otherwise unable to receive the descrip-
tive handbook to be provided under subsection (a), the 
handbook shall be provided to the next of kin or a legal 
representative of the member, as determined in accordance 
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the mili-
tary department concerned for purposes of this section.
1206 
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 
OPERATION 
IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING 
FREEDOM AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, enter into an agreement with the National Academy 
of Sciences for a study on the physical and mental health 
and other readjustment needs of members and former 
members of the Armed Forces who deployed in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom and their 
families as a result of such deployment. 
(b) PHASES.—The study required under subsection 
(a) shall consist of two phases: 
(1) A preliminary phase, to be completed not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act— 
(A) to identify preliminary findings on the 
physical and mental health and other readjust-
ment needs described in subsection (a) and on 
gaps in care for the members, former members, 
and families described in that subsection; and
1207 
(B) to determine the parameters of the 
second phase of the study under paragraph (2). 
(2) A second phase, to be completed not later 
than three years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, to carry out a comprehensive assessment, 
in accordance with the parameters identified under 
the preliminary report required by paragraph (1), of 
the physical and mental health and other readjust-
ment needs of members and former members of the 
Armed Forces who deployed in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom and their 
families as a result of such deployment, including, at 
a minimum— 
(A) an assessment of the psychological, so-
cial, and economic impacts of such deployment 
on such members and former members and 
their families; 
(B) an assessment of the particular im-
pacts of multiple deployments in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom 
on such members and former members and 
their families; 
(C) an assessment of the full scope of the 
neurological, psychiatric, and psychological ef-
fects of traumatic brain injury on members and
1208 
former members of the Armed Forces, including 
the effects of such effects on the family mem-
bers of such members and former members, and 
an assessment of the efficacy of current treat-
ment approaches for traumatic brain injury in 
the United States and the efficacy of screenings 
and treatment approaches for traumatic brain 
injury within the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(D) an assessment of the effects of 
undiagnosed injuries such as post-traumatic 
stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, an 
estimate of the long-term costs associated with 
such injuries, and an assessment of the efficacy 
of screenings and treatment approaches for 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental 
health conditions within the Department of De-
fense and Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(E) an assessment of the gender- and eth-
nic group-specific needs and concerns of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces and veterans; 
(F) an assessment of the particular needs 
and concerns of children of members of the 
Armed Forces, taking into account differing age 
groups, impacts on development and education,
1210 
venting, minimizing, or addressing the impacts, 
gaps, and needs identified; and 
(K) the development, based on such assess-
ments, of recommendations for additional re-
search on such needs. 
(c) POPULATIONS TO BE STUDIED.—The study re-
quired under subsection (a) shall consider the readjust-
ment needs of each population of individuals as follows: 
(1) Members of the regular components of the 
Armed Forces who are returning, or have returned, 
to the United States from deployment in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. 
(2) Members of the National Guard and Re-
serve who are returning, or have returned, to the 
United States from deployment in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. 
(3) Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
Operation Enduring Freedom. 
(4) Family members of the members and vet-
erans described in paragraphs (1) through (3). 
(d) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The National Acad-
emy of Sciences shall have access to such personnel, infor-
mation, records, and systems of the Department of De-
fense and the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Na-
1212 
SEC. 1662. ACCESS OF RECOVERING SERVICE MEMBERS TO 
ADEQUATE OUTPATIENT RESIDENTIAL FA-
CILITIES. 
(a) REQUIRED INSPECTIONS
OF FACILITIES.—All 
quarters of the United States and housing facilities under 
the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces that are occupied by 
recovering service members shall be inspected on a semi-
annual basis for the first two years after the enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter by the inspectors gen-
eral of the regional medical commands. 
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS.—The inspector 
general for each regional medical command shall— 
(1) submit a report on each inspection of a fa-
cility conducted under subsection (a) to the post 
commander at such facility, the commanding officer 
of the hospital affiliated with such facility, the sur-
geon general of the military department that oper-
ates such hospital, the Secretary of the military de-
partment concerned, the Assistant Secretary of De-
fense for Health Affairs, and the congressional de-
fense committees; and 
(2) post each such report on the Internet 
website of such regional medical command.
1213 
SEC. 1663. STUDY AND REPORT ON SUPPORT SERVICES 
FOR FAMILIES OF RECOVERING SERVICE 
MEMBERS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a study of the provision of support services 
for families of recovering service members. 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The study under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A determination of the types of support 
services, including job placement services, that are 
currently provided by the Department of Defense to 
eligible family members, and the cost of providing 
such services. 
(2) A determination of additional types of sup-
port services that would be feasible for the Depart-
ment to provide to such family members, and the 
costs of providing such services, including the fol-
lowing types of services: 
(A) The provision of medical care at mili-
tary medical treatment facilities. 
(B) The provision of additional employ-
ment services, and the need for employment 
protection, of such family members who are 
placed on leave from employment or otherwise 
displaced from employment while caring for a
1214 
recovering service member for more than 45 
days during a one-year period. 
(C) The provision of meals without charge 
at military medical treatment facilities. 
(3) A survey of military medical treatment fa-
cilities to estimate the number of family members to 
whom the support services would be provided. 
(4) A determination of any discrimination in 
employment that such family members experience, 
including denial of retention in employment, pro-
motion, or any benefit of employment by an em-
ployer on the basis of the person’s absence from em-
ployment, and a determination, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Labor, of the options available for 
such family members. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the 
results of the study, with such findings and recommenda-
tions as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
SEC. 1664. REPORT ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CLASSI-
FICATIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
1215 
retary of Veterans Affairs jointly shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report describing the changes under-
taken within the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs to ensure that traumatic brain 
injury victims receive a medical designation concomitant 
with their injury rather than a medical designation that 
assigns a generic classification (such as ‘‘organic psy-
chiatric disorder’’). 
SEC. 1665. EVALUATION OF THE POLYTRAUMA LIAISON OF-
FICER/NON-COMMISSIONED 
OFFICER 
PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall conduct an evaluation of the Polytrauma Liai-
son Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program, which is 
the program operated by each of the military departments 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose 
of— 
(1) assisting in the seamless transition of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces from the Department of 
Defense health care system to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs system; and 
(2) expediting the flow of information and com-
munication between military treatment facilities and 
the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Centers.
1216 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The evaluation of the 
Polytrauma Liaison Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer 
program shall include an evaluation of the following: 
(1) The program’s effectiveness in the following 
areas: 
(A) Handling of military patient transfers. 
(B) Ability to access military records in a 
timely manner. 
(C) Collaboration with Polytrauma Center 
treatment teams. 
(D) Collaboration with veteran service or-
ganizations. 
(E) Functioning as the Polytrauma Cen-
ter’s subject-matter expert on military issues. 
(F) Supporting and assisting family mem-
bers. 
(G) Providing education, information, and 
referrals to members of the Armed Forces and 
their family members. 
(H) Functioning as uniformed advocates 
for members of the Armed Forces and their 
family members. 
(I) Inclusion in Polytrauma Center meet-
ings.
1217 
(J) Completion of required administrative 
reporting. 
(K) Ability to provide necessary adminis-
trative support to all members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(2) Manpower requirements to effectively carry 
out all required functions of the Polytrauma Liaison 
Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer program given 
current and expected case loads. 
(3) Expansion of the program to incorporate 
Navy and Marine Corps officers and senior enlisted 
personnel. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining— 
(1) the results of the evaluation; and 
(2) recommendations for any improvements in 
the program. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 1671. PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF RESOURCES 
FROM MEDICAL CARE. 
Neither the Secretary of Defense nor the Secretaries 
of the military departments may transfer funds or per-
sonnel from medical care functions to administrative func-
1218 
tions within the Department of Defense in order to comply 
with the new administrative requirements imposed by this 
title or the amendments made by this title. 
SEC. 1672. MEDICAL CARE FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES RECOVERING FROM SE-
RIOUS INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 
(a) MEDICAL CARE AT MILITARY MEDICAL FACILI-
TIES.— 
(1) MEDICAL CARE.—A family member of a re-
covering service member who is not otherwise eligible 
for medical care at a military medical treatment fa-
cility may be eligible for such care at such facilities, 
on a space-available basis, if the family member is— 
(A) on invitational orders while caring for 
the service member; 
(B) a non-medical attendee caring for the 
service member; or 
(C) receiving per diem payments from the 
Department of Defense while caring for the 
service member. 
(2) SPECIFICATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS.—The 
Secretary of Defense may prescribe in regulations 
the family members of recovering service members 
who shall be considered to be a family member of a 
service member for purposes of this subsection.
1219 
(3) SPECIFICATION OF CARE.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall prescribe in regulations the medical 
care that may be available to family members under 
this subsection at military medical treatment facili-
ties. 
(4) RECOVERY OF COSTS.—The United States 
may recover the costs of the provision of medical 
care under this subsection as follows (as applicable): 
(A) From third-party payers, in the same 
manner as the United States may collect costs 
of the charges of health care provided to cov-
ered beneficiaries from third-party payers under 
section 1095 of title 10, United States Code. 
(B) As if such care was provided under the 
authority of section 1784 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
(b) MEDICAL CARE AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES.— 
(1) MEDICAL CARE.—When a recovering service 
member is receiving hospital care and medical serv-
ices at a medical facility of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
provide medical care for eligible family members 
under this section when that care is readily available
1220 
at that Department facility and on a space-available 
basis. 
(2) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall prescribe in regulations the medical 
care that may be available to family members under 
this subsection at medical facilities of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 1673. IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL TRACKING SYSTEM 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DE-
PLOYED OVERSEAS. 
(a) PROTOCOL
FOR ASSESSMENT
OF COGNITIVE 
FUNCTIONING.— 
(1) PROTOCOL REQUIRED.—Subsection (b) of 
section 1074f of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) An assessment of post-traumatic stress 
disorder.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary shall establish for purposes of 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) a protocol 
for the predeployment assessment and documentation of 
the cognitive (including memory) functioning of a member
1221 
who is deployed outside the United States in order to fa-
cilitate the assessment of the postdeployment cognitive 
(including memory) functioning of the member. 
‘‘(B) The protocol under subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude appropriate mechanisms to permit the differential 
diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in members returning 
from deployment in a combat zone.’’. 
(2) PILOT PROJECTS.—(A) In developing the 
protocol required by paragraph (3) of section 
1074f(b) of title 10, United States Code (as amend-
ed by paragraph (1) of this subsection), for purposes 
of assessments for traumatic brain injury, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall conduct up to three pilot 
projects to evaluate various mechanisms for use in 
the protocol for such purposes. One of the mecha-
nisms to be so evaluated shall be a computer-based 
assessment tool which shall, at a minimum, include 
the following: 
(i) 
Administration 
of 
computer-based 
neurocognitive assessment. 
(ii) Pre-deployment assessments to estab-
lish a neurocognitive baseline for members of 
the Armed Forces for future treatment. 
(B) Not later than 60 days after the completion 
of the pilot projects conducted under this paragraph,
1222 
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report on the pilot projects. 
The report shall include— 
(i) a description of the pilot projects so 
conducted; 
(ii) an assessment of the results of each 
such pilot project; and 
(iii) a description of any mechanisms eval-
uated under each such pilot project that will be 
incorporated into the protocol. 
(C) Not later than 180 days after completion of 
the pilot projects conducted under this paragraph, 
the Secretary shall establish a means for imple-
menting any mechanism evaluated under such a 
pilot project that is selected for incorporation in the 
protocol. 
(b) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—Subsection (d)(2) of sec-
tion 1074f of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) The diagnosis and treatment of traumatic 
brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.’’. 
(c) STANDARDS FOR DEPLOYMENT.—Subsection (f) 
of such section is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘MENTAL HEALTH’’; and
1223 
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘or’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, traumatic brain injury, or’’. 
SEC. 1674. GUARANTEED FUNDING FOR WALTER REED 
ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, DISTRICT OF CO-
LUMBIA. 
(a) MINIMUM FUNDING.—The amount of funds avail-
able for the commander of Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center, District of Columbia, for a fiscal year shall be not 
less than the amount expended by the commander of Wal-
ter Reed Army Medical Center in fiscal year 2006 until 
the first fiscal year beginning after the date on which the 
Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense 
committees a plan for the provision of health care for mili-
tary beneficiaries and their dependents in the National 
Capital Region. 
(b) MATTERS COVERED.—The plan under subsection 
(a) shall at a minimum include— 
(1) the manner in which patients, staff, bed ca-
pacity, and functions will move from the Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center to expanded facilities; 
(2) a timeline, including milestones, for such 
moves; 
(3) projected budgets, including planned budget 
transfers, for military treatment facilities within the 
region;
1224 
(4) the management or disposition of real prop-
erty of military treatment facilities within the re-
gion; and 
(5) staffing projections for the region. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—After submission of the plan 
under subsection (a) to the congressional defense commit-
tees, the Secretary shall certify to such committees on a 
quarterly basis that patients, staff, bed capacity, func-
tions, or parts of functions at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center have not been moved or disestablished until the 
expanded facilities at the National Naval Medical Center, 
Bethesda, Maryland, and DeWitt Army Community Hos-
pital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, are completed, equipped, and 
staffed with sufficient capacity to accept and provide, at 
a minimum, the same level of and access to care as pa-
tients received at Walter Reed Army Medical Center dur-
ing fiscal year 2006. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘expanded facilities’’ means the 
other two military hospitals/medical centers within 
the National Capital Region, namely— 
(A) the National Naval Medical Center, 
Bethesda, Maryland (or its successor resulting 
from implementation of the recommendations of
1225 
the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realign-
ment Commission); and 
(B) the DeWitt Army Community Hos-
pital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 
(2) The term ‘‘National Capital Region’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 2674(f) of 
title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 1675. USE OF LEAVE TRANSFER PROGRAM BY WOUND-
ED VETERANS WHO ARE FEDERAL EMPLOY-
EES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6333(b) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘(b)(1)’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) The requirement under paragraph (1) relat-
ing to exhaustion of annual and sick leave shall not apply 
in the case of a leave recipient who— 
‘‘(i) sustains a combat-related disability while a 
member of the armed forces, including a reserve 
component of the armed forces; and 
‘‘(ii) is undergoing medical treatment for that 
disability.
1226 
‘‘(B) Subparagraph (A) shall apply to a member de-
scribed in such subparagraph only so long as the member 
continues to undergo medical treatment for the disability, 
but in no event for longer than 5 years from the start 
of such treatment. 
‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘combat-related disability’ has the 
meaning given such term by section 1413a(e) of title 
10; and 
‘‘(ii) the term ‘medical treatment’ has such 
meaning as the Office of Personnel Management 
shall by regulation prescribe.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, except that, in the case of a leave recipi-
ent who is undergoing medical treatment on such date of 
enactment, section 6333(b)(2)(B) of title 5, United States 
Code (as amended by this section) shall be applied as if 
it had been amended by inserting ‘‘or the date of the en-
actment of this subsection, whichever is later’’ after ‘‘the 
start of such treatment’’.
1227 
SEC. 
1676. 
MORATORIUM 
ON 
CONVERSION 
TO 
CON-
TRACTOR PERFORMANCE OF DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE FUNCTIONS AT MILITARY MED-
ICAL FACILITIES. 
(a) MORATORIUM.—No study or competition may be 
begun or announced pursuant to section 2461 of title 10, 
United States Code, or otherwise pursuant to Office of 
Management and Budget circular A-76, relating to the 
possible conversion to performance by a contractor of any 
Department of Defense function carried out at a military 
medical facility until the Secretary of Defense— 
(1) submits the certification required by sub-
section (b) to the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives together with a de-
scription of the steps taken by the Secretary in ac-
cordance with the certification; and 
(2) submits the report required by subsection 
(c). 
(b) CERTIFICATION.—The certification referred to in 
paragraph (a)(1) is a certification that the Secretary has 
taken appropriate steps to ensure that neither the quality 
of military medical care nor the availability of qualified 
personnel to carry out Department of Defense functions 
related to military medical care will be adversely affected 
by either—
1228 
(1) the process of considering a Department of 
Defense function carried out at a military medical 
facility for possible conversion to performance by a 
contractor; or 
(2) the conversion of such a function to per-
formance by a contractor. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives a report on the public- 
private competitions being conducted for Department of 
Defense functions carried out at military medical facilities 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act by each military 
department and defense agency. Such report shall in-
clude— 
(1) for each such competition— 
(A) the cost of conducting the public-pri-
vate competition; 
(B) the number of military personnel and 
civilian employees of the Department of De-
fense affected; 
(C) the estimated savings identified and 
the savings actually achieved;
1229 
(D) an evaluation whether the anticipated 
and budgeted savings can be achieved through 
a public-private competition; and 
(E) the effect of converting the perform-
ance of the function to performance by a con-
tractor on the quality of the performance of the 
function; and 
(2) an assessment of whether any method of 
business reform or reengineering other than a pub-
lic-private competition could, if implemented in the 
future, achieve any anticipated or budgeted savings. 
TITLE XVII—VETERANS 
MATTERS 
Sec. 1701. Sense of Congress on Department of Veterans Affairs efforts in the 
rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans with traumatic 
brain injury. 
Sec. 1702. Individual rehabilitation and community reintegration plans for vet-
erans and others with traumatic brain injury. 
Sec. 1703. Use of non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for implemen-
tation of rehabilitation and community reintegration plans for 
traumatic brain injury. 
Sec. 1704. Research, education, and clinical care program on traumatic brain 
injury. 
Sec. 1705. Pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic 
brain injury. 
Sec. 1706. Provision of age-appropriate nursing home care. 
Sec. 1707. Extension of period of eligibility for health care for veterans of com-
bat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. 
Sec. 1708. Service-connection and assessments for mental health conditions in 
veterans. 
Sec. 1709. Modification of requirements for furnishing outpatient dental serv-
ices to veterans with service-connected dental conditions or dis-
abilities. 
Sec. 1710. Clarification of purpose of outreach services program of Department 
of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 1711. Designation of fiduciary or trustee for purposes of Traumatic 
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.
1231 
(5) the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs have made efforts to pro-
vide a smooth transition of medical care and reha-
bilitative services to individuals as they transition 
from the health care system of the Department of 
Defense to that of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, but more can be done to assist veterans and 
their families in the continuum of the rehabilitation, 
recovery, and reintegration of wounded or injured 
veterans into their communities; 
(6) in planning for rehabilitation and commu-
nity reintegration of veterans who have a traumatic 
brain injury, it is necessary for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to provide a system for life-long 
case management for such veterans; and 
(7) in such system for life-long case manage-
ment, it is necessary to conduct outreach and to tai-
lor specialized traumatic brain injury case manage-
ment and outreach to the unique needs of veterans 
with traumatic brain injury who reside in urban and 
non-urban settings.
1232 
SEC. 1702. INDIVIDUAL REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY 
REINTEGRATION PLANS FOR VETERANS AND 
OTHERS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1710B the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 1710C. Traumatic brain injury: plans for rehabili-
tation and reintegration into the commu-
nity 
‘‘(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall, for each 
individual who is a veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces who receives inpatient or outpatient rehabilitative 
hospital care or medical services provided by the Depart-
ment for a traumatic brain injury— 
‘‘(1) develop an individualized plan for the re-
habilitation and reintegration of the individual into 
the community; and 
‘‘(2) provide such plan in writing to the indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual receiving 
inpatient care, before the individual is dis-
charged from inpatient care or after the individ-
ual’s transition from serving on active duty as 
a member of the Armed Forces to receiving out-
patient care provided by the Department; or
1233 
‘‘(B) as soon as practicable following a di-
agnosis of traumatic brain injury by a Depart-
ment health care provider. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS
OF PLAN.—Each plan developed 
under subsection (a) shall include, for the individual cov-
ered by such plan, the following: 
‘‘(1) Rehabilitation objectives for improving the 
physical, cognitive, and vocational functioning of the 
individual with the goal of maximizing the independ-
ence and reintegration of such individual into the 
community. 
‘‘(2) Access, as warranted, to all appropriate re-
habilitative components of the traumatic brain in-
jury continuum of care, and where appropriate, to 
long-term care services. 
‘‘(3) A description of specific rehabilitative 
treatments and other services to achieve the objec-
tives described in paragraph (1), which shall set 
forth the type, frequency, duration, and location of 
such treatments and services. 
‘‘(4) The name of the case manager designated 
in accordance with subsection (d) to be responsible 
for the implementation of such plan.
1234 
‘‘(5) Dates on which the effectiveness of such 
plan will be reviewed in accordance with subsection 
(f). 
‘‘(c) COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.—(1) Each plan 
developed under subsection (a) shall be based on a com-
prehensive assessment, developed in accordance with para-
graph (2), of— 
‘‘(A) the physical, cognitive, vocational, and 
neuropsychological and social impairments of the in-
dividual; and 
‘‘(B) the family education and family support 
needs of the individual after the individual is dis-
charged from inpatient care or at the commence-
ment of and during the receipt of outpatient care 
and services. 
‘‘(2) The comprehensive assessment required under 
paragraph (1) with respect to an individual is a com-
prehensive assessment of the matters set forth in that 
paragraph by a team, composed by the Secretary for pur-
poses of the assessment, of individuals with expertise in 
traumatic brain injury, including any of the following: 
‘‘(A) A neurologist. 
‘‘(B) A rehabilitation physician. 
‘‘(C) A social worker. 
‘‘(D) A neuropsychologist.
1235 
‘‘(E) A physical therapist. 
‘‘(F) A vocational rehabilitation specialist. 
‘‘(G) An occupational therapist. 
‘‘(H) A speech language pathologist. 
‘‘(I) A rehabilitation nurse. 
‘‘(J) An educational therapist. 
‘‘(K) An audiologist. 
‘‘(L) A blind rehabilitation specialist. 
‘‘(M) A recreational therapist. 
‘‘(N) A low vision optometrist. 
‘‘(O) An orthotist or prosthetist. 
‘‘(P) An assistive technologist or rehabilitation 
engineer. 
‘‘(Q) An otolaryngology physician. 
‘‘(R) A dietician. 
‘‘(S) An opthamologist. 
‘‘(T) A psychiatrist. 
‘‘(d) CASE MANAGER.—(1) The Secretary shall des-
ignate a case manager for each individual described in 
subsection (a) to be responsible for the implementation of 
the plan developed for that individual under that sub-
section and the coordination of the individual’s medical 
care. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each case man-
ager has specific expertise in the care required by the indi-
1236 
vidual for whom the case manager is designated, regard-
less of whether the case manager obtains such expertise 
through experience, education, or training. 
‘‘(e) PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION IN DE-
VELOPMENT OF PLANS.—(1) The Secretary shall involve 
each individual described in subsection (a), and the family 
or legal guardian of such individual, in the development 
of the plan for such individual under that subsection to 
the maximum extent practicable. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall collaborate in the develop-
ment of a plan for an individual under subsection (a) with 
a State protection and advocacy system if— 
‘‘(A) the individual covered by the plan requests 
such collaboration; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of such an individual who is 
incapacitated, the family or guardian of the indi-
vidual requests such collaboration. 
‘‘(3) In the case of a plan required by subsection (a) 
for a member of the Armed Forces who is serving on ac-
tive duty, the Secretary shall collaborate with the Sec-
retary of Defense in the development of such plan. 
‘‘(4) In developing vocational rehabilitation objectives 
required under subsection (b)(1) and in conducting the as-
sessment required under subsection (c), the Secretary 
shall act through the Under Secretary for Health in co-