SEC. 2. IMPROVING PROCESSING BY DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS OF DISABILITY CLAIMS FOR 
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 
(a) TRAINING FOR CLAIMS PROCESSORS WHO HAN-
DLE CLAIMS RELATING
TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER.— 
(1) UPDATE TRAINING PROGRAMS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, act-
ing through the Under Secretary for Benefits, up-
date an ongoing, national training program for 
claims processors who review claims for compensa-
tion for service-connected post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
(2) PARTICIPATION REQUIRED.—Beginning on 
the date that is 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall require that 
each claims processor described in paragraph (1) 
participates in the training established under para-
graph (1) at least once each year beginning in the 
second year in which the claims processor carries out 
the duties of the claims processor for the Depart-
ment. 
(3) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—The training estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall include instruction 
on stressor development and verification. 
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(b) STANDARDIZATION OF TRAINING AT REGIONAL 
OFFICES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
Under Secretary, shall standardize the training provided 
at regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration 
to the employees of such regional offices. 
(c) FORMAL PROCESS FOR CONDUCT OF ANNUAL 
ANALYSIS OF TRENDS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting 
through the Under Secretary, shall establish a formal 
process to analyze, on an annual basis, training needs 
based on identified processing error trends. 
(d) FORMAL PROCESS FOR CONDUCT OF ANNUAL 
STUDIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall es-
tablish a formal process to conduct, on an annual 
basis, studies to help guide the national training 
program established under subsection (a)(1). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall cover the following: 
(A) Military post-traumatic stress disorder 
stressors. 
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(B) Decision-making claims for claims 
processors. 
(e) ANNUAL UPDATES TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not 
less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Sec-
retary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall evaluate 
the guidance relating to post-traumatic stress disorder to 
determine if updates are warranted to provide claims proc-
essors of the Department with better resources regarding 
best practices for claims processing, including specific 
guidance regarding development of claims involving com-
pensation for service-connected post-traumatic stress dis-
order. 
Æ 
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