Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021
Bill: S.1664 | Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021
This bill requires the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update an ongoing national training program for claims processors who review compensation claims for service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Such claims processors will be required to participate in the training at least once a year starting in their second year of being a VA claims processor.
The training program must be standardized at regional offices of the VBA and include instruction on stressor development and verification.
The VBA must establish a formal process to annually analyze training needs based on identified processing error trends. Additionally, the VBA must establish a formal process to conduct annual studies to help guide the national training program for claims processors.
Finally, the VBA must evaluate the guidance relating to PTSD to determine if updates are warranted to provide claims processors with better resources regarding best practices for claims processing, including specific guidance regarding development of claims involving compensation for service-connected PTSD.

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain actions to 
improve the processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs of claims 
for disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVING PROCESSING BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF 
              DISABILITY CLAIMS FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

    (a) Training for Claims Processors Who Handle 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, acting through the Under Secretary for 
        Benefits, update an ongoing, national training program for 
        claims processors who review claims for compensation for 
        service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.
            (2) Participation required.--Beginning on the date that is 
        180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Secretary shall require that each claims processor described in 
        paragraph (1) participates in the training established under 
        paragraph (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 Department.
            (3) Required elements.--The training established under 
        paragraph (1) shall include instruction on stressor development 
        and verification.
    (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 Secretary, acting through the 
        Under Secretary, shall establish 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.
                    (B) Decisionmaking 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 
Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall evaluate the 
guidance relating to post traumatic stress disorder to determine if 
updates are warranted to provide claims processors of the Department 
with better resources regarding best practices for claims processing, 
including specific guidance regarding development of claims involving 
compensation for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.
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