Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act
Bill: H.R.185 | Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. (R-VA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act
This bill addresses the sharing of medical information and disability examination procedures between the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires that if a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination upon separation from active duty and has or is believed to have a medical condition that may make the member eligible for veterans' disability compensation and benefits, the examination must be performed by a VA-certified health care provider.
If the condition is discovered during the physical examination and the examining health care provider is not VA-certified, the examination must be completed by a VA-certified provider.
An eligibility determination made as part of such an examination shall be binding on the VA and be used as the basis for assigning the member's disability rating.
The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a system to share data and maintain the medical and personnel records of Armed Forces members and veterans.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single 
comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department 
  of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed 
                    Forces, 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 ``Veterans Affairs Transfer of 
Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD 
Doctors Act''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE DISABILITY EXAMINATION AS 
              PART OF REQUIRED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHYSICAL 
              EXAMINATION FOR SEPARATING MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    Section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
    ``(D) If a member of the armed forces who is required to receive a 
physical examination under subparagraph (A) has or is believed to have 
a medical condition that will or may make the member eligible for 
disability compensation and benefits from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, the physical examination shall be performed by a health care 
provider who is certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
determine such eligibility. If such a condition is discovered during 
the physical examination and the health care provider performing the 
examination is not certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
examination shall be completed by a health care provider certified by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    ``(E) An eligibility determination made as part of a physical 
examination under subparagraph (C) shall be binding on the Department 
of Veterans Affairs and be used as the basis for assigning a disability 
rating for the separating member.''.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JOINT 
              RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense 
shall jointly establish a system to be used by both the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and 
maintain the medical and personnel records of members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans. Such system shall provide for data sharing between 
the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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