Veterans Disability Claims Notification Improvement Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.6131 | Sponsor: Rep. Luria, Elaine G. (D-VA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Disability Claims Notification Improvement Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide notice related to claims in an electronic format upon the election of the claimant, including for decisions by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Under the bill, a claimant may revoke such an election at any time.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
  Veterans Affairs to send electronic notice to claimants under laws 
                     administered by the Secretary.

    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 Disability Claims 
Notification Improvement Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF ELECTRONIC NOTICE IN CLAIMS UNDER LAWS 
              ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Authorization.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
follows:
            (1) By striking section 5100 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 5100. Definitions
    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) The term `claimant' means any individual applying 
        for, or submitting a claim for, any benefit under the laws 
        administered by the Secretary.
            ``(2) The term `notice' means a communication issued 
        through means (including electronic means) prescribed by the 
        Secretary.''.
            (2) In section 5104, by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) The Secretary may provide notice under subsection (a) 
electronically if a claimant (or the claimant's representative) elects 
to receive such notice electronically. A claimant (or the claimant's 
representative) may revoke such an election at any time, by means 
prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(d) The Secretary shall annually--
            ``(1) solicit recommendations from stakeholders on how to 
        improve notice under this section; and
            ``(2) publish such recommendations on a publicly available 
        website of the Department.''.
            (3) In section 5104B(c), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1) by striking ``in writing'' and inserting ``to the claimant 
        (and any representative of such claimant)''.
            (4) In section 7104--
                    (A) in the heading, by adding ``; decisions; 
                notice'' at the end; and
                    (B) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(e) After reaching a decision on an appeal, the Board shall 
promptly issue notice (as that term is defined in section 5100 of this 
title) of such decision to the following:
            ``(1) The appellant.
            ``(2) Any other party with a right to notice of such 
        decision.
            ``(3) Any authorized representative of the appellant or 
        party described in paragraph (2).
    ``(f) The Secretary may provide notice under subsection (e) 
electronically if a claimant (or the claimant's representative) elects 
to receive such notice electronically. A claimant (or the claimant's 
representative) may revoke such an election at any time, by means 
prescribed by the Secretary.''.
            (5) In section 7105(b)(1)(A), by striking ``mailing'' and 
        inserting ``issuance''.
            (6) In section 7105A(a), by striking ``mailed'' and 
        inserting ``issued''.
            (7) In section 7266(a), by striking ``mailed'' and 
        inserting ``issued''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) Chapter 51.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
        chapter 51 of such title is amended by striking the item 
        relating to section 5100 and inserting the following:

``5100. Definitions.''.
            (2) Chapter 71.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
        chapter 71 of such title is amended by striking the item 
        relating to section 7104 and inserting the following:

``7104. Jurisdiction of the Board; decisions; notice.''.
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