Title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a comprehensive review of VA medical examinations provided to individuals who submit claims for compensation for a service-connected disability related to military sexual trauma.
Specifically, NASEM must review VA examinations that are provided for mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma and are conducted to assess the impairments of individuals arising from such trauma.
NASEM must report on its review, and the VA must report on its plans to implement actions based on NASEM's findings and recommendations.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6064 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6064

 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an 
  agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
 Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to 
 individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under 
  chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical 
              conditions linked to military sexual trauma.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2021

Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Bost, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Ellzey, 
    and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an 
  agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
 Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to 
 individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under 
  chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical 
              conditions linked to military sexual trauma.

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

SECTION 1. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS BY THE SECRETARY OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS LINKED 
              TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA FOR PURPOSES OF AWARDING 
              DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

    (a) Agreement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine (in this Act referred to as the ``National 
Academies'') to perform the services covered by this section.
    (b) Comprehensive Review.--Under an agreement between the Secretary 
and the National Academies under this section, the National Academies 
shall conduct a comprehensive review of examinations, furnished by the 
Secretary to individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for 
mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma (in 
this Act referred to as ``MST''), for the purpose of assessing the 
impairments of such individuals arising from MST. The review carried 
out pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:
            (1) A determination of the adequacy of tools and protocols 
        used by the Secretary to provide examinations described in this 
        subsection, including--
                    (A) the Disability Benefits Questionnaires;
                    (B) the Department's schedule of rating 
                disabilities;
                    (C) consideration of whether certain conditions 
                linked to MST should require referral for both a mental 
                health examination and a physical health examination; 
                and
                    (D) the necessity of internal pelvic examinations 
                to diagnose certain conditions linked to MST, and 
                whether alternatives to such examinations could be 
                considered if a veteran objects to or cannot complete 
                such examination.
            (2) A determination of what credentials and training are 
        necessary for a health care specialist or provider to perform 
        such examinations related to physical conditions linked to MST, 
        for men and for women, including--
                    (A) sexual dysfunction;
                    (B) pelvic pain;
                    (C) pelvic dysfunction;
                    (D) musculoskeletal disabilities; and
                    (E) cardiovascular conditions (including stroke).
            (3) A determination of what credentials and training are 
        necessary for a health care specialist or provider to perform 
        such examinations related to mental health conditions linked to 
        MST, for men and for women.
            (4) An assessment of the quality of MST training for 
        individuals who perform such examinations, including 
        recommendations for improvements to such training.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Report of the national academies.--Not later than 540 
        days after the date on which the Secretary enters into an 
        agreement under subsection (a), the National Academies shall 
        submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
        House of Representatives a report on the comprehensive review 
        conducted under subsection (b). Such report shall include the 
        following elements:
                    (A) The findings of the National Academies under 
                subsection (b).
                    (B) Recommendations of the National Academies 
                regarding legislative or administrative action to 
                improve of the adjudication of claims described in 
                subsection (b).
            (2) Report of the secretary.--Not later than 90 days after 
        submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the plans 
        of the Secretary to carry out any action based on the findings 
        and recommendations of the National Academies.
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