Fairness for Veterans Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4683
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2016-03-03
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Crime victims

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health information and medical records

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Mental health

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Neurological disorders

Sex offenses

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-03-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Fairness for Veterans Act of 2016</strong></p> <p>This bill addresses medical evidence reviews in the case of: (1) a former member of the Armed Forces who was deployed in a contingency operation and subsequently diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as a consequence of such deployment, or (2) a former member whose application for relief from the terms of his or her military discharge is based in whole or in part on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury related to combat or military sexual trauma.</p> <p>Any board of review shall: </p> <ul> <li>review medical evidence of the Department of Veterans Affairs or a civilian health care provider presented by the former member, and </li> <li>review the case with a rebuttable presumption in favor of the former member that post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury materially contributed to the circumstances resulting in the discharge of a lesser characterization.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4683 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 3, 2016 Mr. Coffman (for himself, Mr. Walz , Mr. Zeldin , Miss Rice of New York , Mr. King of New York , Mr. Jones , Mr. Russell , Mr. Zinke , Mr. Moulton , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Murphy of Florida , and Mr. Gallego ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for a review of the characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Veterans Act of 2016 . 2. Review of characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge Section 1553(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) (A) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2), in the case of a former member described in subparagraph (B), the board shall— (i) review medical evidence of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or a civilian health care provider that is presented by the former member; and (ii) review the case with a rebuttable presumption in favor of the former member that post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury materially contributed to the circumstances resulting in the discharge of a lesser characterization. (B) A former member described in this subparagraph is a former member described in paragraph (1) or a former member whose application for relief is based in whole or in part on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as supporting rationale or as justification for priority consideration whose post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury is related to combat or military sexual trauma, as determined by the Secretary concerned. .