Burn Pit Veterans Revision Act

Bill: 116-hr-1005
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2019-02-06
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Disability and paralysis

Health information and medical records

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Burn Pit Veterans Revision Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to amend the schedule for rating disabilities (for purposes of veterans benefit calculations) to add a diagnostic code and evaluation criteria for obliterative bronchiolitis, a respiratory disease that could be caused by burn pit exposure. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.</p> <p>The VA must provide a process for veterans who receive compensation due to a service-connected disability to have their disability reevaluated based on the diagnostic code and evaluation criteria established for obliterative bronchiolitis. Such veterans may then be assigned a new disability rating as a result of such reevaluation if such assignment does not reduce the veteran's existing disability rating.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1005 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2019 Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Mr. Stauber , Mr. Ruiz , and Mr. Cisneros ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to amend the schedule for rating disabilities to add a diagnostic code and evaluation criteria for obliterative bronchiolitis, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Burn Pit Veterans Revision Act . 2. Revision of Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating schedule with respect to obliterative bronchiolitis Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (1) amend the schedule for rating disabilities pursuant to section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, to add a diagnostic code and evaluation criteria for obliterative bronchiolitis; and (2) provide a process by which a veteran who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is receiving compensation under chapter 11 of such title for a service-connected disability— (A) may have such service-connected disability reevaluated based on the diagnostic code and evaluation criteria described in paragraph (1); and (B) may be assigned a new disability rating as a result of such reevaluation, if such assignment does not reduce the disability rating of such veteran in effect immediately prior to the date of such assignment.