Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act

Bill: 116-hr-6493
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2020-04-14
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability assistance

Government information and archives

Health information and medical records

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-04-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act</b></p> <p>This bill updates the placement and treatment of the disability benefit questionnaire form of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill requires the VA to publish the disability benefit questionnaire form in a central location on a VA website. Such a form relates to the submission of evidence by private medical providers regarding the disability of a claimant.</p> <p>If the VA modifies the disability benefit questionnaire form, the VA must accept the previous version of the form filed by a claimant if (1) the claimant files such form during the one-year period following the modification, and (2) the form is signed and dated by the medical provider and is otherwise complete and valid.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6493 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 14, 2020 Mr. Barr introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of veterans to access and submit disability benefit questionnaire forms of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act . 2. Publication and acceptance of disability benefit questionnaire forms of Department of Veterans Affairs Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection (d): (d) (1) The Secretary shall publish in a central location on the internet website of the Department the disability benefit questionnaire form, or such successor form relating to private medical providers submitting evidence regarding a disability of a claimant. (2) Subject to section 6103 of this title, if the Secretary modifies the form described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall accept the previous version of the form filed by a claimant if— (A) the claimant files such form during the one-year period following the date of such modification; and (B) the form is signed and dated by the private medical provider and is otherwise complete and valid. .