Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-746
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
Introduced: 2021-02-03
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Disability and paralysis

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health information and medical records

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to get a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death in situations where a veteran's death certificate identifies COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) as the principal or contributory cause of death, the certificate does not clearly identify any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation is filed with respect to the veteran.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 746 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 3, 2021 Mr. Davidson (for himself, Mrs. Trahan , Mr. Budd , and Mr. Hern ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to secure medical opinions for veterans with service-connected disabilities who die from COVID–19 to determine whether their service-connected disabilities were the principal or contributory causes of death, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2021 . 2. Medical opinions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who die of COVID–19 In any case in which a veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities dies, the death certificate identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death, the death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for benefits is filed with respect to the veteran under chapter 13 of title 38, Unites States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death.