| 1 | 1 | | II |
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| 2 | 2 | | 119THCONGRESS |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1 |
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| 4 | 4 | | STSESSION S. 1245 |
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| 5 | 5 | | To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits |
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| 6 | 6 | | from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, |
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| 7 | 7 | | and for other purposes. |
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| 8 | 8 | | IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES |
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| 9 | 9 | | APRIL1 (legislative day, MARCH31), 2025 |
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| 10 | 10 | | Mr. B |
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| 11 | 11 | | LUMENTHAL (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. |
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| 12 | 12 | | F |
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| 13 | 13 | | ETTERMAN, Mr. VANHOLLEN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, and |
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| 14 | 14 | | Mrs. S |
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| 15 | 15 | | HAHEEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and |
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| 16 | 16 | | referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs |
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| 17 | 17 | | A BILL |
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| 18 | 18 | | To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health |
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| 19 | 19 | | care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Af- |
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| 20 | 20 | | fairs for military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. |
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| 21 | 21 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1 |
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| 22 | 22 | | tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 3 |
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| 24 | 24 | | (a) S |
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| 25 | 25 | | HORTTITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 4 |
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| 26 | 26 | | ‘‘Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Sup-5 |
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| 27 | 27 | | port Act of 2025’’. 6 |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) T |
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| 29 | 29 | | ABLE OFCONTENTS.—The table of contents for 7 |
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| 30 | 30 | | this Act is as follows: 8 |
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| 33 | 33 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. |
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| 35 | 35 | | TITLE I—DEFINING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA |
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| 36 | 36 | | Sec. 101. Report on military sexual trauma in the digital age. |
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| 37 | 37 | | TITLE II—DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND CLAIMS PROCESSING |
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| 38 | 38 | | Sec. 201. Definition of military sexual trauma. |
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| 39 | 39 | | Sec. 202. Conforming changes relating to specialized teams to evaluate claims |
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| 40 | 40 | | involving military sexual trauma. |
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| 41 | 41 | | Sec. 203. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma. |
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| 42 | 42 | | Sec. 204. Choice of location of Department of Veterans Affairs medical exam- |
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| 43 | 43 | | ination for assessment of claims for compensation relating to |
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| 44 | 44 | | disability resulting from military sexual trauma. |
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| 45 | 45 | | Sec. 205. Communications from the Department of Veterans Affairs to individ- |
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| 46 | 46 | | uals who have experienced military sexual trauma. |
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| 47 | 47 | | Sec. 206. Study on training and processing relating to claims for disability |
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| 48 | 48 | | compensation relating to military sexual trauma. |
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| 49 | 49 | | Sec. 207. Annual special focus review of claims for disability compensation for |
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| 50 | 50 | | disabilities relating to military sexual trauma. |
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| 51 | 51 | | Sec. 208. Workgroup on medical examinations for claims for disability com- |
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| 52 | 52 | | pensation for disabilities relating to military sexual trauma. |
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| 53 | 53 | | TITLE III—ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE |
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| 54 | 54 | | Sec. 301. Expansion of eligibility for counseling and treatment for military sex- |
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| 55 | 55 | | ual trauma to include all former members of the reserve com- |
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| 56 | 56 | | ponents of the armed forces. |
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| 57 | 57 | | Sec. 302. Connection to veterans health administration when a disability claim |
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| 58 | 58 | | related to military sexual trauma is submitted to veterans ben- |
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| 59 | 59 | | efits administration. |
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| 60 | 60 | | Sec. 303. Care relating to military sexual trauma for individuals who withdraw |
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| 61 | 61 | | from or otherwise do not complete service at service academies. |
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| 62 | 62 | | TITLE I—DEFINING MILITARY 1 |
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| 63 | 63 | | SEXUAL TRAUMA 2 |
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| 64 | 64 | | SEC. 101. REPORT ON MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA IN THE 3 |
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| 65 | 65 | | DIGITAL AGE. 4 |
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| 66 | 66 | | (a) R |
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| 67 | 67 | | EPORTREQUIRED.—Not later than one year 5 |
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| 68 | 68 | | after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 6 |
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| 69 | 69 | | of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Vet-7 |
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| 70 | 70 | | erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet-8 |
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| 71 | 71 | | erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 9 |
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| 72 | 72 | | on military sexual trauma in the digital age. 10 |
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| 75 | 75 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 76 | 76 | | (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The report required under 1 |
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| 77 | 77 | | subsection (a) shall include the following: 2 |
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| 78 | 78 | | (1) A comprehensive evaluation and assessment 3 |
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| 79 | 79 | | of current Department of Veterans Affairs statutes, 4 |
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| 80 | 80 | | regulations, and agency guidance relating to military 5 |
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| 81 | 81 | | sexual trauma for the purposes of access to health 6 |
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| 82 | 82 | | care under chapter 17 of title 38, United States 7 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Code, and compensation under chapter 11 of such 8 |
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| 84 | 84 | | title to identify— 9 |
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| 85 | 85 | | (A) gaps in coverage for health care and 10 |
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| 86 | 86 | | compensation eligibility relating to military sex-11 |
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| 87 | 87 | | ual trauma involving online or other techno-12 |
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| 88 | 88 | | logical communications; and 13 |
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| 89 | 89 | | (B) the feasibility and advisability of ex-14 |
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| 90 | 90 | | panding health care and compensation for trau-15 |
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| 91 | 91 | | ma that is nonsexual in nature involving online 16 |
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| 92 | 92 | | or other technological communications. 17 |
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| 93 | 93 | | (2) Recommendations for revising statutes, reg-18 |
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| 94 | 94 | | ulations, and agency guidance in response to the 19 |
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| 95 | 95 | | evaluation and assessment under paragraph (1). 20 |
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| 96 | 96 | | (c) C |
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| 97 | 97 | | ONSULTATION.— 21 |
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| 98 | 98 | | (1) I |
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| 99 | 99 | | N GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 22 |
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| 100 | 100 | | (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult 23 |
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| 101 | 101 | | veterans service organizations and such other stake-24 |
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| 104 | 104 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 105 | 105 | | holders as the Secretary considers relevant and ap-1 |
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| 106 | 106 | | propriate. 2 |
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| 107 | 107 | | (2) R |
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| 108 | 108 | | ELATION TO FACA.—Chapter 10 of title 5, 3 |
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| 109 | 109 | | United States Code, shall not apply to paragraph 4 |
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| 110 | 110 | | (1). 5 |
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| 111 | 111 | | (d) M |
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| 112 | 112 | | ILITARYSEXUALTRAUMADEFINED.—In this 6 |
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| 113 | 113 | | section, the term ‘‘military sexual trauma’’— 7 |
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| 114 | 114 | | (1) with respect to eligibility for health care, 8 |
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| 115 | 115 | | has the meaning given such term in section 9 |
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| 116 | 116 | | 1720D(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added 10 |
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| 117 | 117 | | by section 301; and 11 |
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| 118 | 118 | | (2) with respect to eligibility for compensation, 12 |
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| 119 | 119 | | has the meaning given such term in section 1166A(i) 13 |
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| 120 | 120 | | of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 14 |
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| 121 | 121 | | 203(a). 15 |
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| 122 | 122 | | TITLE II—DISABILITY COM-16 |
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| 123 | 123 | | PENSATION AND CLAIMS 17 |
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| 124 | 124 | | PROCESSING 18 |
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| 125 | 125 | | SEC. 201. DEFINITION OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 19 |
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| 126 | 126 | | In this title, the term ‘‘military sexual trauma’’ has 20 |
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| 127 | 127 | | the meaning given such term in section 1166A(i) of title 21 |
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| 128 | 128 | | 38, United States Code, as added by section 203(a). 22 |
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| 131 | 131 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 132 | 132 | | SEC. 202. CONFORMING CHANGES RELATING TO SPECIAL-1 |
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| 133 | 133 | | IZED TEAMS TO EVALUATE CLAIMS INVOLV-2 |
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| 134 | 134 | | ING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 3 |
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| 135 | 135 | | Section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is 4 |
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| 136 | 136 | | amended— 5 |
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| 137 | 137 | | (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘for com-6 |
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| 138 | 138 | | pensation for a covered mental health condition’’ 7 |
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| 139 | 139 | | and inserting ‘‘for compensation for a condition, 8 |
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| 140 | 140 | | which may include a covered mental health condi-9 |
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| 141 | 141 | | tion,’’; and 10 |
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| 142 | 142 | | (2) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-11 |
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| 143 | 143 | | lows: 12 |
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| 144 | 144 | | ‘‘(d) D |
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| 145 | 145 | | EFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘cov-13 |
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| 146 | 146 | | ered mental health condition’ and ‘military sexual trauma’ 14 |
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| 147 | 147 | | have the meanings given those terms in section 1166A(i) 15 |
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| 148 | 148 | | of this title.’’. 16 |
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| 149 | 149 | | SEC. 203. EVALUATION OF CLAIMS INVOLVING MILITARY 17 |
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| 150 | 150 | | SEXUAL TRAUMA. 18 |
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| 151 | 151 | | (a) I |
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| 152 | 152 | | NGENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of 19 |
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| 153 | 153 | | such title is amended by inserting after section 1166 the 20 |
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| 154 | 154 | | following new section: 21 |
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| 155 | 155 | | ‘‘§ 1166A. Evaluation of claims involving military sex-22 |
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| 156 | 156 | | ual trauma 23 |
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| 157 | 157 | | ‘‘(a) I |
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| 158 | 158 | | NGENERAL.—(1) In the case of any veteran 24 |
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| 159 | 159 | | who claims that a covered mental health condition based 25 |
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| 160 | 160 | | on military sexual trauma was incurred in or aggravated 26 |
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| 163 | 163 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 164 | 164 | | by active military, naval, air, or space service, the Sec-1 |
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| 165 | 165 | | retary shall consider the following: 2 |
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| 166 | 166 | | ‘‘(A) A diagnosis of such mental health condi-3 |
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| 167 | 167 | | tion by a mental health professional. 4 |
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| 168 | 168 | | ‘‘(B) A link, established by medical evidence, 5 |
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| 169 | 169 | | between current symptoms and a military sexual 6 |
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| 170 | 170 | | trauma. 7 |
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| 171 | 171 | | ‘‘(C) Credible corroborating evidence, in accord-8 |
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| 172 | 172 | | ance with subsections (b) and (c), that the claimed 9 |
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| 173 | 173 | | military sexual trauma occurred. 10 |
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| 174 | 174 | | ‘‘(2) The reasons for granting or denying service-con-11 |
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| 175 | 175 | | nection in each case described in paragraph (1) shall be 12 |
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| 176 | 176 | | recorded in full. 13 |
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| 177 | 177 | | ‘‘(b) N |
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| 178 | 178 | | ONMILITARYSOURCES OF EVIDENCE.—(1) 14 |
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| 179 | 179 | | For purposes of subsection (a), evidence from sources 15 |
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| 180 | 180 | | other than official records of the Department of Defense 16 |
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| 181 | 181 | | regarding the veteran’s active military, naval, air, or space 17 |
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| 182 | 182 | | service may corroborate the veteran’s account of the trau-18 |
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| 183 | 183 | | ma. 19 |
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| 184 | 184 | | ‘‘(2) Examples of evidence described in paragraph (1) 20 |
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| 185 | 185 | | include the following: 21 |
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| 186 | 186 | | ‘‘(A) Records from law enforcement authorities, 22 |
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| 187 | 187 | | rape crisis centers, mental health counseling centers, 23 |
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| 188 | 188 | | hospitals, and physicians. 24 |
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| 192 | 192 | | ‘‘(B) Pregnancy tests and tests for sexually 1 |
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| 193 | 193 | | transmitted diseases. 2 |
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| 194 | 194 | | ‘‘(C) Statements from family members, room-3 |
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| 195 | 195 | | mates, other members of the Armed Forces or vet-4 |
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| 196 | 196 | | erans, and clergy. 5 |
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| 197 | 197 | | ‘‘(c) E |
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| 198 | 198 | | VIDENCE OFBEHAVIORCHANGES.—(1) For 6 |
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| 199 | 199 | | purposes of subsection (a), evidence of a behavior change 7 |
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| 200 | 200 | | following military sexual trauma is one type of relevant 8 |
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| 201 | 201 | | evidence that may be found in sources described in such 9 |
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| 202 | 202 | | subsection. 10 |
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| 203 | 203 | | ‘‘(2) Examples of behavior changes that may be rel-11 |
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| 204 | 204 | | evant evidence of military sexual trauma include the fol-12 |
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| 205 | 205 | | lowing: 13 |
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| 206 | 206 | | ‘‘(A) A request for a transfer to another mili-14 |
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| 207 | 207 | | tary duty assignment. 15 |
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| 208 | 208 | | ‘‘(B) Deterioration in work performance. 16 |
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| 209 | 209 | | ‘‘(C) Substance abuse or substance use dis-17 |
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| 210 | 210 | | order. 18 |
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| 211 | 211 | | ‘‘(D) Episodes of depression, panic attacks, or 19 |
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| 212 | 212 | | anxiety without an identifiable cause. 20 |
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| 213 | 213 | | ‘‘(E) Unexplained economic or social behavior 21 |
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| 214 | 214 | | changes. 22 |
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| 215 | 215 | | ‘‘(d) N |
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| 216 | 216 | | OTICE ANDOPPORTUNITYTOSUPPLYEVI-23 |
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| 217 | 217 | | DENCE.—The Secretary may not deny a claim of a veteran 24 |
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| 218 | 218 | | for compensation under this chapter for a covered mental 25 |
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| 221 | 221 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 222 | 222 | | health condition that is based on military sexual trauma 1 |
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| 223 | 223 | | without first— 2 |
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| 224 | 224 | | ‘‘(1) advising the veteran that evidence de-3 |
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| 225 | 225 | | scribed in subsections (b) and (c) may constitute 4 |
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| 226 | 226 | | credible corroborating evidence of the military sexual 5 |
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| 227 | 227 | | trauma; and 6 |
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| 228 | 228 | | ‘‘(2) allowing the veteran an opportunity to fur-7 |
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| 229 | 229 | | nish such corroborating evidence or advise the Sec-8 |
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| 230 | 230 | | retary of potential sources of such evidence. 9 |
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| 231 | 231 | | ‘‘(e) R |
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| 232 | 232 | | EVIEW OFEVIDENCE.—In reviewing a claim 10 |
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| 233 | 233 | | for compensation described in subsection (a)(1), for any 11 |
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| 234 | 234 | | evidence identified as part of such claim that is described 12 |
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| 235 | 235 | | in subsection (b) or (c), the Secretary shall submit such 13 |
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| 236 | 236 | | evidence to such medical or mental health professional as 14 |
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| 237 | 237 | | the Secretary considers appropriate, including clinical and 15 |
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| 238 | 238 | | counseling experts employed by the Department, to obtain 16 |
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| 239 | 239 | | an opinion as to whether the evidence indicates that a mili-17 |
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| 240 | 240 | | tary sexual trauma occurred. 18 |
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| 241 | 241 | | ‘‘(f) P |
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| 242 | 242 | | OINT OFCONTACT.—The Secretary shall en-19 |
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| 243 | 243 | | sure that each document provided to a veteran relating 20 |
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| 244 | 244 | | to a claim for compensation described in subsection (a)(1) 21 |
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| 245 | 245 | | includes contact information for an appropriate point of 22 |
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| 246 | 246 | | contact with the Department. 23 |
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| 247 | 247 | | ‘‘(g) S |
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| 248 | 248 | | PECIALIZEDTEAMS.—The Secretary shall en-24 |
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| 249 | 249 | | sure that all claims for compensation described in sub-25 |
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| 253 | 253 | | section (a)(1) are reviewed and processed by a specialized 1 |
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| 254 | 254 | | team established under section 1166 of this title. 2 |
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| 255 | 255 | | ‘‘(h) R |
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| 256 | 256 | | ULE OFCONSTRUCTIONREGARDINGAPPLICA-3 |
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| 257 | 257 | | TION TONONSEXUALPERSONALASSAULT.—The Sec-4 |
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| 258 | 258 | | retary shall not construe this section as supplanting the 5 |
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| 259 | 259 | | standard of proof or evidence required for claims for post- 6 |
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| 260 | 260 | | traumatic stress disorder based on nonsexual personal as-7 |
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| 261 | 261 | | sault, which the Secretary shall continue to define in regu-8 |
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| 262 | 262 | | lation. 9 |
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| 263 | 263 | | ‘‘(i) D |
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| 264 | 264 | | EFINITIONS.—In this section: 10 |
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| 265 | 265 | | ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered mental health condition’ 11 |
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| 266 | 266 | | means post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, de-12 |
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| 267 | 267 | | pression, or other mental health diagnosis that the 13 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Secretary determines to be related to military sexual 14 |
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| 269 | 269 | | trauma and which may be service-connected under 15 |
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| 270 | 270 | | section 1110 of this title. 16 |
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| 271 | 271 | | ‘‘(2) The term ‘mental health professional’ 17 |
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| 272 | 272 | | means a provider in the field of mental health who 18 |
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| 273 | 273 | | meets the credential, licensure, education, and train-19 |
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| 274 | 274 | | ing requirements established by the Secretary. 20 |
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| 275 | 275 | | ‘‘(3) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ means, 21 |
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| 276 | 276 | | with respect to a veteran, a physical assault of a sex-22 |
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| 277 | 277 | | ual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual har-23 |
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| 278 | 278 | | assment that occurred while the veteran was serving 24 |
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| 279 | 279 | | in the active military, naval, air, or space service.’’. 25 |
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| 282 | 282 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 283 | 283 | | (b) OUTREACH.— 1 |
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| 284 | 284 | | (1) I |
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| 285 | 285 | | N GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 2 |
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| 286 | 286 | | after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-3 |
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| 287 | 287 | | retary of Veterans Affairs shall implement, with 4 |
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| 288 | 288 | | input from the veteran community, an informative 5 |
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| 289 | 289 | | outreach program for veterans regarding the stand-6 |
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| 290 | 290 | | ard of proof for evaluation of claims relating to mili-7 |
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| 291 | 291 | | tary sexual trauma, including requirements for a 8 |
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| 292 | 292 | | medical examination and opinion. 9 |
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| 293 | 293 | | (2) T |
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| 294 | 294 | | ARGETED OUTREACH .—In implementing 10 |
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| 295 | 295 | | the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary 11 |
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| 296 | 296 | | shall, to the extent practicable, target outreach to 12 |
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| 297 | 297 | | veterans who submitted a claim relating to military 13 |
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| 298 | 298 | | sexual trauma that was denied. 14 |
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| 299 | 299 | | (c) C |
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| 300 | 300 | | LERICALAMENDMENT.—The table of sections 15 |
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| 301 | 301 | | at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended 16 |
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| 302 | 302 | | by inserting after the item relating to section 1166 the 17 |
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| 303 | 303 | | following new item: 18 |
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| 304 | 304 | | ‘‘1166A. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma.’’. |
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| 305 | 305 | | SEC. 204. CHOICE OF LOCATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VET- |
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| 306 | 306 | | 19 |
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| 307 | 307 | | ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL EXAMINATION FOR 20 |
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| 308 | 308 | | ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS FOR COMPENSA-21 |
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| 309 | 309 | | TION RELATING TO DISABILITY RESULTING 22 |
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| 310 | 310 | | FROM MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 23 |
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| 311 | 311 | | (a) I |
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| 312 | 312 | | NGENERAL.—Section 1165 of title 38, United 24 |
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| 313 | 313 | | States Code, is amended— 25 |
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| 316 | 316 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 317 | 317 | | (1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘and 1 |
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| 318 | 318 | | location of medical examination’’ after ‘‘ex-2 |
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| 319 | 319 | | aminer’’; 3 |
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| 320 | 320 | | (2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a physical as-4 |
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| 321 | 321 | | sault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, 5 |
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| 322 | 322 | | or sexual harassment’’ and inserting ‘‘military sexual 6 |
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| 323 | 323 | | trauma (as defined in section 1166A(i) of this 7 |
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| 324 | 324 | | title)’’; 8 |
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| 325 | 325 | | (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-9 |
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| 326 | 326 | | section (d); and 10 |
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| 327 | 327 | | (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-11 |
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| 328 | 328 | | lowing new subsection (c): 12 |
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| 329 | 329 | | ‘‘(c) C |
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| 330 | 330 | | HOICE OF EXAMINATIONLOCATION.—The 13 |
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| 331 | 331 | | Secretary shall ensure that a veteran who requires a med-14 |
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| 332 | 332 | | ical examination in support of a claim described in sub-15 |
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| 333 | 333 | | section (a) may request that the medical examination take 16 |
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| 334 | 334 | | place at a medical facility of the Department by a qualified 17 |
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| 335 | 335 | | employee of the Department rather than at a location des-18 |
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| 336 | 336 | | ignated by a contractor of the Department that performs 19 |
|---|
| 337 | 337 | | such examinations on behalf of the Department.’’. 20 |
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| 338 | 338 | | (b) C |
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| 339 | 339 | | LERICALAMENDMENT.—The table of sections 21 |
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| 340 | 340 | | at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended 22 |
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| 341 | 341 | | by striking the item relating to section 1165 and inserting 23 |
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| 342 | 342 | | the following new item: 24 |
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| 343 | 343 | | ‘‘1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner and location of medical examination |
|---|
| 344 | 344 | | for certain disabilities.’’. |
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| 347 | 347 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 348 | 348 | | SEC. 205. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 1 |
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| 349 | 349 | | VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO 2 |
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| 350 | 350 | | HAVE EXPERIENCED MILITARY SEXUAL 3 |
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| 351 | 351 | | TRAUMA. 4 |
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| 352 | 352 | | (a) R |
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| 353 | 353 | | EVIEWWORKGROUP.— 5 |
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| 354 | 354 | | (1) I |
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| 355 | 355 | | N GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 6 |
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| 356 | 356 | | Affairs shall establish a workgroup to review cor-7 |
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| 357 | 357 | | respondence relating to military sexual trauma. 8 |
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| 358 | 358 | | (2) M |
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| 359 | 359 | | EMBERSHIP.—The workgroup established 9 |
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| 360 | 360 | | under paragraph (1) shall be composed of members 10 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | who shall be appointed by the Secretary from among 11 |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs 12 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | who are experts in military sexual trauma and men-13 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | tal health, of whom— 14 |
|---|
| 365 | 365 | | (A) one or more shall be appointed from 15 |
|---|
| 366 | 366 | | among mental health providers of the Veterans 16 |
|---|
| 367 | 367 | | Health Administration; 17 |
|---|
| 368 | 368 | | (B) one or more shall be appointed from 18 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | among experts on sexual assault and sexual 19 |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | harassment of the Veterans Benefits Adminis-20 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | tration; and 21 |
|---|
| 372 | 372 | | (C) one or more shall be appointed from 22 |
|---|
| 373 | 373 | | among experts on sexual assault and sexual 23 |
|---|
| 374 | 374 | | harassment of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. 24 |
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| 375 | 375 | | (3) D |
|---|
| 376 | 376 | | UTIES.—The workgroup established under 25 |
|---|
| 377 | 377 | | paragraph (1) shall— 26 |
|---|
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| 380 | 380 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 381 | 381 | | (A) review standard correspondence, which 1 |
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| 382 | 382 | | may include templates for notices under sec-2 |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | tions 5103, 5104, 5104B, and 7104 of title 38, 3 |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | United States Code, from the Department to 4 |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | individuals who have experienced military sex-5 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | ual trauma for sensitivity; and 6 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | (B) ensure that the correspondence— 7 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | (i) treats such individuals with dignity 8 |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | and respect; and 9 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | (ii) does not re-traumatize such indi-10 |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | viduals. 11 |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | (4) I |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | NDIVIDUAL WHO HAS EXPERIENCED MILI -12 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | TARY SEXUAL TRAUMA DEFINED .—In this sub-13 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | section, the term ‘‘individual who has experienced 14 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | military sexual trauma’’ means— 15 |
|---|
| 397 | 397 | | (A) an individual who has filed a claim for 16 |
|---|
| 398 | 398 | | compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, 17 |
|---|
| 399 | 399 | | United States Code, relating to military sexual 18 |
|---|
| 400 | 400 | | trauma; 19 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | (B) a veteran who has been awarded com-20 |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | pensation under such chapter relating to mili-21 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | tary sexual trauma; or 22 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | (C) a member of the Armed Forces (in-23 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | cluding a member of the National Guard or Re-24 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | serves), a former member of the Armed Forces, 25 |
|---|
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| 408 | 408 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 14 |
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| 409 | 409 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 410 | 410 | | or a veteran who is receiving care from the De-1 |
|---|
| 411 | 411 | | partment relating to military sexual trauma. 2 |
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| 412 | 412 | | (b) C |
|---|
| 413 | 413 | | ONTENTS OFCERTAINWRITTENCOMMUNICA-3 |
|---|
| 414 | 414 | | TIONS TOINDIVIDUALSWHOHAVEEXPERIENCEDMILI-4 |
|---|
| 415 | 415 | | TARYSEXUALTRAUMA.— 5 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | (1) N |
|---|
| 417 | 417 | | OTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF REQUIRED IN -6 |
|---|
| 418 | 418 | | FORMATION AND EVIDENCE .—Section 5103 of title 7 |
|---|
| 419 | 419 | | 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at 8 |
|---|
| 420 | 420 | | the end the following new subsection: 9 |
|---|
| 421 | 421 | | ‘‘(c) W |
|---|
| 422 | 422 | | RITTENCOMMUNICATIONS TO INDIVIDUALS 10 |
|---|
| 423 | 423 | | W |
|---|
| 424 | 424 | | HOHAVEEXPERIENCED MILITARYSEXUALTRAU-11 |
|---|
| 425 | 425 | | MA.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written com-12 |
|---|
| 426 | 426 | | munication under this section from the Department to an 13 |
|---|
| 427 | 427 | | individual who has experienced military sexual trauma in-14 |
|---|
| 428 | 428 | | cludes each of the following: 15 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | ‘‘(A) Contact information for each of the fol-16 |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | lowing: 17 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | ‘‘(i) The military sexual trauma coordi-18 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | nator of the Veterans Benefits Administration. 19 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | ‘‘(ii) The military sexual trauma coordi-20 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | nator of the Veterans Health Administration. 21 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | ‘‘(iii) The Veterans Crisis Line. 22 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | ‘‘(iv) The facility of the Veterans Health 23 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | Administration closest to where the individual 24 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | resides. 25 |
|---|
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| 440 | 440 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 15 |
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| 441 | 441 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 442 | 442 | | ‘‘(v) The Vet Center closest to where the 1 |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | individual resides. 2 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | ‘‘(B) Information on the eligibility of the indi-3 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | vidual for services provided through the Vet Center 4 |
|---|
| 446 | 446 | | described in subparagraph (A)(v). 5 |
|---|
| 447 | 447 | | ‘‘(2) In this subsection: 6 |
|---|
| 448 | 448 | | ‘‘(A) The term ‘individual who has experienced 7 |
|---|
| 449 | 449 | | military sexual trauma’ means— 8 |
|---|
| 450 | 450 | | ‘‘(i) an individual who has filed a claim for 9 |
|---|
| 451 | 451 | | compensation under chapter 11 of this title re-10 |
|---|
| 452 | 452 | | lating to military sexual trauma; 11 |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | ‘‘(ii) a veteran who has been awarded com-12 |
|---|
| 454 | 454 | | pensation under such chapter relating to mili-13 |
|---|
| 455 | 455 | | tary sexual trauma; or 14 |
|---|
| 456 | 456 | | ‘‘(iii) a member of the Armed Forces (in-15 |
|---|
| 457 | 457 | | cluding a member of the National Guard or Re-16 |
|---|
| 458 | 458 | | serves), a former member of the Armed Forces, 17 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | or a veteran who is receiving care from the De-18 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | partment relating to military sexual trauma. 19 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | ‘‘(B) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ has the 20 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | meaning given that term in section 1166A(i) of this 21 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | title. 22 |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | ‘‘(C) The term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning 23 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title. 24 |
|---|
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| 467 | 467 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 16 |
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| 468 | 468 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | ‘‘(D) The term ‘Veterans Crisis Line’ means 1 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | the toll-free hotline for veterans established under 2 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | section 1720F(h) of this title.’’. 3 |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | (2) D |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | ECISIONS AND NOTICES OF DECISIONS .— 4 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | Section 5104 of title 38, United States Code, is 5 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | amended by adding at the end the following new 6 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | subsection: 7 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | ‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written 8 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | communication under this section from the Department 9 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | to an individual who has experienced military sexual trau-10 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | ma includes each of the following: 11 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | ‘‘(A) Contact information for each of the fol-12 |
|---|
| 482 | 482 | | lowing: 13 |
|---|
| 483 | 483 | | ‘‘(i) The military sexual trauma coordi-14 |
|---|
| 484 | 484 | | nator of the Veterans Health Administration. 15 |
|---|
| 485 | 485 | | ‘‘(ii) The Veterans Crisis Line. 16 |
|---|
| 486 | 486 | | ‘‘(iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 17 |
|---|
| 487 | 487 | | Administration closest to where the individual 18 |
|---|
| 488 | 488 | | resides. 19 |
|---|
| 489 | 489 | | ‘‘(iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 20 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | individual resides. 21 |
|---|
| 491 | 491 | | ‘‘(B) Information on the eligibility of the indi-22 |
|---|
| 492 | 492 | | vidual for services provided through the Vet Center 23 |
|---|
| 493 | 493 | | described in subparagraph (A)(iv). 24 |
|---|
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| 495 | 495 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 17 |
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| 496 | 496 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 497 | 497 | | ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written 1 |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | communication under this section from the Department 2 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | to an individual who has experienced military sexual trau-3 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | ma that includes notification of an award of compensation 4 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | under chapter 11 of this title relating to military sexual 5 |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | trauma includes— 6 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | ‘‘(A) the contact information described in para-7 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | graph (1); and 8 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | ‘‘(B) the contact information for the military 9 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | sexual trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits 10 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | Administration. 11 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | ‘‘(3) In this subsection: 12 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | ‘‘(A) The term ‘individual who has experienced 13 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | military sexual trauma’ means— 14 |
|---|
| 511 | 511 | | ‘‘(i) an individual who has filed a claim for 15 |
|---|
| 512 | 512 | | compensation under chapter 11 of this title re-16 |
|---|
| 513 | 513 | | lating to military sexual trauma; 17 |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | ‘‘(ii) a veteran who has been awarded com-18 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | pensation under such chapter relating to mili-19 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | tary sexual trauma; or 20 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | ‘‘(iii) a member of the Armed Forces (in-21 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | cluding a member of the National Guard or Re-22 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | serves), a former member of the Armed Forces, 23 |
|---|
| 520 | 520 | | or a veteran who is receiving care from the De-24 |
|---|
| 521 | 521 | | partment relating to military sexual trauma. 25 |
|---|
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| 523 | 523 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 18 |
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| 524 | 524 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 525 | 525 | | ‘‘(B) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ has the 1 |
|---|
| 526 | 526 | | meaning given that term in section 1166A(i) of this 2 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | title. 3 |
|---|
| 528 | 528 | | ‘‘(C) The term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning 4 |
|---|
| 529 | 529 | | given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title. 5 |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | ‘‘(D) The term ‘Veterans Crisis Line’ means 6 |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | the toll-free hotline for veterans established under 7 |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | section 1720F(h) of this title.’’. 8 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | (3) H |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | IGHER-LEVEL REVIEW BY THE AGENCY OF 9 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | ORIGINAL JURISDICTION .—Section 5104B of title 10 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at 11 |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | the end the following new subsection: 12 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | ‘‘(f) W |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | RITTENCOMMUNICATIONS TO INDIVIDUALS 13 |
|---|
| 540 | 540 | | W |
|---|
| 541 | 541 | | HOHAVEEXPERIENCED MILITARYSEXUALTRAU-14 |
|---|
| 542 | 542 | | MA.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written com-15 |
|---|
| 543 | 543 | | munication under this section from the Department to an 16 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | individual who has experienced military sexual trauma in-17 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | cludes each of the following: 18 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | ‘‘(A) Contact information for each of the fol-19 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | lowing: 20 |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | ‘‘(i) The military sexual trauma coordi-21 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | nator of the Veterans Health Administration. 22 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | ‘‘(ii) The Veterans Crisis Line. 23 |
|---|
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| 553 | 553 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 554 | 554 | | ‘‘(iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 1 |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | Administration closest to where the individual 2 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | resides. 3 |
|---|
| 557 | 557 | | ‘‘(iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 4 |
|---|
| 558 | 558 | | individual resides. 5 |
|---|
| 559 | 559 | | ‘‘(B) Information on the eligibility of the indi-6 |
|---|
| 560 | 560 | | vidual for services provided through the Vet Center 7 |
|---|
| 561 | 561 | | described in subparagraph (A)(iv). 8 |
|---|
| 562 | 562 | | ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written 9 |
|---|
| 563 | 563 | | communication under this section from the Department 10 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | to an individual who has experienced military sexual trau-11 |
|---|
| 565 | 565 | | ma that includes notification of an award of compensation 12 |
|---|
| 566 | 566 | | under chapter 11 of this title relating to military sexual 13 |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | trauma includes— 14 |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | ‘‘(A) the contact information described in para-15 |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | graph (1); and 16 |
|---|
| 570 | 570 | | ‘‘(B) the contact information for the military 17 |
|---|
| 571 | 571 | | sexual trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits 18 |
|---|
| 572 | 572 | | Administration. 19 |
|---|
| 573 | 573 | | ‘‘(3) In this subsection: 20 |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | ‘‘(A) The term ‘individual who has experienced 21 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | military sexual trauma’ means— 22 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | ‘‘(i) an individual who has filed a claim for 23 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | compensation under chapter 11 of this title re-24 |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | lating to military sexual trauma; 25 |
|---|
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| 580 | 580 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 20 |
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| 581 | 581 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | ‘‘(ii) a veteran who has been awarded com-1 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | pensation under such chapter relating to mili-2 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | tary sexual trauma; or 3 |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | ‘‘(iii) a member of the Armed Forces (in-4 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | cluding a member of the National Guard or Re-5 |
|---|
| 587 | 587 | | serves), a former member of the Armed Forces, 6 |
|---|
| 588 | 588 | | or a veteran who is receiving care from the De-7 |
|---|
| 589 | 589 | | partment relating to military sexual trauma. 8 |
|---|
| 590 | 590 | | ‘‘(B) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ has the 9 |
|---|
| 591 | 591 | | meaning given that term in section 1166A(i) of this 10 |
|---|
| 592 | 592 | | title. 11 |
|---|
| 593 | 593 | | ‘‘(C) The term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning 12 |
|---|
| 594 | 594 | | given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title. 13 |
|---|
| 595 | 595 | | ‘‘(D) The term ‘Veterans Crisis Line’ means 14 |
|---|
| 596 | 596 | | the toll-free hotline for veterans established under 15 |
|---|
| 597 | 597 | | section 1720F(h) of this title.’’. 16 |
|---|
| 598 | 598 | | (4) B |
|---|
| 599 | 599 | | OARD OF VETERANS ’ APPEALS.—Section 17 |
|---|
| 600 | 600 | | 7104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 18 |
|---|
| 601 | 601 | | adding at the end the following new subsection: 19 |
|---|
| 602 | 602 | | ‘‘(g)(1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written 20 |
|---|
| 603 | 603 | | communication under this section from the Department 21 |
|---|
| 604 | 604 | | to an individual who has experienced military sexual trau-22 |
|---|
| 605 | 605 | | ma include each of the following: 23 |
|---|
| 606 | 606 | | ‘‘(A) Contact information for each of the fol-24 |
|---|
| 607 | 607 | | lowing: 25 |
|---|
| 608 | 608 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:46 Apr 05, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1245.IS S1245 |
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| 609 | 609 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 21 |
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| 610 | 610 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 611 | 611 | | ‘‘(i) The military sexual trauma coordi-1 |
|---|
| 612 | 612 | | nator of the Veterans Health Administration. 2 |
|---|
| 613 | 613 | | ‘‘(ii) The Veterans Crisis Line. 3 |
|---|
| 614 | 614 | | ‘‘(iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 4 |
|---|
| 615 | 615 | | Administration closest to where the individual 5 |
|---|
| 616 | 616 | | resides. 6 |
|---|
| 617 | 617 | | ‘‘(iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 7 |
|---|
| 618 | 618 | | individual resides. 8 |
|---|
| 619 | 619 | | ‘‘(B) Information on the eligibility of the indi-9 |
|---|
| 620 | 620 | | vidual for services provided through the Vet Center 10 |
|---|
| 621 | 621 | | described in subparagraph (A)(iv). 11 |
|---|
| 622 | 622 | | ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written 12 |
|---|
| 623 | 623 | | communication under this section from the Department 13 |
|---|
| 624 | 624 | | to an individual who has experienced military sexual trau-14 |
|---|
| 625 | 625 | | ma that includes notification of an award of compensation 15 |
|---|
| 626 | 626 | | under chapter 11 of this title relating to military sexual 16 |
|---|
| 627 | 627 | | trauma includes— 17 |
|---|
| 628 | 628 | | ‘‘(A) the contact information described in para-18 |
|---|
| 629 | 629 | | graph (1); and 19 |
|---|
| 630 | 630 | | ‘‘(B) the contact information for the military 20 |
|---|
| 631 | 631 | | sexual trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits 21 |
|---|
| 632 | 632 | | Administration. 22 |
|---|
| 633 | 633 | | ‘‘(3) In this subsection: 23 |
|---|
| 634 | 634 | | ‘‘(A) The term ‘individual who has experienced 24 |
|---|
| 635 | 635 | | military sexual trauma’ means— 25 |
|---|
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| 637 | 637 | | kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 22 |
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| 638 | 638 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 639 | 639 | | ‘‘(i) an individual who has filed a claim for 1 |
|---|
| 640 | 640 | | compensation under chapter 11 of this title re-2 |
|---|
| 641 | 641 | | lating to military sexual trauma; 3 |
|---|
| 642 | 642 | | ‘‘(ii) a veteran who has been awarded com-4 |
|---|
| 643 | 643 | | pensation under such chapter relating to mili-5 |
|---|
| 644 | 644 | | tary sexual trauma; or 6 |
|---|
| 645 | 645 | | ‘‘(iii) a member of the Armed Forces (in-7 |
|---|
| 646 | 646 | | cluding a member of the National Guard or Re-8 |
|---|
| 647 | 647 | | serves), a former member of the Armed Forces, 9 |
|---|
| 648 | 648 | | or a veteran who is receiving care from the De-10 |
|---|
| 649 | 649 | | partment relating to military sexual trauma. 11 |
|---|
| 650 | 650 | | ‘‘(B) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ has the 12 |
|---|
| 651 | 651 | | meaning given that term in section 1166A(i) of this 13 |
|---|
| 652 | 652 | | title. 14 |
|---|
| 653 | 653 | | ‘‘(C) The term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning 15 |
|---|
| 654 | 654 | | given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title. 16 |
|---|
| 655 | 655 | | ‘‘(D) The term ‘Veterans Crisis Line’ means 17 |
|---|
| 656 | 656 | | the toll-free hotline for veterans established under 18 |
|---|
| 657 | 657 | | section 1720F(h) of this title.’’. 19 |
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| 658 | 658 | | SEC. 206. STUDY ON TRAINING AND PROCESSING RELAT-20 |
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| 659 | 659 | | ING TO CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COMPENSA-21 |
|---|
| 660 | 660 | | TION RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAU-22 |
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| 661 | 661 | | MA. 23 |
|---|
| 662 | 662 | | (a) S |
|---|
| 663 | 663 | | TUDYREQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans 24 |
|---|
| 664 | 664 | | Affairs shall conduct a study on— 25 |
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| 667 | 667 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 668 | 668 | | (1) the quality of training provided to personnel 1 |
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| 669 | 669 | | of the Department of Veterans Affairs who review 2 |
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| 670 | 670 | | claims for disability compensation under chapter 11 3 |
|---|
| 671 | 671 | | of title 38, United States Code, for disabilities relat-4 |
|---|
| 672 | 672 | | ing to military sexual trauma; and 5 |
|---|
| 673 | 673 | | (2) the quality of the procedures of the Depart-6 |
|---|
| 674 | 674 | | ment for reviewing the accuracy of the processing of 7 |
|---|
| 675 | 675 | | such claims. 8 |
|---|
| 676 | 676 | | (b) E |
|---|
| 677 | 677 | | LEMENTS.—The study required by subsection 9 |
|---|
| 678 | 678 | | (a) shall include the following: 10 |
|---|
| 679 | 679 | | (1) With respect to the quality of training de-11 |
|---|
| 680 | 680 | | scribed in paragraph (1) of such subsection: 12 |
|---|
| 681 | 681 | | (A) Whether the Department ensures per-13 |
|---|
| 682 | 682 | | sonnel complete such training on time. 14 |
|---|
| 683 | 683 | | (B) Whether the training has resulted in 15 |
|---|
| 684 | 684 | | improvements to the processing of claims de-16 |
|---|
| 685 | 685 | | scribed in such subsection and issue-based accu-17 |
|---|
| 686 | 686 | | racy. 18 |
|---|
| 687 | 687 | | (C) Such recommendations as the Sec-19 |
|---|
| 688 | 688 | | retary may have for improving the training. 20 |
|---|
| 689 | 689 | | (2) With respect to the quality of procedures 21 |
|---|
| 690 | 690 | | described in paragraph (2) of such subsection: 22 |
|---|
| 691 | 691 | | (A) Whether the procedures of the Depart-23 |
|---|
| 692 | 692 | | ment for reviewing the accuracy of the proc-24 |
|---|
| 693 | 693 | | essing of claims described in such subsection 25 |
|---|
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| 696 | 696 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 697 | 697 | | comport with generally accepted statistical 1 |
|---|
| 698 | 698 | | methodologies to ensure reasonable accuracy of 2 |
|---|
| 699 | 699 | | such reviews. 3 |
|---|
| 700 | 700 | | (B) Whether such procedures adequately 4 |
|---|
| 701 | 701 | | include mechanisms to correct errors found in 5 |
|---|
| 702 | 702 | | such reviews. 6 |
|---|
| 703 | 703 | | (C) A summary of quality assurance re-7 |
|---|
| 704 | 704 | | views and reports conducted as part of such 8 |
|---|
| 705 | 705 | | procedures. 9 |
|---|
| 706 | 706 | | (D) Such recommendations as the Sec-10 |
|---|
| 707 | 707 | | retary may have for improving such procedures. 11 |
|---|
| 708 | 708 | | (c) R |
|---|
| 709 | 709 | | EPORTREQUIRED.—Not later than one year 12 |
|---|
| 710 | 710 | | after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 13 |
|---|
| 711 | 711 | | shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 14 |
|---|
| 712 | 712 | | Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 15 |
|---|
| 713 | 713 | | House of Representatives a report detailing the findings 16 |
|---|
| 714 | 714 | | of the Secretary with respect to the study conducted under 17 |
|---|
| 715 | 715 | | subsection (a). 18 |
|---|
| 716 | 716 | | SEC. 207. ANNUAL SPECIAL FOCUS REVIEW OF CLAIMS FOR 19 |
|---|
| 717 | 717 | | DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR DISABIL-20 |
|---|
| 718 | 718 | | ITIES RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAU-21 |
|---|
| 719 | 719 | | MA. 22 |
|---|
| 720 | 720 | | (a) A |
|---|
| 721 | 721 | | NNUALSPECIALFOCUSREVIEW.— 23 |
|---|
| 722 | 722 | | (1) I |
|---|
| 723 | 723 | | N GENERAL.—Each year, the Under Sec-24 |
|---|
| 724 | 724 | | retary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans 25 |
|---|
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| 727 | 727 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 728 | 728 | | Affairs shall conduct a special focus review on the 1 |
|---|
| 729 | 729 | | accuracy of the processing of claims for disability 2 |
|---|
| 730 | 730 | | compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 3 |
|---|
| 731 | 731 | | States Code, for disabilities relating to military sex-4 |
|---|
| 732 | 732 | | ual trauma. 5 |
|---|
| 733 | 733 | | (2) E |
|---|
| 734 | 734 | | LEMENTS.—Each review conducted under 6 |
|---|
| 735 | 735 | | paragraph (1) shall include a review of the following: 7 |
|---|
| 736 | 736 | | (A) A statistically significant, nationally 8 |
|---|
| 737 | 737 | | representative sample of all claims for benefits 9 |
|---|
| 738 | 738 | | under the laws administered by the Secretary of 10 |
|---|
| 739 | 739 | | Veterans Affairs relating to military sexual 11 |
|---|
| 740 | 740 | | trauma filed during the fiscal year preceding 12 |
|---|
| 741 | 741 | | the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. 13 |
|---|
| 742 | 742 | | (B) The accuracy of each decision made 14 |
|---|
| 743 | 743 | | with respect to each claim described in subpara-15 |
|---|
| 744 | 744 | | graph (A). 16 |
|---|
| 745 | 745 | | (C) The types of benefit entitlement errors 17 |
|---|
| 746 | 746 | | found, disaggregated by category. 18 |
|---|
| 747 | 747 | | (D) Trends from year to year. 19 |
|---|
| 748 | 748 | | (E) Training completion rates for per-20 |
|---|
| 749 | 749 | | sonnel of the Department who process claims 21 |
|---|
| 750 | 750 | | described in paragraph (1). 22 |
|---|
| 751 | 751 | | (b) R |
|---|
| 752 | 752 | | EPROCESSING OF CLAIMS.—If the Under Sec-23 |
|---|
| 753 | 753 | | retary finds, pursuant to a special focus review conducted 24 |
|---|
| 754 | 754 | | under subsection (a)(1), that an error was made with re-25 |
|---|
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| 757 | 757 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 758 | 758 | | spect to the entitlement of a veteran to a benefit under 1 |
|---|
| 759 | 759 | | the laws administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 2 |
|---|
| 760 | 760 | | return the relevant claim of the veteran to the appropriate 3 |
|---|
| 761 | 761 | | office of the Department for reprocessing to ensure that 4 |
|---|
| 762 | 762 | | the veteran receives an accurate decision with respect to 5 |
|---|
| 763 | 763 | | the claim. 6 |
|---|
| 764 | 764 | | (c) R |
|---|
| 765 | 765 | | EPORT.—Section 5501(b) of the Johnny Isakson 7 |
|---|
| 766 | 766 | | and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Bene-8 |
|---|
| 767 | 767 | | fits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315; 134 9 |
|---|
| 768 | 768 | | Stat. 5048) is amended— 10 |
|---|
| 769 | 769 | | (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘through 11 |
|---|
| 770 | 770 | | 2027’’ and inserting ‘‘until the date described in sec-12 |
|---|
| 771 | 771 | | tion 207(d) of the Servicemembers and Veterans 13 |
|---|
| 772 | 772 | | Empowerment and Support Act of 2025’’; and 14 |
|---|
| 773 | 773 | | (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 15 |
|---|
| 774 | 774 | | following new subparagraph: 16 |
|---|
| 775 | 775 | | ‘‘(I) The findings of the most recent spe-17 |
|---|
| 776 | 776 | | cial focus review conducted under subsection 18 |
|---|
| 777 | 777 | | (a)(1) of section 207 of the Servicemembers 19 |
|---|
| 778 | 778 | | and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act 20 |
|---|
| 779 | 779 | | of 2025, including— 21 |
|---|
| 780 | 780 | | ‘‘(i) the elements under subsection 22 |
|---|
| 781 | 781 | | (a)(2) of such section; 23 |
|---|
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|---|
| 784 | 784 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 785 | 785 | | ‘‘(ii) the number of claims returned 1 |
|---|
| 786 | 786 | | for reprocessing under subsection (b) of 2 |
|---|
| 787 | 787 | | such section; and 3 |
|---|
| 788 | 788 | | ‘‘(iii) the number of claims described 4 |
|---|
| 789 | 789 | | in clause (ii) for which the decision relat-5 |
|---|
| 790 | 790 | | ing to service-connection or entitlement to 6 |
|---|
| 791 | 791 | | compensation changed as a result of re-7 |
|---|
| 792 | 792 | | processing the claim.’’. 8 |
|---|
| 793 | 793 | | (d) S |
|---|
| 794 | 794 | | UNSET.—On the date that the Under Secretary 9 |
|---|
| 795 | 795 | | determines, pursuant to special focus reviews conducted 10 |
|---|
| 796 | 796 | | under paragraph (1) of subsection (a), that the accuracy 11 |
|---|
| 797 | 797 | | rates under paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection have 12 |
|---|
| 798 | 798 | | been 95 percent or greater for five consecutive years, sub-13 |
|---|
| 799 | 799 | | section (a)(1) shall cease to be in effect. 14 |
|---|
| 800 | 800 | | SEC. 208. WORKGROUP ON MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR 15 |
|---|
| 801 | 801 | | CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION 16 |
|---|
| 802 | 802 | | FOR DISABILITIES RELATING TO MILITARY 17 |
|---|
| 803 | 803 | | SEXUAL TRAUMA. 18 |
|---|
| 804 | 804 | | (a) I |
|---|
| 805 | 805 | | NGENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 19 |
|---|
| 806 | 806 | | date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-20 |
|---|
| 807 | 807 | | erans Affairs shall establish a workgroup on medical ex-21 |
|---|
| 808 | 808 | | aminations for claims for disability compensation under 22 |
|---|
| 809 | 809 | | chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for disabilities 23 |
|---|
| 810 | 810 | | relating to military sexual trauma (in this section referred 24 |
|---|
| 811 | 811 | | to as the ‘‘workgroup’’). 25 |
|---|
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| 814 | 814 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 815 | 815 | | (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The workgroup shall be com-1 |
|---|
| 816 | 816 | | posed of the following: 2 |
|---|
| 817 | 817 | | (1) Staff of the operations center for military 3 |
|---|
| 818 | 818 | | sexual trauma of the Department of Veterans Af-4 |
|---|
| 819 | 819 | | fairs who have experience reviewing the quality of 5 |
|---|
| 820 | 820 | | medical examinations in support of claims for dis-6 |
|---|
| 821 | 821 | | ability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, 7 |
|---|
| 822 | 822 | | United States Code. 8 |
|---|
| 823 | 823 | | (2) Staff of the Medical Disability Examination 9 |
|---|
| 824 | 824 | | Office of the Department. 10 |
|---|
| 825 | 825 | | (3) Veterans service officers who have experi-11 |
|---|
| 826 | 826 | | ence with claims described in subsection (a). 12 |
|---|
| 827 | 827 | | (4) Medical examiners who have experience with 13 |
|---|
| 828 | 828 | | such claims. 14 |
|---|
| 829 | 829 | | (5) Staff of the Veterans Experience Office of 15 |
|---|
| 830 | 830 | | the Department. 16 |
|---|
| 831 | 831 | | (6) Such other individuals as the Secretary con-17 |
|---|
| 832 | 832 | | siders appropriate. 18 |
|---|
| 833 | 833 | | (c) D |
|---|
| 834 | 834 | | UTIES.—Not later than 180 days after the date 19 |
|---|
| 835 | 835 | | of the enactment of this Act, the Workgroup shall— 20 |
|---|
| 836 | 836 | | (1) review the quality of medical examinations 21 |
|---|
| 837 | 837 | | described in subsection (a); 22 |
|---|
| 838 | 838 | | (2) review the feasibility of minimizing re-ex-23 |
|---|
| 839 | 839 | | aminations for conditions relating to military sexual 24 |
|---|
| 840 | 840 | | trauma; and 25 |
|---|
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|---|
| 843 | 843 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 844 | 844 | | (3) submit to the Under Secretary for Benefits 1 |
|---|
| 845 | 845 | | of the Department and the Secretary recommenda-2 |
|---|
| 846 | 846 | | tions on how to— 3 |
|---|
| 847 | 847 | | (A) eliminate re-traumatization of individ-4 |
|---|
| 848 | 848 | | uals who file claims described in subsection (a); 5 |
|---|
| 849 | 849 | | and 6 |
|---|
| 850 | 850 | | (B) reduce the overdevelopment of such 7 |
|---|
| 851 | 851 | | claims. 8 |
|---|
| 852 | 852 | | (d) R |
|---|
| 853 | 853 | | EPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 9 |
|---|
| 854 | 854 | | of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 10 |
|---|
| 855 | 855 | | to Congress a report that includes the following: 11 |
|---|
| 856 | 856 | | (1) The views of the workgroup on efforts by 12 |
|---|
| 857 | 857 | | the Department to eliminate re-traumatization of in-13 |
|---|
| 858 | 858 | | dividuals who file claims described in subsection (a). 14 |
|---|
| 859 | 859 | | (2) Legislative proposals to improve the experi-15 |
|---|
| 860 | 860 | | ence of such individuals in pursuing such claims. 16 |
|---|
| 861 | 861 | | (3) The recommendations submitted under sub-17 |
|---|
| 862 | 862 | | section (c)(3). 18 |
|---|
| 863 | 863 | | (4) The plan of the Under Secretary for Bene-19 |
|---|
| 864 | 864 | | fits of the Department and the Secretary to imple-20 |
|---|
| 865 | 865 | | ment such recommendations. 21 |
|---|
| 866 | 866 | | (e) R |
|---|
| 867 | 867 | | EVIEW ANDIMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 22 |
|---|
| 868 | 868 | | one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 23 |
|---|
| 869 | 869 | | Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department and the 24 |
|---|
| 870 | 870 | | Secretary shall— 25 |
|---|
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| 873 | 873 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 874 | 874 | | (1) review the recommendations submitted 1 |
|---|
| 875 | 875 | | under subsection (c)(3); and 2 |
|---|
| 876 | 876 | | (2) implement the recommendations that, as de-3 |
|---|
| 877 | 877 | | termined by the Under Secretary and the Secretary, 4 |
|---|
| 878 | 878 | | would improve the claims process for individuals who 5 |
|---|
| 879 | 879 | | file claims described in subsection (a). 6 |
|---|
| 880 | 880 | | TITLE III—ACCESS TO HEALTH 7 |
|---|
| 881 | 881 | | CARE 8 |
|---|
| 882 | 882 | | SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR COUNSELING 9 |
|---|
| 883 | 883 | | AND TREATMENT FOR MILITARY SEXUAL 10 |
|---|
| 884 | 884 | | TRAUMA TO INCLUDE ALL FORMER MEM-11 |
|---|
| 885 | 885 | | BERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF 12 |
|---|
| 886 | 886 | | THE ARMED FORCES. 13 |
|---|
| 887 | 887 | | Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is 14 |
|---|
| 888 | 888 | | amended— 15 |
|---|
| 889 | 889 | | (1) in subsection (a)— 16 |
|---|
| 890 | 890 | | (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a phys-17 |
|---|
| 891 | 891 | | ical assault’’ and all that follows through the 18 |
|---|
| 892 | 892 | | period at the end and inserting ‘‘military sexual 19 |
|---|
| 893 | 893 | | trauma.’’; and 20 |
|---|
| 894 | 894 | | (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘was 21 |
|---|
| 895 | 895 | | suffered’’ and all that follows through the pe-22 |
|---|
| 896 | 896 | | riod at the end and inserting ‘‘resulted from 23 |
|---|
| 897 | 897 | | military sexual trauma.’’; and 24 |
|---|
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| 900 | 900 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 901 | 901 | | (2) by striking subsections (f) and (g) and in-1 |
|---|
| 902 | 902 | | serting the following new subsection (f): 2 |
|---|
| 903 | 903 | | ‘‘(f) In this section: 3 |
|---|
| 904 | 904 | | ‘‘(1) The term ‘former member of the Armed 4 |
|---|
| 905 | 905 | | Forces’ means a person who served on active duty, 5 |
|---|
| 906 | 906 | | active duty for training, or inactive duty training, 6 |
|---|
| 907 | 907 | | and who was discharged or released therefrom under 7 |
|---|
| 908 | 908 | | any condition that is not— 8 |
|---|
| 909 | 909 | | ‘‘(A) a discharge by court-martial, unless 9 |
|---|
| 910 | 910 | | the Secretary determines an exception to the 10 |
|---|
| 911 | 911 | | bar to benefits applies; or 11 |
|---|
| 912 | 912 | | ‘‘(B) a discharge subject to a bar to bene-12 |
|---|
| 913 | 913 | | fits under section 5303 of this title. 13 |
|---|
| 914 | 914 | | ‘‘(2) The term ‘military sexual trauma’ means, 14 |
|---|
| 915 | 915 | | with respect to a member of the Armed Forces or 15 |
|---|
| 916 | 916 | | former member of the Armed Forces, a physical as-16 |
|---|
| 917 | 917 | | sault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, 17 |
|---|
| 918 | 918 | | or sexual harassment which occurred while the mem-18 |
|---|
| 919 | 919 | | ber or former member was serving on duty, regard-19 |
|---|
| 920 | 920 | | less of duty status or line of duty determination (as 20 |
|---|
| 921 | 921 | | that term is used in section 12323 of title 10). 21 |
|---|
| 922 | 922 | | ‘‘(3) The term ‘sexual harassment’ means unso-22 |
|---|
| 923 | 923 | | licited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature 23 |
|---|
| 924 | 924 | | which is threatening in character.’’. 24 |
|---|
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| 927 | 927 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 928 | 928 | | SEC. 302. CONNECTION TO VETERANS HEALTH ADMINIS-1 |
|---|
| 929 | 929 | | TRATION WHEN A DISABILITY CLAIM RE-2 |
|---|
| 930 | 930 | | LATED TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA IS SUB-3 |
|---|
| 931 | 931 | | MITTED TO VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINIS-4 |
|---|
| 932 | 932 | | TRATION. 5 |
|---|
| 933 | 933 | | (a) I |
|---|
| 934 | 934 | | NGENERAL.—Not later than 14 days after the 6 |
|---|
| 935 | 935 | | date on which a veteran submits a claim for disability com-7 |
|---|
| 936 | 936 | | pensation to the Veterans Benefits Administration for a 8 |
|---|
| 937 | 937 | | disability related to military sexual trauma, the Secretary 9 |
|---|
| 938 | 938 | | of Veterans Affairs shall send a communication to the vet-10 |
|---|
| 939 | 939 | | eran with the following information: 11 |
|---|
| 940 | 940 | | (1) The contact information for the nearest 12 |
|---|
| 941 | 941 | | military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran 13 |
|---|
| 942 | 942 | | at the Veterans Benefits Administration and a de-14 |
|---|
| 943 | 943 | | scription of the assistance such coordinator can pro-15 |
|---|
| 944 | 944 | | vide. 16 |
|---|
| 945 | 945 | | (2) The contact information for the nearest 17 |
|---|
| 946 | 946 | | military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran 18 |
|---|
| 947 | 947 | | at the Veterans Health Administration and a de-19 |
|---|
| 948 | 948 | | scription of the assistance such coordinator can pro-20 |
|---|
| 949 | 949 | | vide. 21 |
|---|
| 950 | 950 | | (3) The types of services that individuals who 22 |
|---|
| 951 | 951 | | have experienced military sexual trauma are eligible 23 |
|---|
| 952 | 952 | | to receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 24 |
|---|
| 953 | 953 | | including the nearest locations, including the nearest 25 |
|---|
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| 956 | 956 | | •S 1245 IS |
|---|
| 957 | 957 | | Vet Center, and the contact information for such 1 |
|---|
| 958 | 958 | | services. 2 |
|---|
| 959 | 959 | | (4) The contact information for the Veterans 3 |
|---|
| 960 | 960 | | Crisis Line established under section 1720F(h) of 4 |
|---|
| 961 | 961 | | title 38, United States Code. 5 |
|---|
| 962 | 962 | | (5) Such other information on services, care, or 6 |
|---|
| 963 | 963 | | resources for military sexual trauma as the Sec-7 |
|---|
| 964 | 964 | | retary determines appropriate. 8 |
|---|
| 965 | 965 | | (b) D |
|---|
| 966 | 966 | | EFINITIONS.—In this section: 9 |
|---|
| 967 | 967 | | (1) M |
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| 968 | 968 | | ILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA .—The term 10 |
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| 969 | 969 | | ‘‘military sexual trauma’’— 11 |
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| 970 | 970 | | (A) with respect to eligibility for health 12 |
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| 971 | 971 | | care, has the meaning given such term in sec-13 |
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| 972 | 972 | | tion 1720D(f) of title 38, United States Code, 14 |
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| 973 | 973 | | as added by section 301; and 15 |
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| 974 | 974 | | (B) with respect to eligibility for com-16 |
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| 975 | 975 | | pensation, has the meaning given such term in 17 |
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| 976 | 976 | | section 1166A(i) of title 38, United States 18 |
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| 977 | 977 | | Code, as added by section 203(a). 19 |
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| 978 | 978 | | (2) V |
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| 979 | 979 | | ET CENTER.—The term ‘‘Vet Center’’ has 20 |
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| 980 | 980 | | the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of 21 |
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| 981 | 981 | | title 38, United States Code. 22 |
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| 984 | 984 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 985 | 985 | | SEC. 303. CARE RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA 1 |
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| 986 | 986 | | FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WITHDRAW FROM OR 2 |
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| 987 | 987 | | OTHERWISE DO NOT COMPLETE SERVICE AT 3 |
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| 988 | 988 | | SERVICE ACADEMIES. 4 |
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| 989 | 989 | | (a) I |
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| 990 | 990 | | NGENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-5 |
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| 991 | 991 | | fairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the 6 |
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| 992 | 992 | | Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of 7 |
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| 993 | 993 | | Transportation, shall ensure that each individual who 8 |
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| 994 | 994 | | withdraws from, or otherwise does not complete service at, 9 |
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| 995 | 995 | | a service academy is provided— 10 |
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| 996 | 996 | | (1) information on the potential eligibility of 11 |
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| 997 | 997 | | such individual for care and counseling relating to 12 |
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| 998 | 998 | | military sexual trauma provided through the Depart-13 |
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| 999 | 999 | | ment of Veterans Affairs; and 14 |
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| 1000 | 1000 | | (2) the option to receive copies of— 15 |
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| 1001 | 1001 | | (A) the individual’s service treatment 16 |
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| 1002 | 1002 | | records or military personnel records that docu-17 |
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| 1003 | 1003 | | ment military sexual trauma; 18 |
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| 1004 | 1004 | | (B) reporting forms of the Department of 19 |
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| 1005 | 1005 | | Defense, the Department of Homeland Secu-20 |
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| 1006 | 1006 | | rity, or the Department of Transportation on 21 |
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| 1007 | 1007 | | sexual assault or sexual harassment for which 22 |
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| 1008 | 1008 | | the individual was the victim; and 23 |
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| 1009 | 1009 | | (C) any investigative reports into military 24 |
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| 1010 | 1010 | | sexual trauma that occurred during the individ-25 |
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| 1013 | 1013 | | •S 1245 IS |
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| 1014 | 1014 | | ual’s service in the Armed Forces and for which 1 |
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| 1015 | 1015 | | the individual was the victim. 2 |
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| 1016 | 1016 | | (b) D |
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| 1017 | 1017 | | EFINITIONS.—In this section: 3 |
|---|
| 1018 | 1018 | | (1) M |
|---|
| 1019 | 1019 | | ILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA .—The term 4 |
|---|
| 1020 | 1020 | | ‘‘military sexual trauma’’— 5 |
|---|
| 1021 | 1021 | | (A) with respect to eligibility for health 6 |
|---|
| 1022 | 1022 | | care, has the meaning given such term in sec-7 |
|---|
| 1023 | 1023 | | tion 1720D(f) of title 38, United States Code, 8 |
|---|
| 1024 | 1024 | | as added by section 301; and 9 |
|---|
| 1025 | 1025 | | (B) with respect to eligibility for com-10 |
|---|
| 1026 | 1026 | | pensation, has the meaning given such term in 11 |
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| 1027 | 1027 | | section 1166A(i) of title 38, United States 12 |
|---|
| 1028 | 1028 | | Code, as added by section 203(a). 13 |
|---|
| 1029 | 1029 | | (2) S |
|---|
| 1030 | 1030 | | ERVICE ACADEMY .—The term ‘‘service 14 |
|---|
| 1031 | 1031 | | academy’’ means any of the following: 15 |
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| 1032 | 1032 | | (A) The United States Military Academy. 16 |
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| 1033 | 1033 | | (B) The United States Naval Academy. 17 |
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| 1034 | 1034 | | (C) The United States Air Force Academy. 18 |
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| 1035 | 1035 | | (D) The United States Coast Guard Acad-19 |
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| 1036 | 1036 | | emy. 20 |
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| 1037 | 1037 | | (E) The United States Merchant Marine 21 |
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| 1038 | 1038 | | Academy. 22 |
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| 1039 | 1039 | | Æ |
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