Bill Details
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This bill would change the medical exam service members get when they leave the military so it can also serve as a full disability check for Veterans Affairs. If a separating service member may have a condition that could qualify for VA disability benefits, the exam would need to be done, or finished, by a health care provider certified by the VA to make that decision. The bill also says that the VA would have to accept that finding when setting the veteran’s disability rating. In addition, the Defense Department and the VA would have to build a shared record system so both agencies can better exchange medical and personnel information.
- It adds a single, more complete disability examination to the normal separation physical for some service members.
- If a possible disability condition is found, a VA-certified provider must perform the exam or complete it.
- The disability eligibility decision made during that exam would be binding on the VA for rating purposes.
- The Defense Department and the VA would create a joint system for sharing and keeping medical and personnel records.
Official Summaries
Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act
This bill addresses the sharing of medical information and disability examination procedures between the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires that if a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination upon separation from active duty has or is believed to have a medical condition that may make the member eligible for veterans' disability compensation and benefits, the examination must be performed by a VA-certified health care provider.
If the condition is discovered during the physical examination and the examining health care provider is not VA-certified, the examination must be completed by a VA-certified provider.
An eligibility determination made as part of such an examination shall be binding on the VA and be used as the basis for assigning the member's disability rating.
The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a system to share data and maintain the medical and personnel records of Armed Forces members and veterans.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 555 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 555
To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single
comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department
of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed
Forces, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2025
Mr. Wittman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single
comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department
of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed
Forces, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Affairs Transfer of
Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD
Doctors Act''.
SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE DISABILITY EXAMINATION AS
PART OF REQUIRED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION FOR SEPARATING MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
Section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(E) If a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a
physical examination under subparagraph (A) has or is believed to have
a medical condition that will or may make the member eligible for
disability compensation and benefits from the Department of Veterans
Affairs, the physical examination shall be performed by a health care
provider who is certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
determine such eligibility. If such a condition is discovered during
the physical examination and the health care provider performing the
examination is not certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the
examination shall be completed by a health care provider certified by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
``(F) An eligibility determination made as part of a physical
examination under subparagraph (C) shall be binding on the Department
of Veterans Affairs and be used as the basis for assigning a disability
rating for the separating member.''.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JOINT
RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense
shall jointly establish a system to be used by both the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and
maintain the medical and personnel records of members of the Armed
Forces and veterans. Such system shall provide for data sharing between
the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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