Neguse Bill To Help Veterans Pursuing VA Compensation Considered In Committee

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Neguse's bipartisan, bicameral bill to increase veterans' access to disability claims will be considered in the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021, introduced by Neguse in December, would overhaul the VA's PTSD claims processing training in order to improve treatment and compensation for our veterans.

"Improving the quality, accessibility, and sensitivity of treatment for veterans must be central in our effort to equip vets for life after service," said Congressman Joe Neguse. "I am thrilled to see this critical piece of legislation move one step closer to becoming a reality -- helping veterans navigate the VA's complicated claims process will go a long way towards serving those who have sacrificed so much for this country."

"The mental and physical injuries our Veterans incur during their service often leave them struggling to readjust to normal life. This uphill battle is made infinitely more difficult due to the barriers put in place by the Veterans Administration," said Combat Disabled Veteran USMC and Suicide Prevention Expert, Marshall Spring. "Anything to make the VA process these claims more efficiently should be done, and this bill is one small step toward that end."

Led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in the Senate, the Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021 would implement recommendations made in a December 2020 report from the Office of the Inspector General, which estimated that more than 15 percent of PTSD disability claims were inaccurately processed by VA personnel in FY 2019. Additionally, the bill would direct the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) Compensation Service to standardize trainings for regional office staff and establish a formal process to annually update training needs based on identified processing error trends.

Read bill text for the Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021 HERE.

Background:

Congressman Neguse is leading several legislative efforts in Congress to support veterans with comprehensive health care, housing, and job training opportunities. He recently enacted legislation to expand military travel allowances for grieving families traveling to funerals of loved ones. His Veterans Job Training Act would authorize and expand the only federal grant program focused exclusively on equipping homeless veterans, and his VET Student Loan Act would ensure disabled veterans and their families aren't left with undue tax burden from student loan forgiveness benefits. Additionally he is leading the Veterans Pro Bono Corps Act to remove financial barriers for low-income veterans seeking supplemental VA benefits and the HUBS for Veterans Act to support local "network hubs" which streamline access to essential resources for veterans and servicemembers.

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