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Redesignates existing subsections (d) and (e) as (e) and (f), respectively, and inserts a new subsection (d) requiring the Secretary to establish a mechanism for health care professionals who conduct medical examinations or provide medical opinions under 38 U.S.C. 5103A(d) to transmit evidence introduced by the applicant during the examination (or used to inform the opinion) to the veteran's claims file.
Amends 38 U.S.C. 7101(d)(2) by adjusting punctuation in subparagraphs (F) and (G) and adding a new subparagraph (H) requiring the Board to include a summary of recurring issues that result in the Board remanding appeals back to the agency of original jurisdiction.
Amends 38 U.S.C. 7288(b) by adding a new paragraph requiring the Court to include a summary of recurring issues that result in remands.
Creates a set of VA actions to improve how medical disability examinations are obtained and used in veterans’ disability compensation claims. It authorizes a phased pilot to provide or obtain exams/opinions at VA facilities, requires studies and reviews on access (with special focus on rural and housebound veterans), mandates new training and quality-review processes for exam ordering/review, requires a mechanism for exam clinicians to submit evidence into claims files, and orders a one-year review and modernization plan for systems and vendor scheduling. The law sets deadlines for studies, training, and planning (including 180-day and one-year milestones), requires reports to Congress and a Comptroller General review of quality processes, and includes reimbursement rules for pilot-related costs such as exam travel and incidentals.
Authorize the Under Secretary for Benefits to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of conducting medical examinations or obtaining medical opinions under section 5103A(d) of title 38, United States Code, at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Before fiscal year 2027, the pilot shall be carried out at medical facilities in not more than one Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) selected by the Under Secretary for Benefits, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Health.
In fiscal year 2029, the pilot shall be carried out at medical facilities in not more than three VISNs selected by the Under Secretary for Benefits, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Health.
In fiscal year 2031, the pilot shall be carried out at medical facilities in not more than six VISNs selected by the Under Secretary for Benefits, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Health.
In fiscal year 2033, the pilot shall be carried out at medical facilities in not more than ten VISNs selected by the Under Secretary for Benefits, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health.
Primary impacts:
Veterans filing disability compensation claims: Likely benefit from faster, higher-quality exams and clearer processes; rural and housebound veterans are targeted for improved access and technology or vendor solutions to reduce travel burdens.
VA employees and adjudicators: Face new training requirements, second‑level review for newer staff, and likely process changes; intended to raise decision accuracy and reduce remands.
VA medical facilities and exam vendors/clinicians: Will take part in pilot exams, adopt evidence-submission procedures, and work under revised scheduling and communication expectations; vendors may need system or process changes to achieve seamless scheduling and record submission.
Claims processing and appeals system: Expected to see fewer remands from improved exam quality and clearer reporting on recurring remand causes (Board and Court summaries), plus prioritized reprocessing when exams are inadequate.
Administrative, budget, and operational considerations:
Implementation requires staff time, IT/system changes, training resources, and vendor coordination; the Act provides reimbursement rules for pilot-related costs but does not specify large new appropriations, so VA may need to allocate existing funds or request appropriations to fully implement changes.
Oversight by the Comptroller General and required reports to Congress increase transparency and create milestones for future policy adjustments.
Net effects:
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal · Last progress July 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in Senate