Sponsors (10)
The bill reduces unfair denials and improves access to VA benefits for veterans who miss exams — particularly those facing barriers — while imposing additional administrative burdens on VA staff and providers and modestly increasing taxpayer costs.
Veterans—especially low-income and disabled veterans—are less likely to be denied VA benefits solely because they missed a VA‑scheduled exam, reducing denials caused by transportation, health, or scheduling barriers and increasing chances of claim approval.
Claimants receive more substantive review because adjudicators must consider alternative evidence rather than automatically denying claims for nonappearance, which can improve fairness and the accuracy of benefit decisions.
VA adjudicators could face increased workload because they must develop alternative evidence routes and perform additional development when scheduled exams are missed, potentially straining staff and resources.
Medical providers and VA clinics may face added scheduling complexity and follow-up demands if missed exams can no longer be used as a sole basis for denial, increasing administrative burden on hospitals and health systems.
Taxpayers could bear modestly higher VA costs if more claims require additional development, independent evaluations, or reexaminations instead of being routinely denied for nonappearance.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Stops the VA from denying a benefits claim solely because the claimant missed a VA‑provided medical exam scheduled in connection with the claim.
Introduced March 14, 2025 by Morgan Luttrell · Last progress March 14, 2025
Prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from denying a veteran’s benefit claim only because the veteran failed to appear for a VA‑provided medical exam that was scheduled in connection with the claim. It changes 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d) wording to add that missing a VA‑scheduled exam cannot be the sole basis for denial. The bill does not provide new funding or create other deadlines or duties.