Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025

This bill makes it easier for veterans—especially in rural areas—to get VA disability exams. It lets the VA contract with a wider range of licensed health care professionals to do these exams, not just a short list of specialties. If they are eligible for VA health jobs, have a current, clean license, and are under VA contract, they can perform these exams, even if their license is from another state . The bill extends this authority through September 30, 2031.

The VA must also report within 15 months on how this is working, including how many exams were done, costs and timing, where exams took place, which types of professionals did them, any errors, and how the VA will fix those errors.

• Who is affected: Veterans seeking disability exams; VA; licensed health care professionals.
• What changes: More types of qualified, licensed providers can do VA exams under contract, including across state lines; wording updated from a short list to “health care professionals” .
• When: Authority runs through September 30, 2031; VA report due within 15 months of enactment .