S. 2055

119 S2055 IS: Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-06-12
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2055
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  June 12, 2025
  Mr. Banks  (for himself and  Mr. King ) introduced the following bill; which was
  read twice and referred to the  Committee on
  Veterans’ Affairs
  A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the
  program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide comprehensive assistance for
  family caregivers of eligible veterans, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025  .
2.
Improvements to program of Department of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive
  assistance for family caregivers of eligible veterans
(a)
In general
Section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(4)—
(A)
by striking  An eligible veteran  and inserting  (A) An eligible veteran ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B)
The Secretary shall develop and implement a single digital system through which each employee of the Veterans Health Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals responsible for evaluating an application submitted under subparagraph (A), or appeals of decisions of the Secretary with respect to any such application, may access—
(i)
each such application; and
(ii)
all documents received or submitted with respect to each such application.
  ; and
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
; training   after
Construction  ;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  construed to create—  and inserting  construed— ;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and conforming the margins accordingly);
(iii)
by inserting before the matter so redesignated the following new subparagraph:
(A)
to create—
  ;
(iv)
in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), as added by clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ; and
(v)
by inserting after subparagraph (A), as added by clause (iii), the following new subparagraph:
(B)
as affecting, if an eligible veteran dies during the pendency of an appeal of a decision of the Secretary affecting the furnishing of assistance or support services under this section, the eligibility of a family caregiver to receive monthly personal caregiver stipends under subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)(V)—
(i)
to which the family caregiver was entitled on the date of the death of the eligible veteran based on evidence in the file for such veteran or caregiver on such date; and
(ii)
due and unpaid as of such date.
  ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
The Secretary shall ensure that any employee of the Veterans Health Administration responsible for evaluating appeals of decisions of the Secretary affecting the furnishing of assistance or support services under this section is provided the same guidance and completes the same training as a higher-level adjudicator under section 5104B of this title.
  .
(b)
Required considerations
(1)
Digital systems
In developing the digital system required by subsection (a)(4)(B) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, (as added by subsection (a)(1)), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consider—
(A)
lessons learned from the implementation of the Veterans Benefits Management System to process claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; and
(B)
whether other programs administered by the Veterans Health Administration would improve from the development of a single digital system through which applications and documents relating to such programs may be accessed by employees of the Veterans Health Administration responsible for evaluating such applications and documents.
(2)
Training
In carrying out the requirement under subsection (c)(3) of such section (as added by subsection (a)(2)), the Secretary shall consider best practices developed from efforts of the Secretary to standardize the guidance and training available to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for the delivery of disability compensation to veterans eligible for such compensation.