H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).

The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.

The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.

The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.

Among other elements, the bill

  • revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
  • expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
  • addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
  • establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
  • addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.

Text of the bill

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I Compensation

Sec. 108. Reforms relating to Department of Veterans Affairs disability ratings

(a) Ratings for sleep apnea

(1) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall revise the schedule for rating disabilities adopted and applied under section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, as follows:

(A) A grade of disability of 0 percent shall be assigned for sleep apnea syndrome when the syndrome is asymptomatic, with or without treatment.

(B) A grade of disability of 10 percent shall be assigned for sleep apnea syndrome when treatment yields incomplete relief.

(C) A grade of disability of 50 percent shall be assigned for sleep apnea syndrome only if—

(i) treatment is either ineffective or the veteran is unable to use the prescribed treatment due to comorbid conditions; and

(ii) there is no end-organ damage.

(D) A grade of disability of 100 percent shall be assigned for sleep apnea syndrome only if there is also end-organ damage.

(2) Qualifying comorbid conditions. For purposes of paragraph (1)(C)(i), a comorbid condition is a condition that, in the opinion of a qualified medical provider, directly impedes or prevents the use of, or implementation of, a recognized form of treatment intervention normally shown to be effective.

(b) Ratings for tinnitus. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall revise the schedule for rating disabilities adopted and applied under section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, as follows:

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), tinnitus may not be assigned a separate compensable disability rating.

(2) A grade of disability of 10 percent shall be assigned for tinnitus only when tinnitus is diagnosed as associated with service-connected (as defined in section 101(16) of title 38, United States Code) hearing loss that is otherwise noncompensable under the laws administered by the Secretary.

(c) Applicability

(1) In general. The revisions to the schedule for rating disabilities adopted and applied under section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, made pursuant to this section shall apply with respect to claims filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) Protection of existing ratings. The revisions to the schedule for rating disabilities made pursuant to this section may not serve as the basis for reducing, discontinuing, or otherwise adversely affecting compensation that was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.

II Education and Economic Opportunity

III Health Care

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters