H.R. 555

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 555 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 555 To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Wittman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act''. SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE DISABILITY EXAMINATION AS PART OF REQUIRED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FOR SEPARATING MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. Section 1145(a)(5) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: ``(E) If a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination under subparagraph (A) has or is believed to have a medical condition that will or may make the member eligible for disability compensation and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the physical examination shall be performed by a health care provider who is certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to determine such eligibility. If such a condition is discovered during the physical examination and the health care provider performing the examination is not certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the examination shall be completed by a health care provider certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. ``(F) An eligibility determination made as part of a physical examination under subparagraph (C) shall be binding on the Department of Veterans Affairs and be used as the basis for assigning a disability rating for the separating member.''. SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JOINT RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly establish a system to be used by both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain the medical and personnel records of members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Such system shall provide for data sharing between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. <all>