Public Law 116-187 | Public Law 116–187: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

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PUBLIC LAW 116–187—OCT. 30, 2020

134 STAT. 903

Public Law

116–187

116th Congress

An Act

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Oct. 30, 2020

[H.R. 4183]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act

”.

SEC. 2.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DISABILITY AND PENSION BENEFITS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a)

Deadline.

In General.—

Not later than 36 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In conducting such study,

Review.

Time period.

the Comptroller General shall review, for the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2018, each of the following:

(1)

The number of members of the National Guard and the number of members of reserve components of the Armed Forces who received disability compensation or pension provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(2)

A comparison of each of the following between veterans who served only in the National Guard or reserve components and veterans who served in the regular components of the Armed Forces:

(A)

The percentage of each group of such veterans with service-connected disabilities.

(B)

The number of veterans in each group with each disability rating.

(C)

The number of veterans in each group with a service-connected disability, including the number of each of the following types of such veterans in each group:

(i)

Pilots.

(ii)

Veterans who served in the special forces.

(iii)

Veterans who participated in the Personnel Reliability Program.134 STAT. 904

(iv)

Veterans who underwent diving or flight physicals as a regular component of their service in the Armed Forces and who have a muscular-skeletal or mental health condition.

(D)

The number of total claims for disability compensation and pension submitted, approved, and disapproved for each group of veterans.

(3)

An identification of common barriers for members of the National Guard and members of reserve components in obtaining disability benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including barriers relating to documentation of injuries incurred while serving, such as line of duty letters.

(b)

Reports.—

(1)

Preliminary report.—

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a preliminary report on the findings of the study required by subsection (a).

(2)

Final report.—

Upon completion of the study, the Comptroller General shall submit to such Committees a final report on such study.

Approved October 30, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4183:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

Vol. 165 (2019):

Dec. 16, 17, considered and passed House.

Vol. 166 (2020):

Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate.

○

Public Law 116–187: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.