# What This Bill Does

Right now, when military members leave the service, they get a physical exam from the Department of Defense. But if they have injuries or health conditions that might qualify them for disability benefits from the Veterans Affairs (VA), they often have to go through a separate examination process with the VA later. This bill tries to streamline that by combining these exams into one comprehensive evaluation done during the military separation process.

The key change is that if a separating service member has or might have a medical condition that could make them eligible for VA disability benefits, their military exit physical would be performed by someone certified by the VA to make disability determinations. So instead of getting examined by a regular military doctor and then having to repeat the process with the VA, they'd get one thorough exam that counts for both purposes. If a regular military doctor discovers a potential disability issue during the exam, they'd hand off the case to a VA-certified provider to complete that part of the evaluation.

The bill also includes an important protection: whatever disability determination is made during this combined exam would be binding on the VA. This means the VA couldn't second-guess the findings or require the veteran to go through additional evaluations to prove the same condition. The disability rating assigned during the military exit exam would be what the VA uses going forward.

Finally, the bill directs the VA and Department of Defense to create a shared electronic record system so both agencies can access the same medical and personnel information. This would eliminate the need for veterans to repeatedly provide the same medical records to different government agencies and help ensure both departments are working from the same information.

Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act

Wittman, Robert J.

Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act This bill addresses the sharing of medical information and disability examination procedures between the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires that if a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination upon separation from active duty has or is believed to have a medical condition that may make the member eligible for veterans' disability compensation and benefits, the examination must be performed by a VA-certified health care provider. If the condition is discovered during the physical examination and the examining health care provider is not VA-certified, the examination must be completed by a VA-certified provider. An eligibility determination made as part of such an examination shall be binding on the VA and be used as the basis for assigning the member's disability rating. The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a system to share data and maintain the medical and personnel records of Armed Forces members and veterans.