# Veterans Exam Expansion Act of 2023

The VA currently contracts with doctors to perform medical exams that determine whether veterans qualify for disability benefits. Right now, only physicians and psychologists can do these exams under a special temporary licensing arrangement. This bill expands that list to include podiatrists, dentists, and optometrists—meaning the VA can now hire these professionals to conduct disability exams for veterans without requiring them to have a full medical license in every state where they work.

The practical effect is that veterans should have an easier time getting their disability exams scheduled. By bringing in more types of healthcare professionals, the VA can spread out the workload and potentially reduce wait times. For example, if a veteran needs an exam related to foot problems, a podiatrist could now handle that directly rather than waiting for a physician. Similarly, dental or vision-related disability claims could be evaluated by dentists and optometrists respectively. This is particularly helpful in rural or underserved areas where finding available doctors might be difficult.

The bill also extends the time this temporary arrangement can stay in place from three years to five years, giving the VA more runway to use these expanded options. To make sure everything is working properly, the VA has to report back to Congress within 15 months with details about how many exams were conducted, which types of professionals did them, where they happened, and whether any mistakes were made. This oversight ensures the program is being used correctly and delivering real benefits to veterans seeking disability determinations.