119-hr2576

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2576 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2576

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and 
 benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual 
 trauma, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 1, 2025

 Ms. Pingree (for herself, Ms. Tokuda, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mrs. 
 Ramirez, Mrs. Dingell, and Mr. Mrvan) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and 
 benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual 
 trauma, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Servicemembers and 
Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--DEFINING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA

Sec. 101. Report on military sexual trauma in the digital age.
 TITLE II--DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND CLAIMS PROCESSING

Sec. 201. Definition of military sexual trauma.

Sec. 202. Conforming changes relating to specialized teams to evaluate 
 claims involving military sexual trauma.

Sec. 203. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma.

Sec. 204. Choice of location of Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
 examination for assessment of claims for 
 compensation relating to disability 
 resulting from military sexual trauma.

Sec. 205. Communications from the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
 individuals who have experienced military 
 sexual trauma.

Sec. 206. Study on training and processing relating to claims for 
 disability compensation relating to 
 military sexual trauma.

Sec. 207. Annual special focus review of claims for disability 
 compensation for disabilities relating to 
 military sexual trauma.

Sec. 208. Workgroup on medical examinations for claims for disability 
 compensation for disabilities relating to 
 military sexual trauma.
 TITLE III--ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Sec. 301. Expansion of eligibility for counseling and treatment for 
 military sexual trauma to include all 
 former members of the reserve components of 
 the armed forces.

Sec. 302. Connection to veterans health administration when a 
 disability claim related to military sexual 
 trauma is submitted to veterans benefits 
 administration.

Sec. 303. Care relating to military sexual trauma for individuals who 
 withdraw from or otherwise do not complete 
 service at service academies.

 TITLE I--DEFINING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA

SEC. 101. REPORT ON MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
military sexual trauma in the digital age.

    (b) Requirements.--The report required under subsection

    (a) shall 
include the following:

    (1) A comprehensive evaluation and assessment of current 
 Department of Veterans Affairs statutes, regulations, and 
 agency guidance relating to military sexual trauma for the 
 purposes of access to health care under chapter 17 of title 38, 
 United States Code, and compensation under chapter 11 of such 
 title to identify--
        (A) gaps in coverage for health care and 
 compensation eligibility relating to military sexual 
 trauma involving online or other technological 
 communications; and
        (B) the feasibility and advisability of expanding 
 health care and compensation for trauma that is 
 nonsexual in nature involving online or other 
 technological communications.

    (2) Recommendations for revising statutes, regulations, and 
 agency guidance in response to the evaluation and assessment 
 under paragraph

    (1) .
            (c) Consultation.--

    (1) In general.--In carrying out subsection

    (a) , the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult veterans service 
 organizations and such other stakeholders as the Secretary 
 considers relevant and appropriate.

    (2) Relation to faca.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States 
 Code, shall not apply to paragraph

    (1) .
            (d) Military Sexual Trauma Defined.--In this section, the term 
``military sexual trauma''--

    (1) with respect to eligibility for health care, has the 
 meaning given such term in 

section 1720D

    (f) of title 38, United 
 States Code, as added by 

section 301; and

    (2) with respect to eligibility for compensation, has the 
 meaning given such term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of title 38, United 
 States Code, as added by 

section 203

    (a) .

 TITLE II--DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND CLAIMS PROCESSING

SEC. 201. DEFINITION OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

 In this title, the term ``military sexual trauma'' has the meaning 
given such term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by 

section 203

    (a) .

SEC. 202. CONFORMING CHANGES RELATING TO SPECIALIZED TEAMS TO EVALUATE 
 CLAIMS INVOLVING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

 

Section 1166 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (1) , by striking ``for compensation 
 for a covered mental health condition'' and inserting ``for 
 compensation for a condition, which may include a covered 
 mental health condition,''; and

    (2) by amending subsection
            (d) to read as follows:
 ``
            (d) === Definitions. ===
-In this section, the terms `covered mental 
health condition' and `military sexual trauma' have the meanings given 
those terms in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title.''.

SEC. 203. EVALUATION OF CLAIMS INVOLVING MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of such title is 
amended by inserting after 

section 1166 the following new section:
``

Sec. 1166A. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma
 ``

    (a) In General.--

    (1) In the case of any veteran who claims that a 
covered mental health condition based on military sexual trauma was 
incurred in or aggravated by active military, naval, air, or space 
service, the Secretary shall consider the following:
 ``
        (A) A diagnosis of such mental health condition by a 
 mental health professional.
 ``
        (B) A link, established by medical evidence, between 
 current symptoms and a military sexual trauma.
 ``
            (C) Credible corroborating evidence, in accordance with 
 subsections

    (b) and
            (c) , that the claimed military sexual 
 trauma occurred.
 ``

    (2) The reasons for granting or denying service-connection in 
each case described in paragraph

    (1) shall be recorded in full.
 ``

    (b) Nonmilitary Sources of Evidence.--

    (1) For purposes of 
subsection

    (a) , evidence from sources other than official records of 
the Department of Defense regarding the veteran's active military, 
naval, air, or space service may corroborate the veteran's account of 
the trauma.
 ``

    (2) Examples of evidence described in paragraph

    (1) include the 
following:
 ``
        (A) Records from law enforcement authorities, rape crisis 
 centers, mental health counseling centers, hospitals, and 
 physicians.
 ``
        (B) Pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmitted 
 diseases.
 ``
            (C) Statements from family members, roommates, other 
 members of the Armed Forces or veterans, and clergy.
 ``
            (c) Evidence of Behavior Changes.--

    (1) For purposes of subsection

    (a) , evidence of a behavior change following military sexual trauma is 
one type of relevant evidence that may be found in sources described in 
such subsection.
 ``

    (2) Examples of behavior changes that may be relevant evidence of 
military sexual trauma include the following:
 ``
        (A) A request for a transfer to another military duty 
 assignment.
 ``
        (B) Deterioration in work performance.
 ``
            (C) Substance abuse or substance use disorder.
 ``
            (D) Episodes of depression, panic attacks, or anxiety 
 without an identifiable cause.
 ``
        (E) Unexplained economic or social behavior changes.
 ``
            (d) Notice and Opportunity To Supply Evidence.--The Secretary may 
not deny a claim of a veteran for compensation under this chapter for a 
covered mental health condition that is based on military sexual trauma 
without first--
 ``

    (1) advising the veteran that evidence described in 
 subsections

    (b) and
            (c) may constitute credible corroborating 
 evidence of the military sexual trauma; and
 ``

    (2) allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish such 
 corroborating evidence or advise the Secretary of potential 
 sources of such evidence.
 ``

    (e) Review of Evidence.--In reviewing a claim for compensation 
described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) , for any evidence identified as part of 
such claim that is described in subsection

    (b) or
            (c) , the Secretary 
shall submit such evidence to such medical or mental health 
professional as the Secretary considers appropriate, including clinical 
and counseling experts employed by the Department, to obtain an opinion 
as to whether the evidence indicates that a military sexual trauma 
occurred.
 ``

    (f) Point of Contact.--The Secretary shall ensure that each 
document provided to a veteran relating to a claim for compensation 
described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) includes contact information for an 
appropriate point of contact with the Department.
 ``

    (g) Specialized Teams.--The Secretary shall ensure that all 
claims for compensation described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) are reviewed and 
processed by a specialized team established under 

section 1166 of this 
title.
 ``

    (h) Rule of Construction Regarding Application to Nonsexual 
Personal Assault.--The Secretary shall not construe this section as 
supplanting the standard of proof or evidence required for claims for 
post-traumatic stress disorder based on nonsexual personal assault, 
which the Secretary shall continue to define in regulation.
 ``
            (i) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) The term `covered mental health condition' means 
 post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or other 
 mental health diagnosis that the Secretary determines to be 
 related to military sexual trauma and which may be service-
 connected under 

section 1110 of this title.
 ``

    (2) The term `mental health professional' means a 
 provider in the field of mental health who meets the 
 credential, licensure, education, and training requirements 
 established by the Secretary.
 ``

    (3) The term `military sexual trauma' means, with respect 
 to a veteran, a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of 
 a sexual nature, or sexual harassment that occurred while the 
 veteran was serving in the active military, naval, air, or 
 space service.''.

    (b) Outreach.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
 shall implement, with input from the veteran community, an 
 informative outreach program for veterans regarding the 
 standard of proof for evaluation of claims relating to military 
 sexual trauma, including requirements for a medical examination 
 and opinion.

    (2) Targeted outreach.--In implementing the program under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
 target outreach to veterans who submitted a claim relating to 
 military sexual trauma that was denied.
            (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 11 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to 

section 1166 the following new item:

``1166A. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma.''.

SEC. 204. CHOICE OF LOCATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
 EXAMINATION FOR ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION 
 RELATING TO DISABILITY RESULTING FROM MILITARY SEXUAL 
 TRAUMA.

    (a) In General.--

Section 1165 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--

    (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and location of 
 medical examination'' after ``examiner'';

    (2) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``a physical assault of 
 a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual 
 harassment'' and inserting ``military sexual trauma (as defined 
 in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title)'';

    (3) by redesignating subsection
            (c) as subsection
            (d) ; and

    (4) by inserting after subsection

    (b) the following new 
 subsection
            (c) :
 ``
            (c) Choice of Examination Location.--The Secretary shall ensure 
that a veteran who requires a medical examination in support of a claim 
described in subsection

    (a) may request that the medical examination 
take place at a medical facility of the Department by a qualified 
employee of the Department rather than at a location designated by a 
contractor of the Department that performs such examinations on behalf 
of the Department.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 11 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 

section 1165 and inserting the following new item:

``1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner and location of medical 
 examination for certain disabilities.''.

SEC. 205. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    (a) Review Workgroup.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
 establish a workgroup to review correspondence relating to 
 military sexual trauma.

    (2) Membership.--The workgroup established under paragraph

    (1) shall be composed of members who shall be appointed by the 
 Secretary from among employees of the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs who are experts in military sexual trauma and mental 
 health, of whom--
        (A) one or more shall be appointed from among 
 mental health providers of the Veterans Health 
 Administration;
        (B) one or more shall be appointed from among 
 experts on sexual assault and sexual harassment of the 
 Veterans Benefits Administration; and
            (C) one or more shall be appointed from among 
 experts on sexual assault and sexual harassment of the 
 Board of Veterans' Appeals.

    (3) Duties.--The workgroup established under paragraph

    (1) shall--
        (A) review standard correspondence, which may 
 include templates for notices under sections 5103, 
 5104, 5104B, and 7104 of title 38, United States Code, 
 from the Department to individuals who have experienced 
 military sexual trauma for sensitivity; and
        (B) ensure that the correspondence--
            (i) treats such individuals with dignity 
 and respect; and
            (ii) does not re-traumatize such 
 individuals.

    (4) Individual who has experienced military sexual trauma 
 defined.--In this subsection, the term ``individual who has 
 experienced military sexual trauma'' means--
        (A) an individual who has filed a claim for 
 compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 
 States Code, relating to military sexual trauma;
        (B) a veteran who has been awarded compensation 
 under such chapter relating to military sexual trauma; 
 or
            (C) a member of the Armed Forces (including a 
 member of the National Guard or Reserves), a former 
 member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran who is 
 receiving care from the Department relating to military 
 sexual trauma.

    (b) Contents of Certain Written Communications to Individuals Who 
Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma.--

    (1) Notice to claimants of required information and 
 evidence.--

Section 5103 of title 38, United States Code, is 
 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``
            (c) Written Communications to Individuals Who Have Experienced 
Military Sexual Trauma.--

    (1) The Secretary shall ensure that any 
written communication under this section from the Department to an 
individual who has experienced military sexual trauma includes each of 
the following:
 ``
        (A) Contact information for each of the following:
 ``
            (i) The military sexual trauma coordinator of the 
 Veterans Benefits Administration.
 ``
            (ii) The military sexual trauma coordinator of 
 the Veterans Health Administration.
 ``
            (iii) The Veterans Crisis Line.
 ``
            (iv) The facility of the Veterans Health 
 Administration closest to where the individual resides.
 ``
            (v) The Vet Center closest to where the 
 individual resides.
 ``
        (B) Information on the eligibility of the individual for 
 services provided through the Vet Center described in 
 subparagraph
        (A)
            (v) .
 ``

    (2) In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) The term `individual who has experienced military 
 sexual trauma' means--
 ``
            (i) an individual who has filed a claim for 
 compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
 military sexual trauma;
 ``
            (ii) a veteran who has been awarded compensation 
 under such chapter relating to military sexual trauma; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) a member of the Armed Forces (including a 
 member of the National Guard or Reserves), a former 
 member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran who is 
 receiving care from the Department relating to military 
 sexual trauma.
 ``
        (B) The term `military sexual trauma' has the meaning 
 given that term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title.
 ``
            (C) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term 
 in 

section 1712A

    (h) of this title.
 ``
            (D) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
 hotline for veterans established under 

section 1720F

    (h) of this 
 title.''.

    (2) Decisions and notices of decisions.--

Section 5104 of 
 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
 the following new subsection:
 ``

    (e)

    (1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written communication 
under this section from the Department to an individual who has 
experienced military sexual trauma includes each of the following:
 ``
        (A) Contact information for each of the following:
 ``
            (i) The military sexual trauma coordinator of the 
 Veterans Health Administration.
 ``
            (ii) The Veterans Crisis Line.
 ``
            (iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 
 Administration closest to where the individual resides.
 ``
            (iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 
 individual resides.
 ``
        (B) Information on the eligibility of the individual for 
 services provided through the Vet Center described in 
 subparagraph
        (A)
            (iv) .
 ``

    (2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written communication 
under this section from the Department to an individual who has 
experienced military sexual trauma that includes notification of an 
award of compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
military sexual trauma includes--
 ``
        (A) the contact information described in paragraph

    (1) ; 
 and
 ``
        (B) the contact information for the military sexual 
 trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
 ``

    (3) In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) The term `individual who has experienced military 
 sexual trauma' means--
 ``
            (i) an individual who has filed a claim for 
 compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
 military sexual trauma;
 ``
            (ii) a veteran who has been awarded compensation 
 under such chapter relating to military sexual trauma; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) a member of the Armed Forces (including a 
 member of the National Guard or Reserves), a former 
 member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran who is 
 receiving care from the Department relating to military 
 sexual trauma.
 ``
        (B) The term `military sexual trauma' has the meaning 
 given that term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title.
 ``
            (C) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term 
 in 

section 1712A

    (h) of this title.
 ``
            (D) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
 hotline for veterans established under 

section 1720F

    (h) of this 
 title.''.

    (3) Higher-level review by the agency of original 
 jurisdiction.--

Section 5104B of title 38, United States Code, 
 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``

    (f) Written Communications to Individuals Who Have Experienced 
Military Sexual Trauma.--

    (1) The Secretary shall ensure that any 
written communication under this section from the Department to an 
individual who has experienced military sexual trauma includes each of 
the following:
 ``
        (A) Contact information for each of the following:
 ``
            (i) The military sexual trauma coordinator of the 
 Veterans Health Administration.
 ``
            (ii) The Veterans Crisis Line.
 ``
            (iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 
 Administration closest to where the individual resides.
 ``
            (iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 
 individual resides.
 ``
        (B) Information on the eligibility of the individual for 
 services provided through the Vet Center described in 
 subparagraph
        (A)
            (iv) .
 ``

    (2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written communication 
under this section from the Department to an individual who has 
experienced military sexual trauma that includes notification of an 
award of compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
military sexual trauma includes--
 ``
        (A) the contact information described in paragraph

    (1) ; 
 and
 ``
        (B) the contact information for the military sexual 
 trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
 ``

    (3) In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) The term `individual who has experienced military 
 sexual trauma' means--
 ``
            (i) an individual who has filed a claim for 
 compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
 military sexual trauma;
 ``
            (ii) a veteran who has been awarded compensation 
 under such chapter relating to military sexual trauma; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) a member of the Armed Forces (including a 
 member of the National Guard or Reserves), a former 
 member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran who is 
 receiving care from the Department relating to military 
 sexual trauma.
 ``
        (B) The term `military sexual trauma' has the meaning 
 given that term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title.
 ``
            (C) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term 
 in 

section 1712A

    (h) of this title.
 ``
            (D) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
 hotline for veterans established under 

section 1720F

    (h) of this 
 title.''.

    (4) Board of veterans' appeals.--

Section 7104 of title 38, 
 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
 following new subsection:
 ``

    (g)

    (1) The Secretary shall ensure that any written communication 
under this section from the Department to an individual who has 
experienced military sexual trauma include each of the following:
 ``
        (A) Contact information for each of the following:
 ``
            (i) The military sexual trauma coordinator of the 
 Veterans Health Administration.
 ``
            (ii) The Veterans Crisis Line.
 ``
            (iii) The facility of the Veterans Health 
 Administration closest to where the individual resides.
 ``
            (iv) The Vet Center closest to where the 
 individual resides.
 ``
        (B) Information on the eligibility of the individual for 
 services provided through the Vet Center described in 
 subparagraph
        (A)
            (iv) .
 ``

    (2) The Secretary shall ensure that any written communication 
under this section from the Department to an individual who has 
experienced military sexual trauma that includes notification of an 
award of compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
military sexual trauma includes--
 ``
        (A) the contact information described in paragraph

    (1) ; 
 and
 ``
        (B) the contact information for the military sexual 
 trauma coordinator of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
 ``

    (3) In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) The term `individual who has experienced military 
 sexual trauma' means--
 ``
            (i) an individual who has filed a claim for 
 compensation under chapter 11 of this title relating to 
 military sexual trauma;
 ``
            (ii) a veteran who has been awarded compensation 
 under such chapter relating to military sexual trauma; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) a member of the Armed Forces (including a 
 member of the National Guard or Reserves), a former 
 member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran who is 
 receiving care from the Department relating to military 
 sexual trauma.
 ``
        (B) The term `military sexual trauma' has the meaning 
 given that term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of this title.
 ``
            (C) The term `Vet Center' has the meaning given that term 
 in 

section 1712A

    (h) of this title.
 ``
            (D) The term `Veterans Crisis Line' means the toll-free 
 hotline for veterans established under 

section 1720F

    (h) of this 
 title.''.

SEC. 206. STUDY ON TRAINING AND PROCESSING RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR 
 DISABILITY COMPENSATION RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL 
 TRAUMA.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a study on--

    (1) the quality of training provided to personnel of the 
 Department of Veterans Affairs who review claims for disability 
 compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 
 for disabilities relating to military sexual trauma; and

    (2) the quality of the procedures of the Department for 
 reviewing the accuracy of the processing of such claims.

    (b) Elements.--The study required by subsection

    (a) shall include 
the following:

    (1) With respect to the quality of training described in 
 paragraph

    (1) of such subsection:
        (A) Whether the Department ensures personnel 
 complete such training on time.
        (B) Whether the training has resulted in 
 improvements to the processing of claims described in 
 such subsection and issue-based accuracy.
            (C) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have 
 for improving the training.

    (2) With respect to the quality of procedures described in 
 paragraph

    (2) of such subsection:
        (A) Whether the procedures of the Department for 
 reviewing the accuracy of the processing of claims 
 described in such subsection comport with generally 
 accepted statistical methodologies to ensure reasonable 
 accuracy of such reviews.
        (B) Whether such procedures adequately include 
 mechanisms to correct errors found in such reviews.
            (C) A summary of quality assurance reviews and 
 reports conducted as part of such procedures.
            (D) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have 
 for improving such procedures.
            (c) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report detailing the findings of the 
Secretary with respect to the study conducted under subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 207. ANNUAL SPECIAL FOCUS REVIEW OF CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY 
 COMPENSATION FOR DISABILITIES RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL 
 TRAUMA.

    (a) Annual Special Focus Review.--

    (1) In general.--Each year, the Under Secretary for 
 Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a 
 special focus review on the accuracy of the processing of 
 claims for disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 
 38, United States Code, for disabilities relating to military 
 sexual trauma.

    (2) Elements.--Each review conducted under paragraph

    (1) shall include a review of the following:
        (A) A statistically significant, nationally 
 representative sample of all claims for benefits under 
 the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
 Affairs relating to military sexual trauma filed during 
 the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the 
 report is submitted.
        (B) The accuracy of each decision made with respect 
 to each claim described in subparagraph
        (A) .
            (C) The types of benefit entitlement errors found, 
 disaggregated by category.
            (D) Trends from year to year.
        (E) Training completion rates for personnel of the 
 Department who process claims described in paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) Reprocessing of Claims.--If the Under Secretary finds, pursuant 
to a special focus review conducted under subsection

    (a)

    (1) , that an 
error was made with respect to the entitlement of a veteran to a 
benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary, the Secretary 
shall return the relevant claim of the veteran to the appropriate 
office of the Department for reprocessing to ensure that the veteran 
receives an accurate decision with respect to the claim.
            (c) Report.--

Section 5501

    (b) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. 
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-315; 134 Stat. 5048) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``through 2027'' and 
 inserting ``until the date described in 

section 207
            (d) of the 
 Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 
 2025''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by adding at the end the following 
 new subparagraph:
 ``
            (I) The findings of the most recent special focus 
 review conducted under subsection

    (a)

    (1) of 

section 207 
 of the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and 
 Support Act of 2025, including--
 ``
            (i) the elements under subsection

    (a)

    (2) of such section;
 ``
            (ii) the number of claims returned for 
 reprocessing under subsection

    (b) of such 
 section; and
 ``
            (iii) the number of claims described in 
 clause
            (ii) for which the decision relating to 
 service-connection or entitlement to 
 compensation changed as a result of 
 reprocessing the claim.''.
            (d) Sunset.--On the date that the Under Secretary determines, 
pursuant to special focus reviews conducted under paragraph

    (1) of 
subsection

    (a) , that the accuracy rates under paragraph

    (2)
        (B) of such 
subsection have been 95 percent or greater for five consecutive years, 
subsection

    (a)

    (1) shall cease to be in effect.

SEC. 208. WORKGROUP ON MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY 
 COMPENSATION FOR DISABILITIES RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL 
 TRAUMA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a workgroup on medical examinations for claims for disability 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for 
disabilities relating to military sexual trauma (in this section 
referred to as the ``workgroup'').

    (b) Membership.--The workgroup shall be composed of the following:

    (1) Staff of the operations center for military sexual 
 trauma of the Department of Veterans Affairs who have 
 experience reviewing the quality of medical examinations in 
 support of claims for disability compensation under chapter 11 
 of title 38, United States Code.

    (2) Staff of the Medical Disability Examination Office of 
 the Department.

    (3) Veterans service officers who have experience with 
 claims described in subsection

    (a) .

    (4) Medical examiners who have experience with such claims.

    (5) Staff of the Veterans Experience Office of the 
 Department.

    (6) Such other individuals as the Secretary considers 
 appropriate.
            (c) Duties.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Workgroup shall--

    (1) review the quality of medical examinations described in 
 subsection

    (a) ;

    (2) review the feasibility of minimizing re-examinations 
 for conditions relating to military sexual trauma; and

    (3) submit to the Under Secretary for Benefits of the 
 Department and the Secretary recommendations on how to--
        (A) eliminate re-traumatization of individuals who 
 file claims described in subsection

    (a) ; and
        (B) reduce the overdevelopment of such claims.
            (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that includes the following:

    (1) The views of the workgroup on efforts by the Department 
 to eliminate re-traumatization of individuals who file claims 
 described in subsection

    (a) .

    (2) Legislative proposals to improve the experience of such 
 individuals in pursuing such claims.

    (3) The recommendations submitted under subsection
            (c) (3) .

    (4) The plan of the Under Secretary for Benefits of the 
 Department and the Secretary to implement such recommendations.

    (e) Review and Implementation.--Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Benefits of 
the Department and the Secretary shall--

    (1) review the recommendations submitted under subsection
            (c) (3) ; and

    (2) implement the recommendations that, as determined by 
 the Under Secretary and the Secretary, would improve the claims 
 process for individuals who file claims described in subsection

    (a) .

 TITLE III--ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR 
 MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA TO INCLUDE ALL FORMER MEMBERS OF 
 THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

 

Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``a physical 
 assault'' and all that follows through the period at 
 the end and inserting ``military sexual trauma.''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2)
        (A) , by striking ``was 
 suffered'' and all that follows through the period at 
 the end and inserting ``resulted from military sexual 
 trauma.''; and

    (2) by striking subsections

    (f) and

    (g) and inserting the 
 following new subsection

    (f) :
 ``

    (f) In this section:
 ``

    (1) The term `former member of the Armed Forces' means a 
 person who served on active duty, active duty for training, or 
 inactive duty training, and who was discharged or released 
 therefrom under any condition that is not--
 ``
        (A) a discharge by court-martial, unless the 
 Secretary determines an exception to the bar to 
 benefits applies; or
 ``
        (B) a discharge subject to a bar to benefits 
 under 

section 5303 of this title.
 ``

    (2) The term `military sexual trauma' means, with respect 
 to a member of the Armed Forces or former member of the Armed 
 Forces, a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a 
 sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the 
 member or former member was serving on duty, regardless of duty 
 status or line of duty determination (as that term is used in 
 

section 12323 of title 10).
 ``

    (3) The term `sexual harassment' means unsolicited verbal 
 or physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in 
 character.''.

SEC. 302. CONNECTION TO VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION WHEN A 
 DISABILITY CLAIM RELATED TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA IS 
 SUBMITTED TO VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 14 days after the date on which a 
veteran submits a claim for disability compensation to the Veterans 
Benefits Administration for a disability related to military sexual 
trauma, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall send a communication to 
the veteran with the following information:

    (1) The contact information for the nearest military sexual 
 trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Benefits 
 Administration and a description of the assistance such 
 coordinator can provide.

    (2) The contact information for the nearest military sexual 
 trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Health 
 Administration and a description of the assistance such 
 coordinator can provide.

    (3) The types of services that individuals who have 
 experienced military sexual trauma are eligible to receive from 
 the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the nearest 
 locations, including the nearest Vet Center, and the contact 
 information for such services.

    (4) The contact information for the Veterans Crisis Line 
 established under 

section 1720F

    (h) of title 38, United States 
 Code.

    (5) Such other information on services, care, or resources 
 for military sexual trauma as the Secretary determines 
 appropriate.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
 trauma''--
        (A) with respect to eligibility for health care, 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 1720D

    (f) of 
 title 38, United States Code, as added by 

section 301; 
 and
        (B) with respect to eligibility for compensation, 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of 
 title 38, United States Code, as added by 

section 203

    (a) .

    (2) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center'' has the meaning 
 given that term in 

section 1712A

    (h) of title 38, United States 
 Code.

SEC. 303. CARE RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO 
 WITHDRAW FROM OR OTHERWISE DO NOT COMPLETE SERVICE AT 
 SERVICE ACADEMIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and 
the Secretary of Transportation, shall ensure that each individual who 
withdraws from, or otherwise does not complete service at, a service 
academy is provided--

    (1) information on the potential eligibility of such 
 individual for care and counseling relating to military sexual 
 trauma provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

    (2) the option to receive copies of--
        (A) the individual's service treatment records or 
 military personnel records that document military 
 sexual trauma;
        (B) reporting forms of the Department of Defense, 
 the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department 
 of Transportation on sexual assault or sexual 
 harassment for which the individual was the victim; and
            (C) any investigative reports into military sexual 
 trauma that occurred during the individual's service in 
 the Armed Forces and for which the individual was the 
 victim.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
 trauma''--
        (A) with respect to eligibility for health care, 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 1720D

    (f) of 
 title 38, United States Code, as added by 

section 301; 
 and
        (B) with respect to eligibility for compensation, 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 1166A
            (i) of 
 title 38, United States Code, as added by 

section 203

    (a) .

    (2) Service academy.--The term ``service academy'' means 
 any of the following:
        (A) The United States Military Academy.
        (B) The United States Naval Academy.
            (C) The United States Air Force Academy.
            (D) The United Stated Coast Guard Academy.
        (E) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.
 <all>