H.R. 3854 — Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors

This section establishes an annual reporting requirement under new 38 U.S.C. §534 for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to the congressional Committees on Veterans’ Affairs data on causes of death among veterans during the covered period, including for each deceased veteran (1) whether the veteran had a service-connected disability rated as total, (2) the primary cause of death, (3) the secondary cause if applicable, and (4) the manner of death, along with aggregate totals for each primary cause and manner of death. The requirement sunsets five years after enactment.

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, not later than one year after enactment, to submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan to make available, to the maximum extent practicable, an automation tool—developed for the Compensation Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)—to other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) elements for processing claims under laws administered by the Secretary. The tool automates retrieval of veterans' service and health records, compiles relevant evidence, provides automated decision support, automates information sharing between federal agencies, and assists in generating claims correspondence. In developing the plan, the Secretary must analyze (1) the tool's feasibility and benefits for claims processing; (2) modifications needed to existing tools; (3) element requirements unaddressed by the tool; (4) technology office collaboration needs; and (5) timelines for modifications and implementation. The Secretary must prioritize the tool's provision to (1) the VBA's Pension and Fiduciary Service; (2) the VBA's Education Service; (3) other VBA program offices, as determined by the Secretary; (4) the Debt Management Center; and (5) the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, not later than one year after the date of enactment, to (1) implement policies, processes, and technological capabilities—including in the National Work Queue (or successor system)—to ensure claims processors are notified of and assigned any covered situation, defined as an increase in dependency compensation for a child or educational assistance paid to a child of a veteran (with "child" as defined in 38 U.S.C. §101(4)(A)(iii)); and (2) submit to the congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs a plan to ensure documents uploaded to the Veterans Benefits Management System (or successor system) are correctly labeled, including via automation tools.