A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment, on an interim basis, of compensation, dependency, and indemnity compensation, and pension to veterans and their survivors and dependents if the claims of such persons for such benefits are not resolved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs within specified time periods, to provide for the provision of interim rehabilitative and counseling services, and for other purposes.
Veterans' Claims Administrative Equity Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if a claim for compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension is not decided by the Secretary within 180 days of the date on which the claim is filed, to pay benefits in acordance with the claim until the claim is adjudicated. Requires the Secretary, in cases in which a claim is denied, the claimant files a Notice of Disagreement with the Secretary, and the Secretary does not certify the case to the Board of Veterans' Appeals within 180 days of the date of the filing of the Notice, to pay the benefits for which the claim was filed. Directs the Secretary, whenever the Board or the Court of Veterans Appeals remands a case to the Secretary involving a claim for benefits, to pay benefits in accordance with the claim retroactive to the first day of the first month after the month in which the decision appealed was made.
Directs the Secretary to report annually to the veterans' committees on the operation of such provisions during the preceding fiscal year.
Sets forth provisions applying this Act to claims filed before this Act's enactment.
Directs the Secretary to provide vocational rehabilitation and counseling services through an accredited agency or institution other than the Department of Veterans Affairs on a fee basis in any case in which the Secretary fails to: (1) develop an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation for a veteran within 60 days after initial evaluation; or (2) provide an extended evaluation of certain other veterans within 60 days after initial evaluation. Requires the rehabilitation and counseling services to continue until the development of the individualized written plan or an extended evaluation occurs. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the operation of such provisions during the preceding fiscal year.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans.
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