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Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1994

Became Public Law No: 103-418.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Aug 8, 1994

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Cost-of-Living Adjustment in Rates of Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Title II: Disabilities Resulting from Herbicide Exposure Title III: Board of Veterans' Appeals Administration Title IV: Adjudication Improvements Title V: Miscellaneous Veterans' Benefits Act of 1994 - Title I: Cost-of-Living Adjustment in Rates of Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Increases as of December 1, 1994, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for veterans' dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children, and supplemental DIC for disabled adult children. Title II: Disabilities Resulting from Herbicide Exposure - Adds to the list of diseases associated with exposure to herbicide agents that will be presumed to be service-connected (and therefore compensable through veterans' disability compensation): (1) Hodgkin's disease becoming manifest to a degree (of disability) of ten percent or more; (2) porphyria cutanea becoming manifest to a degree of ten percent or more within a year after active duty; (3) respiratory cancers becoming manifest to a degree of ten percent or more within 30 years after active duty; and (4) multiple myeloma becoming manifest to a degree of ten percent or more. Title III: Board of Veterans' Appeals Administration - Requires members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals other than the Chairman to be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with the approval of the President. Requires an evaluation of each Board member's job performance, with recertification to the Board resulting from a positive evaluation, conditional recertification, or noncertification in appropriate circumstances. Outlines provisions concerning removal of a Board member for reasons other than job performance. Requires the Board Chairman to establish Board member job performance standards within 90 days after enactment of this Act. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees (veterans' committees) on the Secretary's proposal for the establishment of such standards. Title IV: Adjudication Improvements - Veterans' Adjudication Improvements Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) report to the veterans' committees on the feasibility of reorganizing the adjudication divisions within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs; (2) implement a recordkeeping system whereby each veteran and other individual eligible for benefits is identified by an identification number which will be available to VBA employees in every regional office or medical center; (3) report to the veterans' committees on each pilot program and major initiative being conducted that affects the adjudication of claims for benefits; (4) accept a claimant's statement as proof of the existence of marriage (or its dissolution), birth of a child, or death of a family member and to accept private physician examination reports in support of a claim for benefits; and (4) take necessary action to provide for the expeditious treatment of benefits' claims that have been remanded to the Board or to VBA regional offices. Allows a Board appeal to be screened ahead of its docket order to determine the adequacy or development of its record for decisional purposes. Subjects benefit claims decisions made by the Secretary or the Board to revision or reversal on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error. Allows requests for review of an alleged erroneous decision from the Secretary, the Board, or the claimant involved. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires veterans' disability compensation coverage for veterans who participated in tests involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device whether or not the test was conducted by the United States. Extends through 1999 (currently 1994) the authority of the Department to operate a regional office in the Republic of the Philippines. Provides that if an application for renewal is filed within one year after renouncement of the rights to pension, compensation, or DIC from the Department, the benefit(s) will be payable as if the renouncement had not occurred. Provides an effective date of the last day of the month in which the death occurred for the discontinuance of survivors' benefits to a spouse of a veteran who, at the time of the veterans's death, was in receipt of veterans' disability compensation based on a total disability rating with an additional amount being paid for a spouse.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
13 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Became Public Law No: 103-418.

  2. Became Public Law No: 103-418.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H11232)

  9. Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H11232)

  10. Mr. Montgomery asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment.

  11. Senate concurred in the House amendments with amendment (SP2638) by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S14438)

  12. Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendments with amendment (SP2638) by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S14438)

  13. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

  14. Message on House action received in Senate and at the desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

  15. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  16. The title of the measure was amended to that of similar measure H.R. 4088. Agreed to without objection.

  17. A similar measure H.R. 4088 was laid on the table without objection.

  18. On passage Passed without objection.

  19. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

  20. The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 4088. Agreed to without objection.

  21. Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7097)

  22. Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  23. Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

  24. Mr. Montgomery asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

  25. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  26. Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  27. Received in the House.

  28. Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5204)

  29. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S5204)

  30. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 418.

  31. Committee on Veterans. Reported to Senate by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment. With written report No. 103-254.

  32. Committee on Veterans. Reported to Senate by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment. With written report No. 103-254.

  33. Committee on Veterans. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

  34. Committee on Veterans. Hearings held.

  35. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans.

  36. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2879)

  37. Introduced in Senate

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