To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to determine the eligibility or entitlement of a member or former member of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) to a benefit under a law administered by the Secretary solely based on alternative sources of evidence when the military service records or medical treatment records of the member or former member are incomplete because of damage or loss of records after being in the possession of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 7, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The Fred Hamilton Veterans' Lost Records Act authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve benefits claims using alternative evidence when a veteran's military service records or medical treatment records have been damaged or lost while in federal government possession. This legislation helps veterans who cannot access complete records by allowing the VA to consider other sources such as medical exams conducted after discharge, the veteran's own account of their condition, statements from fellow service members, or other evidence the VA deems appropriate. The bill requires the VA Secretary to develop detailed regulations within one year of enactment, working with the Department of Defense and the National Archives. The law also removes time limits on when veterans can file or appeal claims if their records were damaged or lost due to federal custody, ensuring they aren't penalized for government record-keeping failures. This bill primarily benefits military veterans seeking disability compensation or other VA benefits when their official records are incomplete or unavailable.
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