All Information (Except Text) for H.R.5688 - Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 198498th Congress (1983-1984)

Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1984 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowances for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for spouses; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children.

Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Amends the veterans' disability compensation provisions to provide periods of trial work for veterans assigned total service-connected disability ratings by reason of unemployability. Defines trial work as work performed for gain by such a veteran to determine whether in fact such veteran is able to pursue substantially gainful employment.

Entitles all unemployable veterans to counseling and other services (Currently, such services are extended only to veterans participating in a vocational rehabilitation program.) Requires veterans rated as unemployable and therefore totally disabled to submit to an evaluation and possibly to a vocational rehabilitation program if either or both are considered appropriate. Directs the Administrator to reduce the disability rating to what it would have been but for the determination of unemployability for veterans failing to participate in a required evaluation. Sets forth notice and outreach requirements. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to report annually to the Veterans' Affairs Committees on the conduct of the three-year trial work program.

Reduces from 50 to 30 percent the rate of peacetime service-connected disability entitling an affected veteran to additional monthly compensation for dependents.

Title II: Veterans' Rehabilitation, Education, and Employment Programs - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) rehabilitation subsistence allowances for veterans with service-connected disabilities; (2) GI Bill educational assistance for Vietnam-Era veterans; (3) educational assistance for survivors and dependents; and (4) training allowances for apprenticeship or other on-job training. Increases the amount a veteran or other eligible person may borrow for education in any one regular academic year.

Part B: Veterans' Employment Programs - Extends veterans' readjustment appointments in the Federal Government for Vietnam era veterans from a GS-7 maximum grade to a GS-9 maximum grade and from FY 1984 to FY 1986. Grants such veterans the same rights upon termination within the first year of employment as are granted to other Federal employees. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to periodically monitor this program and report to Congress annually on the number, grade, and result of veterans' readjustment appointments (e.g. terminations, conversions to career appointments, etc.) per agency, including training and education courses taken. Requires such report to detail which participating veterans have service-connected disabilities from the Vietnam era.

Amends the Emergency Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983 to extend from 60 to 90 days the viability of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs' certificate that a veteran is eligible to participate in the job training program established by such Act. Authorizes appropriations for an additional year, through FY 1987. Extends such program from the end of FY 1984 to February 28, 1985, for applications and from December 31, 1984, to September 1, 1985, for the actual job training.

Title III: Other Benefit Rate Increases and Program Improvements - Requires permanently and totally non-service-connected disabled veterans under the age of 50 and permits those 50 or older who apply for and receive a military pension to undergo a vocational evaluation. Limits the number of evaluations which may be given annually. Suspends pension payment to any veteran failing to participate as required by the Administrator.

Allows any veteran who the Administrator determines can achieve a vocational goal to undertake such training. Limits the program to four years and an individual training program to 24 months with a possible 24 month extension. Requires such a vocational program to consist of vocationally oriented services and assistance, including vocational and educational counseling. Limits the use of educational institutions under such a program.

Continues for three years the health benefit entitlements of participating veterans whose pensions are terminated by reason of income from work or training, including the drugs and medicine entitlement of housebound or regularly attended veterans.

Directs the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees by April 15, 1988, on the first three years of operation of this program, including the extension of health care benefits. Directs the Administrator to report to such Committees within such 28 months of enactment of this Act on the result of medical examinations of persons awarded a pension for being age 65 within a specified two-year period.

Prohibits the denial or discontinuance of a veteran's rating of total disability due to unemployability on the basis of such veteran's participation in therapeutic or rehabilitative activities at a VA health care facility.

Increases the amount of specially adapted housing and automobile and adaptive equipment assistance for eligible, service-connected disabled beterans. Entitles an eligible veteran to adaptive equipment for two vehicles within a four year period, with additional equipment provided at the Administrator's discretion.

Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals a reporting requirement pertaining to deceptive advertising practices by educational institutions.

Excludes the value of the home of an incompetent veteran without dependents from the determination of the value of the veteran's estate for purposes of the veteran's eligibility for VA benefits while institutionalized at public expense. Permits the Administrator to waive any discontinuation of benefits for such veterans for up to 60 days of care to avoid hardship.

Deletes gender references in certain veterans' benefits provisions.

Veterans' Administration Benefit Rate Increase and Program Improvement Act of 1984 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for spouses; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Sets forth the effective dates for such increases. Makes the effective dates and amounts of increase contingent upon the percent of increase in benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act scheduled to take effect on December 1, 1984.

Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Amends the veterans' disability compensation provisions to provide periods of trial work for veterans assigned total service-connected disability ratings by reason of unemployability. Defines trial work as work performed for gain by such a veteran to determine whether in fact such veteran is able to pursue substantially gainful employment.

Entitles all unemployable veterans to counseling and other services. (Currently, such services are extended only to veterans participating in a vocational rehabilitation program). Requires veterans rated as unemployable and therefore totally disabled to submit to an evaluation and possibly to a vocational rehabilitation program if either or both are considered appropriate. Sets forth notice and outreach requirements. Directs the Administration of Veterans Affairs to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees on the conduct of the trial work program.

Title II: Veterans' Administration Rehabilitation and Education Programs - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of educational and subsistence allowances for eligible veterans and their dependents and survivors. Increases the amount of reporting fee per participating veteran or other eligible person payable to an educational institution. Increases the amount a veteran or other eligible person may borrow for education in any one regular academic year.

Part B: Rehabilitation and Education Program Improvements - Tolls the eligibility period for GI Bill and other specified educational benefits and vocational rehabilitation programs for certain veterans and eligible persons who have been prevented from participating in such programs because of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse. Limits the extension to a maximum of four years. Requires affected veterans and persons to have participated in a treatment or rehabilitation program.

Repeals a reporting requirement pertaining to deceptive advertising practices by educational institutions.

Requires the Administrator to consult with the VA educational advisory committee prior to changing any educational institution requirements for reporting enrollments of GI Bill trainees.

Title III: Veterans' Employment Programs - Extends veterans' readjustment appointments in the Federal Government for Vietnam era veterans from FY 1984 to FY 1985.

Amends the Emergency Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983 to extend from 60 to 90 days the viability of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs certificate that a veteran is eligible to participate in the job training program established by such Act. Authorizes appropriations for an additional year, through FY 1987. Extends such program from the end of FY 1984 to May 31, 1985, for applications and from December 31, 1984, to September 1, 1985, for the actual job training.

Title IV: Veterans' Administration Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension - Establishes a three-year trial work period pilot project for non-service-connected disabled veterans rated as permanently and totally disabled. (See title I for a definition of trial work). Permits participants to retain their disability status and VA health care benefits while performing trial work. Extends eligibility for health care benefits one year beyond the termination of a veteran's pension by reason of income from work or training in a vocational rehabilitation program.

Directs the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees on the first three years of the trial work period pilot program and on the results of medical examinations of persons awarded a pension for being age 65.

Title V: Other Benefit Rate Increases - Increases the rates of specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants for certain severely disabled veterans.

Increases the maximum amount of coverage under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance program.

Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Expands the definition of the Vietnam era to include service by veterans in South Vietnam during the period July 8, 1959, through August 5, 1964. (Current law starts such period on August 5, 1964.)

Excludes amounts received in a VA therapeutic or rehabilitative activity from income for VA pension programs purposes through December 31, 1987. Directs the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees on the number of participants in such activities and the costs of such exclusion.

Makes the last date of school attendance the termination date for veterans' dependents' allowances for school-aged dependents.

Excludes the value of the home of an incompetent veteran without dependents from the determination of the value of the veteran's estate for purposes of the veteran's eligibility for VA benefits while institutionalized at public expense. Permits the Administrator to waive any discontinuation of benefits for such veterans for up to 60 days of care to avoid hardship.

Deletes gender references in certain veterans' benefits provisions.

Veterans' Compensation Amendments for Fiscal Year 1985 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; and (4) dependency and indemnity compensation.

Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Includes lupus erythematosus systemic among the chronic diseases considered to be service-connected for purposes of veterans' benefits if it manifests itself to a degree of ten percent or more within one year of separation from service.

Decreases from 50 to 30 percent the percentage of disability required to make a peacetime service-connected disabled veteran eligible to receive additional compensation for dependents.

Title II: Other Veterans' Program Improvements - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish the Advisory Committee on Veterans Exposed to Ionizing Radiation to advise the Administrator on benefits provided, compensation needs of veterans, dependents, and survivors, and disabilities or disorders stemming from a veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during active military service. Requires the Committee to report to the Administrator by July 1, 1985, and biannually thereafter on activities of the Veterans Administration and recommendations for changes pertaining to veterans exposed to such radiation. Directs the Administrator to submit such report to Congress.

Requires a permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected disability veteran under age 50 who applies for and receives a military pension to undergo a vocational evaluation. Allows any veteran who the Administrator of Veterans Affairs determines can achieve a vocational goal to undertake such training. Limits such training to 48 months. Suspends pension payment to any veteran failing to participate as required by the Administrator.

Continues the drugs and medicine entitlement of housebound or regularly attended veterans who participate in vocational training without regard to income limitations.

Increases the maximum amount of insurance available under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance program.

Increases the amount of automobile and adaptive equipment assistance the Administrator of Veterans Affairs may provide to an eligible person.

Veterans' Compensation Amendments for Fiscal Year 1985 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; and (4) dependency and indemnity compensation.

Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Includes lupus erythematosus systemic among the chronic diseases considered to be service-connected for purposes of veterans' benefits if it manifests itself to a degree of ten percent or more within one year of separation from service.

Decreases from 50 to 30 percent the percentage of disability required to make a peacetime service-connected disabled veteran eligible to receive additional compensation for dependents.

Title II: Other Veterans' Program Improvements - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish the Advisory Committee on Veterans Exposed to Ionizing Radiation to advise the Administrator on benefits provided, compensation needs of veterans, dependents, and survivors, and disabilities or disorders stemming from a veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during active military service. Requires the Committee to report to the Administrator by July 1, 1985, and biannually thereafter on activities of the Veterans Administration and recommendations for changes pertaining to veterans exposed to such radiation. Directs the Administrator to submit such report to Congress.

Requires a permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected disability veteran under age 50 who applies for and receives a military pension to undergo a vocational evaluation. Allows any veteran who the Administrator of Veterans Affairs determines can achieve a vocational goal to undertake such training. Limits such training to 48 months. Suspends pension payment to any veteran failing to participate as required by the Administrator.

Continues the drugs and medicine entitlement of housebound or regularly attended veterans who participate in vocational training without regard to income limitations.

Increases the maximum amount of insurance available under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance program.

Increases the amount of automobile and adaptive equipment assistance the Administrator of Veterans Affairs may provide to an eligible person.