Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act.
(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and twice annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives the plan of the Secretary to make available, to the maximum extent practicable, automation tools described in subsection (b) to other subdivisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for the purpose of processing claims under laws administered by the Secretary.
(b) Automation tools described
An automation tool described in this subsection is a technology developed for the Compensation Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration that—
(1) automates the retrieval of the service record or health records of a veteran;
(2) compiles evidence relevant to the determination of a claim for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary;
(3) provides automated decision support relevant to such a determination;
(4) automates information sharing between Federal agencies; or
(5) assists in generating correspondence regarding such a claim.
(c) Elements
The plan under subsection (a) shall include analyses of the following:
(1) The feasibility and benefits of the use of such automation technologies by such subdivisions for such purpose.
(2) Any modification to an automation tool that may be necessary to make it usable by such a subdivision.
(3) Any requirement of such a subdivision pertaining to such purpose that cannot be addressed by using such an automation tool.
(4) The extent to which the technology offices of such subdivisions may need to collaborate with the technology office responsible for developing such an automation tool.
(5) A timeline for modifying and implementing the use of such automation tools for such purpose.
(d) Priority
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to the following subdivisions of the Department:
(1) The Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
(2) The Education Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
(3) Program offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) The Debt Management Center.
(5) The Board of Veterans’ Appeals.