Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.—
This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008".
(b) Table of Contents.—
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Reference to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I—COMPENSATION AND PENSION MATTERS
Sec. 101. Regulations on contents of notice to be provided claimants by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the substantiation of claims. Sec. 102. Judicial review of adoption and revision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the schedule of ratings for disabilities of veterans. Sec. 103. Conforming amendment relating to non-deductibility from veterans' disability compensation of disability severance pay for disabilities incurred by members of the Armed Forces in combat zones. Sec. 104. Report on progress of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in addressing causes for variances in compensation payments for veterans for service-connected disabilities. Sec. 105. Extension of temporary authority for the performance of medical disability examinations by contract physicians. Sec. 106. Addition of osteoporosis to disabilities presumed to be service-connected in former prisoners of war with post-traumatic stress disorder.
TITLE II—MODERNIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISABILITY COMPENSATION SYSTEM
Subtitle A—Benefits Matters
Sec. 211. Authority for temporary disability ratings. Sec. 212. Substitution upon death of claimant. Sec. 213. Report on compensation of veterans for loss of earning capacity and quality of life and on long-term transition payments to veterans undergoing rehabilitation for service-connected disabilities. Sec. 214. Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation.
Subtitle B—Assistance and Processing Matters
Sec. 221. Pilot programs on expedited treatment of fully developed claims and provision of checklists to individuals submitting claims. Sec. 222. Office of Survivors Assistance. Sec. 223. Comptroller General report on adequacy of dependency and indemnity compensation to maintain survivors of veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. Sec. 224. Independent assessment of quality assurance program. Sec. 225. Certification and training of employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration responsible for processing claims. Sec. 226. Study of performance measures for claims adjudications of the Veterans Benefits Administration. Sec. 227. Review and enhancement of use of information technology in Veterans Benefits Administration. Sec. 228. Study and report on improving access to medical advice.
TITLE III—LABOR AND EDUCATION MATTERS
Subtitle A—Labor and Employment Matters
Sec. 311. Reform of USERRA complaint process. Sec. 312. Modification and expansion of reporting requirements with respect to enforcement of USERRA. Sec. 313. Training for executive branch human resources personnel on employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services. Sec. 314. Report on the employment needs of Native American veterans living on tribal lands. Sec. 315. Equity powers. Sec. 316. Waiver of residency requirement for Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training. Sec. 317. Modification of special unemployment study to cover veterans of Post 9/11 Global Operations.
Subtitle B—Education Matters
Sec. 321. Modification of period of eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance of certain spouses of individuals with service-connected disabilities total and permanent in nature. Sec. 322. Repeal of requirement for report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on prior training. Sec. 323. Modification of waiting period before affirmation of enrollment in a correspondence course. Sec. 324. Change of programs of education at the same educational institution. Sec. 325. Repeal of certification requirement with respect to applications for approval of self-employment on-job training. Sec. 326. Coordination of approval activities in the administration of education benefits.