Collapse to view only § 7734. Annual report to Congress
- § 7731. Establishment
- § 7732. Functions
- § 7732A. Employee certification
- § 7733. Personnel
- § 7734. Annual report to Congress
§ 7731. Establishment
(a) The Secretary shall carry out a quality assurance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration. The program may be carried out through a single quality assurance division in the Administration or through separate quality assurance entities for each of the principal organizational elements (known as “services”) of the Administration.
(b) The Secretary shall ensure that any quality assurance entity established and operated under subsection (a) is established and operated so as to meet generally applicable governmental standards for independence and internal controls for the performance of quality reviews of Government performance and results.
(c)
(1) The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent third-party entity to conduct, during the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, an assessment of the quality assurance program carried out under subsection (a).
(2) The assessment conducted under paragraph (1) shall evaluate the following:
(A) The quality and accuracy of the work of employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration, using a statistically valid sample of such employees and a statistically valid sample of such work.
(B) The performance of each regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
(C) The accuracy of the disability ratings assigned under the schedule for rating disabilities under section 1155 of this title.
(D) The consistency of disability ratings among regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration, based on a sample of specific disabilities.
(E) The performance of employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
(3) The Secretary shall develop a mechanism for the automated gathering and producing of data that can be used to monitor and assess trends relating to the items described in paragraph (2).
(4)
(A) Beginning on the date that is six months after the date of the enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, the Secretary shall—
(i) for each claim for disability compensation under laws administered by the Secretary submitted to the Secretary on or after such date, retain, monitor, and store in an accessible format the data described in subparagraph (B); and
(ii) develop a demographic baseline for the data retained, monitored, and stored under subparagraph (A).
(B) The data described in this subparagraph includes the following:
(i) For each claim for disability compensation under laws administered by the Secretary submitted by a claimant—(I) the State in which the claimant resided when the claim was submitted;(II) the decision of the Secretary with respect to the claim and each issue claimed; and(III) the regional office and individual employee of the Department responsible for rating the claim.
(ii) The State in which the claimant currently resides.
(iii) Such other data as the Secretary determines is appropriate for monitoring the accuracy and consistency of decisions with respect to such claims.
(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the Secretary to replace the quality assurance program under subsection (a) that was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(Added Pub. L. 106–117, § 801(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1585; amended Pub. L. 110–389, title II, § 224(a), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4157.)
§ 7732. Functions
The Under Secretary for Benefits, acting through the quality assurance entities established under section 7731(a), shall on an ongoing basis perform and oversee quality reviews of the functions of each of the principal organizational elements of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
(Added Pub. L. 106–117, § 801(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1585.)
§ 7732A. Employee certification
(a)Development of Certification Examination.—
(1) The Secretary shall provide for an examination of appropriate employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration who are responsible for processing claims for compensation and pension benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary.
(2) In developing the examination required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) consult with appropriate individuals or entities, including examination development experts, interested stakeholders, and employee representatives; and
(B) consider the data gathered and produced under section 7731(c)(3) of this title.
(b)Employee and Manager Requirement.—The Secretary shall require appropriate employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration who are responsible for processing claims for compensation and pension benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary to take the examination provided under subsection (a).
(Added Pub. L. 110–389, title II, § 225(a)(1), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4158.)
§ 7733. Personnel
The Secretary shall ensure that the number of full-time employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration assigned to quality assurance functions under this subchapter is adequate to perform the quality assurance functions for which they have responsibility.
(Added Pub. L. 106–117, § 801(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1585.)
§ 7734. Annual report to CongressThe Secretary shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report on the quality assurance activities carried out under this subchapter. Each such report shall include—
(1) an appraisal of the quality of services provided by the Veterans Benefits Administration, including—
(A) the number of decisions reviewed;
(B) a summary of the findings on the decisions reviewed;
(C) the number of full-time equivalent employees assigned to quality assurance in each division or entity;
(D) specific documentation of compliance with the standards for independence and internal control required by section 7731(b) of this title; and
(E) actions taken to improve the quality of services provided and the results obtained;
(2) information with respect to the accuracy of decisions, including trends in that information; and
(3) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(Added Pub. L. 106–117, § 801(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1585.)