H.R. 3269 AND DRAFT LEGISLATION ON THE ADJUDICATION OF VETERANS CLAIMS HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION, PENSION AND INSURANCE OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION NOVEMBER 17, 1993 Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Serial No. 103-34 ae U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE T1492 ce WASHINGTON : 1994 rice, ISBN 0-16-046361-0COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS GV. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY, Mississippi, Chairman DON EDWARDS, California DOUGLAS APPLEGATE, Ohio LANE EVANS, Illinois TIMOTHY J. PENNY, Minnesota J. ROY ROWLAND, Georgia JIM SLATTERY, Kansas JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, Il, Massachusetts GEORGE E. SANGMEISTER, Iinois SILL L. LONG, Indiana CHET EDWARDS, Texas MAXINE WATERS, Califoraia BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee BOB FILNER, Californie FRANK TEJEDA, Texas LUIS V, GUTIERREZ, Illincis SCOTTY BARSLER, Kentucky SANFORD BISHOP, Georgia JAMES E. CLYBURN, South Carolina MIKE KREIDLER, Washington CORRINE BROWN, Florida BOB STUMP, Arizona CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey DAN BURTON, Indiana MICHAEL BILIRAKIS, Florida ‘THOMAS J. RIDGE, Pennsylvania FLOYD SPENCE, South Carolina TIM HUTCHINSON, Arkansas TERRY EVERETT, Alabama STEVE BUYER, Indiana JACK QUINN, New York SPENCER BACHUS, Alabama JOHN LINDER, Georgia CLIFF STEARNS, Florida PETER T. KING, New York RON LEWIS, Kentucky ‘MACK FLEMING, Staff Director and Chief Counsel SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION, PENSION, AND INSURANCE JIM SLATTERY, Kansas, Chairman DOUGLAS APPLEGATE, Ohio LANE EVANS, Ilinois GEORGE E. SANGMEISTER, Ilinois CHET EDWARDS, Texas FRANK TEJEDA, Texas MICHAEL BILIRAKIS, Florida ‘TERRY EVERETT, Alabama CLIFF STEARNS, Flori PETER T. KING, New York mCONTENTS Page OPENING STATEMENTS Chairman Slattery . 1 Hon. Michael Bilirakis 49 Hon. Lane Evans ... 2 WITNESSES Cragin, Charles, Chairman, Board of Veterans’ Appeals; R. John Vogel, Dep- uty Under Secretary for ‘Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, accom- panied by J. Gary Hickman, Director, Compensation and Pension ‘Service; and John Thompson, Assistant General Counsel 3 Prepared statement of Mr. Cragin rm : 51 Egan, Paul S., Executive Director, Vietnam Veterans of America 10 Brepared statement of Mr. Egan .... 64 Howell, Earnest E., National Legislative Assistant, AMVETS 19 Prepared statement of Mr. Howell 81 Manhan, Bob, Assistant Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars 17 Prepared statement of Mr Manhan ae 78 Mank, Russell W., National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of Amer ica ae Prepared statement of Mr. Mank 6 Rhea, Larry D., Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Non Commissioned Officers Association .. 12 Prepared statement of Mr. Rhea 68 Snyder, Keith D., President, National Organization of Velerans’ Advocate: also representing Veterans Due Process . 24 Prepared statement of Mr. Snyder 101 Stenger, Charles A. Ph.D., National Consultant, American Bx-prisoners of War .. Prepared statement of Dr. Stenger 89 Violante, Joseph A., Legislative Counsel, Disabled American Veterans 22 Prepared statement of Mr. Violante... sca 93 R. John, Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of Veterans ccs pes onli anlar ao enon . es 4 Wilkerson, Philip R., Assistant Director, National Veterans Affairs and Reha- bilitation Commission, The American Legion 26 Prepared statement of Mr. Wilkerson . MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD Bill: HR. 3269 .., a1 Draft bill A bill to make improvements in the adjudication process at the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs 44 Statements: Blinded Veterans Association .. 118 Fleet Reserve Association 122