Lexington, Ky – This week Representative Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced H.R. 6493, Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act. This legislation protects veterans applying for VA disability benefits by requiring the VA to continue to make available on its website disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) that medical providers and others assisting veterans use to submit evidence supporting disability claims. In addition, the bill cuts down on bureaucratic inefficiencies by requiring the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to accept a veteran’s DBQ for one year after it is completed and filed with the VBA, regardless if the VBA updates or changes the form. Veterans in Kentucky have reported receiving denial of disability claims to which they are legally entitled solely because the VBA changed its forms without their knowledge.

Recently, the VBA announced its intention to stop making DBQs available on its website. This decision will undermine veterans’ ability to submit evidence in support of disability compensation because the VBA has closed its offices to in person meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic and veterans, their representatives and their medical providers will not have access to the DBQ forms online. According to the VBA, the “purpose of a DBQ is to ensure the clinician performing the exam captures and records all the information needed by VBA claims processors to make a decision on a Veteran’s claim.” The idea for this legislation was brought to Congressman Barr by a member of the Sixth District Veterans Coalition, who regularly assists fellow veterans with the VA disability claims process.

“Veterans should not have their disability claim delayed or denied because the VA changed their DBQ form during the application process,” Congressman Barr said. “Additionally, veterans’ disability claims should not be stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic and veterans, their representatives and medical providers should retain uninterrupted access to DBQ forms online throughout the duration of the public health crisis. That is why I introduced the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act, which will protect veterans by ensuring that the time it takes to file and receive a fair decision on a disability claim is not delayed.”

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