Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008

Mr. President, today I introduce the Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008. This legislation would mandate fair and equitable ratings for veterans whose disabilities require continuous medication or the use of adaptive devices, such as hearing aids.

Specifically, the bill would require that all veterans who receive continuous medication or require use of one or more adaptive devices, such as hearing aids, prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service- connected disability, shall be rated at not less than 10 percent.

The amount of compensation veterans with service-connected conditions receive is based on a disability rating, which VA assigns. VA uses its rating schedule to determine which rating to assign to a veteran's particular condition. Currently the rating schedule provides a minimum compensable rating of 10 percent or higher for most but not all disabilities that require continuous medication. I do not see any reason why one veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of a service-connected disability, such as diabetes or asthma, should receive a compensable rating and another veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of another disability, such as hypertension or chronic sinusitis, is assigned a zero percent rating and receives no compensation.

This legislation would also provide a minimum compensable rating when a veteran requires the use of a hearing aid or other adaptive device, but is nonetheless assigned a noncompensable rating under the current rating schedule. The use of adaptive devices prescribed by a Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service-connected condition would result in a rating of at least 10 percent.

It is important that veterans who are disabled as a result of military service are compensated in a fair and equitable manner. Providing different compensation for different medical conditions that all require continuous medication or adaptive devices is not just.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, so that veterans seeking compensation will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today I introduce the Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008. This legislation would mandate fair and equitable ratings for veterans whose disabilities require continuous medication or the use of adaptive devices, such as hearing aids.

Specifically, the bill would require that all veterans who receive continuous medication or require use of one or more adaptive devices, such as hearing aids, prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service- connected disability, shall be rated at not less than 10 percent.

The amount of compensation veterans with service-connected conditions receive is based on a disability rating, which VA assigns. VA uses its rating schedule to determine which rating to assign to a veteran's particular condition. Currently the rating schedule provides a minimum compensable rating of 10 percent or higher for most but not all disabilities that require continuous medication. I do not see any reason why one veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of a service-connected disability, such as diabetes or asthma, should receive a compensable rating and another veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of another disability, such as hypertension or chronic sinusitis, is assigned a zero percent rating and receives no compensation.

This legislation would also provide a minimum compensable rating when a veteran requires the use of a hearing aid or other adaptive device, but is nonetheless assigned a noncompensable rating under the current rating schedule. The use of adaptive devices prescribed by a Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service-connected condition would result in a rating of at least 10 percent.

It is important that veterans who are disabled as a result of military service are compensated in a fair and equitable manner. Providing different compensation for different medical conditions that all require continuous medication or adaptive devices is not just.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, so that veterans seeking compensation will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation designed to fix the personnel laws that cover the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, health care professionals, including registered nurses, physicians, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, and dental assistants. I am proud to have the support of my colleagues, Senators Webb, Brown and Mikulski. This legislation is the companion bill to the pending House bill sponsored by House Veterans' Affairs Chairman, Congressman Bob Filner.

Our goal is to support the VA health care professionals who work hard to provide quality care to our veterans. The bill seeks to return to the partnership agreement of the 1990s between VA management and workforce. Flexible scheduling and basic fairness from management are key issues to recruit and retain a strong workforce.

Almost 22,000 of the registered nurse caring for our veterans will be eligible to retire by 2010. Even more stunning is that 77 percent of all resignations of nurses occur within the first 5 years. This is a clear signal that more must be done to retain VA nurses and quality health care staff. Anyone involved in health care understands the important role that nurses play in the quality of care and patient satisfaction.

The VA has several options. VA could invest more of its precious, limited funding on contract care--or, as we recommend, support this legislation and restore the partnership that will encourage our nurses and other health care professionals to stay in the VA system to care for our Nation's heroes.

West Virginia has four VA Medical Centers, each with a dedicated team of health care professionals. I have met with the nurses and other professionals to hear their requests for flexible scheduling. I believe that we should restore the management partnership and work hard to retain our dedicated team of health professionals for our aging veterans, and those newly returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with both physical and mental wounds of war that deserved experienced VA care.