(a) In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives the plan of the Secretary to make available, to the maximum extent practicable, an automation tool described in subsection (b) to elements of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of processing claims under laws administered by the Secretary.
(b) Automation tool described
An automation tool described in this subsection is a technology developed for the Compensation Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration that—
automates the retrieval of the service record or health records of a veteran;
compiles evidence relevant to the determination of a claim for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary;
provides automated decision support relevant to such a determination;
automates information sharing between Federal agencies; and
assists in generating correspondence regarding such a claim.
(c) Analysis
In developing the plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct an analysis of each of the following:
The feasibility and benefits of the use of an automation tool described in subsection (b) by elements of the Department for the purpose of processing claims under laws administered by the Secretary.
Any modification to an existing automation tool that could render such tool usable for such purpose by such an element.
Any requirement of any such element pertaining to such purpose that cannot be addressed by using an automation tool.
The extent to which the technology offices of such elements may need to collaborate with the technology office responsible for developing an automation tool in the course of the development and use of the tool by the element for such purpose.
A timeline for modifying and implementing any automation tool for use by such elements for such purpose.
(d) Priority
In providing or expanding an automation tool described in subsection (b) to elements of the Department pursuant to the plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to the following elements:
The Compensation Service.
The Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
The Education Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Program offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration, as determined by the Secretary.
The Debt Management Center.
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
(e) Other requirements relating to technology at Department of Veterans Affairs
(1) Automatic notices regarding benefits for certain children of veterans
(A) In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement policies, processes, and technological capabilities, including in the National Work Queue (or successor system), to ensure that, in the case of any covered situation, a claims processors is made aware of, and assigned to address, such covered situation.
(B) Definitions
In this subsection:
The term covered situation means—
The term child has the meaning given such term in section 101(4)(A)(iii) of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Correct labeling of documents
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan to ensure that documents in the Veterans Benefits Management System (or any successor system) are correctly labeled when such documents are uploaded, including when such documents are labeled using automation tools.