Thank you Mr. Chairman,

And welcome everyone, to this hearing on the Benefits Delivery at Discharge and Quick Start programs.

These programs are modeled on the concept of providing a seamless transition from military service to civilian life.

I, along with Chairman Hall, my fellow Subcommittee members, and many of you here, are long-time advocates for creating a seamless transition.

Therefore I’m sure we can all recognize the inherent value of beginning the VA claims process while service medical records are readily available and proof of service connection is easily established.

Allowing veterans to file VA compensation claims prior to separation from active duty, is simply a logical approach.

BDD is more efficient than the traditional VA claims process and it eliminates many problems that are created by the time gap that often exists between discharge and application for benefits.

Among the requirements to establish eligibility for VA compensation, veterans must be able to show that a condition was incurred during service, and that there is continuity of treatment between that incurrence and the current condition for which they are filing.

Obviously, with BDD there is no time gap, so it alleviates the need to show continuity of treatment.

This saves both the veteran and VA a lot of time and effort obtaining private treatment records.

One can imagine that such efforts can become quite extensive for claims filed several years subsequent to service.

In 2008, full committee Ranking Member Steve Buyer requested a U.S. Government Accountability Office assessment of the BDD program.

GAO’s findings confirmed that allowing claims to befiled prior to discharge is more efficient than the traditional VA claims process.  

While I am optimistic about the overall assessment of the program, I encourage VA to make every effort to improve the program and increase access to BDD sites.

I believe that processing as many claims as possible in this manner will have a positive impact throughout the entire system-- Thank you, I yield back.