Pub. L. 94-71, tit. II, sec. 204

Sec. 204. (a) The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall make a detailed study of claims for dependency and indemnity compensation relating to veterans, as defined in section 101(2), title 38, United States Code, who at time of death during the six-month period September 1, 1975, to March 1, 1976, were receiving disability compensation from the Veterans’ Administration based upon a rating total and permanent in nature. (b) The report of such study shall include (1) the number of the described cases; (2) the number of cases in which the specified benefit was denied; (3) an analysis of the reasons for each such denial; (4) an analysis of any difficulty which may have been encountered by the claimant in attempting to establish that the death of the veteran concerned was connected with his or her military, naval, or air service in the Armed Forces of the United States; (5) data regarding the current financial status of the widow, widower, children, and parents in each case of denial; and (6) an analysis of whether there has been a significant increase in the use of discretionary authority consistent with revised Veterans’ Administration program guide instructions issued March 27, 1975 concerning rating practices and procedures. 89 STAT. 398 (c) The report together with such comments and recommendations as the Administrator deems appropriate shall be submitted to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate not later than October 1, 1976.