COMMENCEMENT OF PERIOD OF PAYMENT OF ORIGINAL AWARDS OF COMPENSATION FOR VETERANS RETIRED OR SEPARATED FROM THE UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR CATASTROPHIC DISABILITY.

SEC. 605. COMMENCEMENT OF PERIOD OF PAYMENT OF ORIGINAL AWARDS OF COMPENSATION FOR VETERANS RETIRED OR SEPARATED FROM THE UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR CATASTROPHIC DISABILITY.(a) Commencement of Period of Payment.—Subsection (a) of section 5111 is amended—(1) by inserting “(1)” after “(a)”;(2) in paragraph (1), as so designated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by striking “in subsection (c) of this section” and inserting “in paragraph (2) and subsection (c)”; and(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(2)(A) In the case of a veteran who is retired or separated from the active military, naval, or air service for a catastrophic disability or disabilities, payment of monetary benefits based on an award of compensation based on an original claim shall be made as of the date on which such award becomes effective as provided under section 5110 of this title or another applicable provision of law.124 STAT. 2886“(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘catastrophic disability’, with respect to a veteran, means a permanent, severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises the ability of the veteran to carry out the activities of daily living to such a degree that the veteran requires personal or mechanical assistance to leave home or bed, or requires constant supervision to avoid physical harm to self or others.”.(b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2011, and shall apply with respect to awards of compensation based on original claims that become effective on or after that date.