AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED WITH SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF CLAIMANTS.

SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED WITH SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF CLAIMANTS. (a) In General.—Section 5101 is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking “A specific” and inserting “(1) A specific”; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 years, is mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to sign a form, a form filed under paragraph (1) for the individual may be signed by a court-appointed representative, a person who is responsible for the care of the individual, including a spouse or other relative, or an attorney in fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of the individual under a durable power of attorney. If the individual is in the care of an institution, the manager or principal officer of the institution may sign the form.” ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting “, signs a form on behalf of an individual to apply for,” after “who applies for”; (ii) by inserting “, or TIN in the case that the person is not an individual,” after “of such person”; and (iii) by striking “dependent” and inserting “claimant, dependent,”; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting “or TIN” after “social security number” each place it appears; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(d) In this section: “(1) The term ‘mentally incompetent’ with respect to an individual means that the individual lacks the mental capacity— “(A) to provide substantially accurate information needed to complete a form; or “(B) to certify that the statements made on a form are true and complete. “(2) The term ‘TIN’ has the meaning given the term in section 7701(a)(41) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.” . (b) [38 U.S.C. 5101 note] Applicability.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to claims filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.