IMPROVING PROCESSING BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF DISABILITY CLAIMS FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER THROUGH IMPROVED TRAINING.

SEC. 5003. [38 U.S.C. 1101 note] IMPROVING PROCESSING BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF DISABILITY CLAIMS FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER THROUGH IMPROVED TRAINING. (a) Formal Process for Conduct of Annual Analysis of Training Needs Based on Trends.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for Benefits, shall establish a formal process to analyze, on an annual basis, training needs of employees of the Department who review claims for disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, based on identified processing error trends. (b) Formal Process for Conduct of Annual Studies to Support Annual Analysis.— (1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall establish a formal process to conduct, on an annual basis, studies to help guide the process established under subsection (a). (2) Elements.—Each study conducted under paragraph (1) shall cover the following: (A) Military post-traumatic stress disorder stressors. (B) Decision-making claims for claims processors.