Legislation to make it easier for military veterans to make their case for benefits cleared the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits by a voice vote Tuesday.
The measure sets up procedures to help veterans get information and file forms for benefits and eliminates a requirement that a claimant submit a "well-grounded" claim before the Department of Veterans Affairs can assist the veteran in obtaining evidence to back up the claim.
At the markup session, committee Chairman Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., said presently some claims are arbitrarily dismissed without evidence being presented.
Under the bill, the claimant would have the burden of proving he or she has a right to VA benefits but would receive the benefit of the doubt when there is a balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the issues.
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