Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2691

 117 STAT. 2672 38 USC 5101 note.

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PUBLIC LAW 108–183—DEC. 16, 2003

SEC. 704. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.

(a) AUTHORITY.—Using appropriated funds, other than funds available for compensation and pension, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide for the conduct of examinations with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary by persons other than Department of Veterans Affairs employees. The authority under this section is in addition to the authority provided in section 504(b) of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104– 275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note). (b) PERFORMANCE BY CONTRACT.—Examinations under the authority provided in subsection (a) shall be conducted pursuant to contracts entered into and administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits. (c) EXPIRATION.—The authority in subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2009. No examination may be carried out under the authority provided in that subsection after that date. (d) REPORT.—Not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the use of the authority provided in subsection (a). The Secretary shall include in the report an assessment of the effect of examinations under that authority on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of examinations with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary. SEC. 705. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES.

Applicability. 38 USC 6105 note.

(a) ADDITION OF CERTAIN OFFENSES.—Paragraph (2) of section 6105(b) is amended— (1) by inserting ‘‘175, 229,’’ after ‘‘sections’’; and (2) by inserting ‘‘831, 1091, 2332a, 2332b,’’ after ‘‘798,’’. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to claims filed after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 706. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF ROUND-DOWN REQUIREMENT FOR COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

Sections 1104(a) and 1303(a) are each amended by striking ‘‘2011’’ and inserting ‘‘2013’’. SEC. 707. CODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR EXPEDITIOUS TREATMENT OF CASES ON REMAND.

(a) CASES REMANDED BY BOARD OF VETERANS’ APPEALS.—(1) Chapter 51 is amended by adding at the end of subchapter I the following new section: ‘‘§ 5109B. Expedited treatment of remanded claims ‘‘The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide for the expeditious treatment by the appropriate regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration of any claim that is remanded to a regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.’’.

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