Veterans Comprehensive Care and Full Disability Act of 2027

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120th Congress

1st Session

S. ___

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mrs. Perkins introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

A BILL

To provide comprehensive care and full disability benefits to veterans, and for

other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Veterans Comprehensive Care and Full Disability Act of 2027

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Comprehensive Care and Full Disability Act of 2027”.

SECTION 2. IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS.

Any veteran enrolled in VA health care may receive medical services from any licensed health care

provider in the United States — including naturopathic physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and

psychiatrists — without prior authorization or referral. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall

reimburse the provider at no less than 150% of the Medicare rate, adjusted for geographic location,

within 30 days of receiving a clean claim.

SECTION 3. MANDATORY APPROVAL ON MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

If a licensed provider submits a medical opinion stating that a veteran’s disability is at least as likely as

not service-connected, the VA shall approve the claim within 30 days.

SECTION 4. DOCTOR-DETERMINED RATING.

The licensed provider who determines that a disability is service-connected shall assign the appropriate percentage using the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities in effect at the time of the examination.

However, if the provider believes the appropriate rating is higher than the schedule provides, the provider shall include a written explanation stating the medical reasons for the higher rating. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall accept the percentage assigned by the provider. If the VA determines that a higher rating is warranted, the veteran shall be awarded the higher of the two ratings.

SECTION 5. NO CAP ON COMBINED RATINGS.

All service-connected disabilities shall be combined using the combined ratings table. There shall be no cap. If the combined rating exceeds 100 percent, the veteran shall receive compensation at the full combined percentage rate.

SECTION 6. AUTOMATIC RECALCULATION FOR EXISTING 100% VETERANS.

Any veteran who is currently rated 100% disabled but whose individual service-connected disabilities combine to a rating higher than 100% under the combined ratings table shall have their rating

automatically recalculated. The VA shall pay the veteran at their true combined percentage rate. This recalculation shall be completed and payments adjusted within 60 days of the date of enactment of this Act. No new claim shall be required.

SECTION 7. ACCESS TO EMERGING TREATMENTS.

Veterans shall have access to emerging treatments for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or mental health conditions approved under the April 2026 Executive Order, reimbursed at no less than 150% of the Medicare rate without prior authorization.

SECTION 8. MODERNIZATION OF RATING SCHEDULE.

Within one year of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall completely rewrite and simplify the Schedule for Rating Disabilities in plain language, update all ratings to reflect current medical science, and publish the new schedule for use by veterans and medical providers.

SECTION 9. TRANSITION RULE FOR EXISTING ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION.

If a veteran has retained an attorney or claims agent for a pending claim prior to the date of enactment of this Act, the VA shall, upon approval of the claim, pay the attorney a flat fee of $12,500 directly from VA funds. The veteran shall receive 100% of all back pay and benefits with no deduction. The attorney shall not sue or seek any additional payment from the veteran for any remainder of the originally agreed-upon fee.

SECTION 10. BACKLOG CLEANUP.

All pending disability claims that have been in the system for more than 180 days shall be automatically

granted service connection. The VA may only deny such a claim if it presents clear and unmistakable evidence from a licensed medical provider that the condition is not service-connected. Claims shall be prioritized based on medical severity, with terminal illnesses, cancer, and severe mental health

conditions receiving the highest priority.

SECTION 11. TEMPORARY CLAIMS PROCESSORS.

The Secretary shall immediately hire temporary claims processors using existing VA administrative funds

to clear the backlog.

SECTION 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect immediately upon the date of its enactment by the President of the United States.