SJM 11 — VETERANS AFFAIRS DISABILITY RATING SYSTEM

SENATEA JOINT MEMORIAL 11URGING 56THCONGRESS LEGISLATURETO -INVESTIGATE STATETHE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF NEWMEXICOVETERANS -AFFAIRS FIRSTAND SESSIONTHE 2023DELAY INTRODUCEDIN BYTHE CraigVETERANS W.AFFAIRS' SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES SYSTEM'S FAILURE TO MAKE RATING DETERMINATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Brandt7 6WHEREAS, 8New 10Mexico Ahas JOINTa MEMORIALsignificant URGINGnumber CONGRESSof TOpeople INVESTIGATEwho THEhave UNITEDserved STATESin DEPARTMENTthe OFUnited VETERANSStates AFFAIRSarmed ANDforces THEand DELAYhave INcontributed THEgreatly VETERANSto AFFAIRS'the SCHEDULEsecurity FORof RATINGthe DISABILITIESstate SYSTEM'Sand FAILUREthis TOgreat MAKEnation; RATING DETERMINATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

16and WHEREAS, New Mexico has a significant number of peopleveterans whoin eNew tMexico 17were haveinjured served in thecombat Unitedor Stateswhile armedtraining forcesfor andcombat; have w l n d 18 contributed greatly to the security of the state and this great = = 19 a l nation;

and iWHEREAS, athe eUnited rStates 20department WHEREAS,of veterans affairs' schedule for rating disabilities is based on a significantveteran's numberseverity of veteransthe inveteran's Newservice-connected Mexicocondition aand tdetermines mhow mmuch 21disability werecompensation injuredthe inveteran combatwill orreceive whileeach trainingmonth forin combat;benefits;

and d r e 22 WHEREAS, the United States department of veterans affairs' c e s k 23 schedule for rating disabilities is based on a veteran's e a n b 24 severity of the veteran's service-connected condition and u [ determines how much disability compensation the veteran will .224735.1 receive each month in benefits;

and WHEREAS, many veterans suffer from physical and severe mental health issues brought on or exacerbated by military SJM 11 Page 1 service;

and WHEREAS, many veterans are not aware that their military retirement benefits do not cover end-of-life care, including e t 17 care in a long-term care facility, home health care and w l n d 18 numerous other benefits only available to veterans with a = = 19 a l minimum seventy percent service-connected rating;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, previously, the disability rating system was a t m m 21 functioning more smoothly, and determinations were being done d r e 22 in a more expeditious manner;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, the United States department of veterans affairs e a n b 24 has failed to maintain the standards and time lines to award u [ disability benefits in a timely manner;

.224735.1 - 2 - NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congress be urged to investigate the United States department of veterans affairs and the veterans affairs' schedule for rating disabilities system's failure to make rating determinations in a timely manner;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congress be requested to honor the country's commitment to all veterans by requiring that the department of veterans affairs determine disability ratings within ninety days of filing for determination and SJM 11 Page 2 that determinations be expedited within thirty days for claims based on terminal illness and for veterans who have been placed in hospice;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congress be requested to acknowledge and address the United States department of veterans affairs' failure to protect veterans who have suffered so much for the freedoms that people enjoy in the United e t 17 States;

and w l n d 18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be = = 19 a l transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation.

iSJM a11 ePage r 20 - 3 -25 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .224735.1