WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation today to expand legal recourse for veterans seeking compensation for service-connected disabilities. 

The Veterans' Rating Schedule Review Act would expand the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) to allow for review of cases challenging the Department of Veterans Affairs rating schedule, the tool VA uses to determine the degree of a veterans' service-connected disability.  Under current law, veterans cannot bring a case challenging the Rating Schedule to the CAVC.  The legislation Senator Akaka introduced would remedy this by allowing the court to consider whether the Rating Schedule violates provisions in Chapter 11 of Title 38 of the US Code, the body of law which covers veterans' compensation for service-connected disability or death. 

"I expect VA to comply with all laws passed by Congress in developing and revising the Rating Schedule.  However, our nation's veterans deserve a forum where they can challenge the Rating Schedule when they believe that a statute passed by Congress to provide compensation for the service-disabled is being violated," said Senator Akaka.   

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March 10, 2008