text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Disability Claims 
  Efficiency Act of 2010''.
  
  SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESSING.
  
      (a) Establishment of Fast Track Interim Disability Ratings.--
  Section 1157 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
              (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
          following:
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary''; and
              (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(b) Fast Track Interim Disability Ratings.--(1) In the case of a 
  veteran who submits to the Secretary a claim for compensation under 
  this chapter for more than one condition and the Secretary determines 
  that a disability rating can be assigned without further development 
  for one or more conditions but not all conditions in the claim, the 
  Secretary shall--
                      ``(A) expeditiously review the claim in accordance 
                  with section 5103B of this title;
                      ``(B) assign an interim disability rating for each 
                  condition that the Secretary determines could be 
                  assigned without further development (except as 
                  provided in paragraph (3)(A)); and
                      ``(C) continue development of the remaining 
                  conditions.
      ``(2) If the Secretary is able to assign a disability rating for a 
  condition described in paragraph (1)(C) with respect to a claim, the 
  Secretary shall assign such rating and combine such rating with each 
  interim rating previously assigned under paragraph (1)(B) with respect 
  to that claim.
      ``(3)(A) With respect to an interim disability rating assigned 
  under paragraph (1)(B) for a condition that is rated less than the 
  maximum rate, the Secretary shall continue development of such 
  condition.
      ``(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), an interim disability 
  rating assigned under paragraph (1)(B) for a condition shall remain in 
  effect unless the Secretary later assigns an increased rating for such 
  condition.
      ``(C) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, subparagraph 
  (B) shall not apply to an interim disability rating assigned under 
  paragraph (1)(B) for a condition if--
              ``(i) such rating was based on fraud; or
              ``(ii) such condition improves.''.
      (b) Establishment of Fast Track Claim Review Process.--
              (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 51 of title 38, 
          United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5103A 
          the following new section:
  ``Sec. 5103B. Expedited review of initial claims for disability 
                compensation
      ``(a) Process Required.--The Secretary shall establish a process 
  for the rapid identification of initial claims for disability 
  compensation that should, in the adjudication of such claims, receive 
  priority in the order of review.
      ``(b) Review of Initial Claims.--As part of the process required by 
  subsection (a), the Secretary shall carry out a preliminary review of 
  all initial claims for disability compensation submitted to the 
  Secretary in order to identify whether--
              ``(1) the claims have the potential of being adjudicated 
          quickly, including claims where an interim disability rating 
          could be assigned under section 1157(b)(1)(B) of this title;
              ``(2) the claims qualify for priority treatment under 
          paragraph (2) of subsection (c); and
              ``(3) a temporary disability rating could be assigned with 
          respect to the claims under section 1156 of this title.
      ``(c) Priority in Adjudication of Initial Claims.--(1) As part of 
  the process required by subsection (a) and except as provided in 
  paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, in the adjudication of initial 
  claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary, give 
  priority in the order of review of such claims to claims identified 
  under subsection (b)(1) as having the potential of being adjudicated 
  quickly.
      ``(2) Under regulations prescribed for such purpose, the Secretary 
  may provide priority in the order of review of initial claims for 
  disability compensation based on the effect such priority would have on 
  a claimant.''.
              (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
          beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended by inserting 
          after the item relating to section 5103A, the following new 
          item:
  
  ``5103B. Expedited review of initial claims for disability 
                              compensation''.
      (c) Reports.--
              (1) First interim report.--Not later than one year after 
          the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
          Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
          committees a report on--
                      (A) the implementation of sections 1157(b) and 
                  5103B of title 38, United States Code, as added by this 
                  section;
                      (B) the workflow of the employees of the Department 
                  of Veterans Affairs who review and process claims for 
                  disability compensation, including an analysis of--
                              (i) the efficiency of such employees; and
                              (ii) whether such claims are directed to 
                          such employees based on the complexity of the 
                          claim in relation to the experience and skill 
                          of the employee; and
                      (C) pilot programs carried out by the Secretary 
                  relating to the review and process of claims for 
                  disability compensation, including--
                              (i) the status of such pilot programs;
                              (ii) an evaluation of any best practices 
                          learned from such pilot programs; and
                              (iii) whether such practices should be 
                          expanded.
              (2) Second interim report.--Not later than 18 months after 
          the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
          submit to the appropriate congressional committees an update to 
          the report submitted under paragraph (1).
              (3) Final report.--Not later than two years after the date 
          of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
          appropriate congressional committees an update to the report 
          submitted under paragraph (2).
              (4) Appropriate congressional committees.--In this 
          subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
          means the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
          Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
          Senate.
      (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
  effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with 
  respect to claims for disability compensation filed on or after the 
  date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
target: Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2010 - Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), in the case of a disability claim with multiple conditions, to assign an interim disability rating for the condition(s) that can be assigned without further development and to continue development of the remaining condition(s). Requires an interim disability rating to remain in effect unless the Secretary later assigns an increased rating for such condition. Prohibits the continuation of such rating if the rating was based on fraud or the condition improves.
  
  Directs the Secretary to establish a process for the rapid identification of initial claims for disability compensation that should, in adjudication, receive priority in the order of review. Requires the Secretary to identify whether claims have the potential of being adjudicated quickly, the claims qualify for priority treatment, and a temporary disability rating could be assigned for such claims. Authorizes the Secretary to provide priority based on the effect such priority would have on a claimant.
feat_title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability compensation by veterans.