Congressman Joe Donnelly, a member of the House Affairs Committee, introduced The Immediate Benefits for Wounded Soldiers Act on Nov. 15 to expedite benefits for newly disabled combat veterans. The Veteran Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) announced they began a pilot program to improve the process by which disabled service members are assigned and receive VA benefits.

Under the new one-year pilot program, injured service members at four Washington, D.C.-area military and VA facilities will go through a unified evaluation process. The VA will assign a disability rating prior to separation so that recently disabled veterans can receive their benefits the day they leave service.

The legislation, supported by Disabled American Veterans, would provide all new Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed by the DoD with a disability that will impair their ability to earn a living, but who have yet to be rated by the VA, with immediate benefits equal to a 30 percent disability rating until the VA has made a final decision about their claim. A single veteran would receive approximately $400 a month, or more if family is involved. Any Iraq or Afghanistan diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury would also qualify for benefits under the bill.

"Today's announced pilot program is good news. It means the military and VA are making process on common sense reforms that will make it easier for America's wounded warriors to get the benefits they've earned by fighting for their country," Donnelly said. "Until the VA has fixed the complicated and overwhelming claim process, I will continue to fight on behalf of all disabled veterans to reduce the claims backlog and get them their benefits sooner."