Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act of 2025
The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act of 2025 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire an independent federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to assess the notice letters it sends to claimants for veterans benefits. The goal is to determine whether these notices can be redesigned to reduce paper use and federal costs, and to make them clearer, more organized, and more concise. The assessment must be completed, followed by a report to Congress within 90 days, and the VA must begin implementing the recommendations that comply with applicable laws within a year of starting the implementation, with overall implementation completed within one year after initiation. The bill defines a broad set of “covered entities” who should be involved in the assessment, including VA staff, a VA law expert, veterans service organizations, and veteran/survivor advocacy groups.
Key Points
- 1The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must, within 30 days of enactment, seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC to assess the notices VA sends to claimants.
- 2The assessment must (a) determine whether each notice can be feasibly altered to reduce paper use and federal costs, and (b) provide recommendations to make notices clearer, better organized, and more concise, with input from covered entities.
- 3Within 90 days after receiving the assessment, the VA must submit a copy of the assessment to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees and begin implementing the recommendations that comply with VA law.
- 4The VA must complete implementation of those recommendations within one year after the start of the implementation process.
- 5Definitions establish who counts as covered entities (including the VA Secretary, a VA-law expert, veterans service organizations recognized under 38 U.S.C. 5902, and veteran or survivor advocacy groups) and align claimant and notice terms with 38 U.S.C. 5100.