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WASHINGTON – Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) today issued the following statement on passage of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 2015 in the House of Representatives. The legislation would increase the amounts paid to veterans for disability compensation and to their survivors for dependency and indemnity compensation by the same Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase that will be payable to Social Security recipients beginning December 1, 2015

“Our veterans served to protect our freedom. We should take every opportunity possible to take care of them and, in many cases, their survivors. This act will not only adjust cost of living, it will also improve other benefits. Veterans seeking disability benefits often seek them for more than one medical condition. This bill requires that veterans receive interim disability payments as each medical condition is confirmed by the VA, rather than waiting until all medical conditions are confirmed. The act will also develop a new Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program offering veterans and survivors up to an extra year of benefit payments, faster decisions from the VA on compensation, pension and survivor benefit claims if they submit all relevant records in their possession and certify that they have no further evidence to submit ,” said Congressman Cuellar.