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VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical

November 7, 2007

One Exam Used for “Fitness for Duty” and Disability Pay

WASHINGTON – In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both Departments.

“This agreement commits VA and DoD to develop a single process to assess the medical conditions of wounded, injured or ill service members,” said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield. “We will make it easier for these heroes to go back to their homes, with the key questions about their eligibility for VA compensation already decided.”

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The agreement, signed Nov. 6 by Mansfield and Dr. David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, calls for a pilot program to evaluate a single physical examination that would be used by DoD to determine the medical fitness of injured personnel to remain in uniform and by VA for awarding disability compensation.

Today’s announcement continues progress on the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.

The pilot, which begins late this month, involves VA and DoD facilities in Washington, D.C. Service members from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, and the Air Force’s Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base will participate in the pilot.

Medical evaluations will be performed by VA, although the agreement notes the physicals could actually take place in VA medical centers, military installations, VA contracted examination centers or other facilities.

The memorandum says the process “lays the foundation for building a network of qualified providers and resources that will meet both DoD and VA requirements and ease the transition of members from military service to veteran status.”

The evaluations will be based upon VA’s system for disability examinations and include an examination of medical conditions identified by military physicians that call into question a service member’s fitness for duty, as well as other applicable medical conditions identified by the service member together with VA.

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Larry Scott  --

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