VA, DoD Pilot Single Physical

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VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical
One Exam Used for "Fitness for Duty" and Disability Pay
WASHINGTON (November 7, 2007) - 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."

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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