An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rates of compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors; to express the sense of the Congress that increases in the rates of compensation should take effect on December 1 beginning in fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes.

(Measure passed House, amended) Veterans' Compensation and Program Improvements Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses according to a specified table; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Expresses the sense of Congress that future increases in such compensation should take effect on December 1 of the fiscal year involved. Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Creates a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis) manifest to a degree of ten percent or more in a veteran who is a former prisoner of war. Decreases from 60 to 40 percent disabling, the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected total blindness must be rated to qualify for additional disability compensation. Reduces from 40 percent to 30 percent disabling the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected blindness with 5/200 visual acuity or less must be rated to qualify for such additional compensation. Makes an exception to the commencement of period of payment rule for an increased award of compensation by reason of a temporary increase in compensation for hospitalization or treatment of a veteran (thus making such temporary increase payable before the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the increase becomes effective). Title II: Veterans' Program Improvements - Includes certain adopted children within the definition of child for veterans' benefits purposes. Extends by five years, through FY 1989, the authority of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to make grants to States to assist in the establishment or improvement of State veterans' cemeteries. Permits a veteran eligible for more than one program of veterans' educational assistance to elect which program, but only one, in which to participate. Permits the Administrator to exclude from the computation of a veteran's aggregate guaranty or insurance entitlement any amount taken over by any veteran-transferee, not just an immediate veteran-transferee, who consents to use his own entitlement. Authorizes the Administrator to make guaranteed loans to eligible veterans for manufactured homes permanently affixed to a lot. Redefines "special disabled veteran" for veterans' preference in Federal contracts purposes, to include veterans rated only 10 or 20 percent disabled if their specific disability is determined to be a serious employment handicap. Amends the veterans' benefits provisions concerning minors, incompetents' and other wards to permit the Administrator to authorize a Veterans Administration appointed fiduciary to deduct up to four percent of the benefits received by the beneficiary as a commission. Increases the maximum size of the Board of Veterans' Appeals from 50 to 65 members. Permits the Chairman to designate a temporary member from the professional staff. Limits such designees to one per section of the Board. Requires the Chairman to submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the Board's current handling of cases and projections for the subsequent fiscal year. Revises the membership of the special medical advisory group to the Chief Medical Director of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterans Administration to include qualified, non-professional individuals in such group. Amends the Veterans' Compensation, Education, and Employment Amendments of 1982 to revise the effective dates respecting Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) coverage for deaths and disabilities incurred before and after FY 1982. Permits the use of certain excess funds appropriated for Veterans Administration major projects construction for undertaking working drawings in FY 1984 for the construction or alteration of medical facilities in FY 1985. Makes the Confederate Cemetery at Springfield, Missouri, part of the Springfield National Cemetery.

(Measure passed Senate, amended) Veterans' Compensation and Program Improvements Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses according to a specified table; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Creates a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis) manifest to a degree of ten percent or more in a veteran who is a former prisoner of war. Decreases from 60 to 40 percent disabling, the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected total blindness must be rated to qualify for additional disability compensation. Reduces from 40 percent to 30 percent disabling the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected blindness with 5/200 visual acuity or less must be rated to qualify for such additional compensation. Makes an exception to the commencement of period of payment rule for an increased award of compensation by reason of a temporary increase in compensation for hospitalization or treatment of a veteran (thus making such temporary increase payable before the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the increase becomes effective). Prohibits the reduction of a rating of permanent total disability which has been continuously in force for ten years until a decision making such a reduction is final. Title II: Amendments to Other Veterans' Programs - Extends by five years, through FY 1989, the authority of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to make grants to States to assist in the establishment or improvement of State veterans' cemeteries. Repeals the 1989 termination date for educational assistance for Vietnam-era veterans. Permits a veteran eligible for more than one program of veterans' educational assistance to elect which program, but only one, in which to participate. Permits the Administrator to exclude from the computation of a veteran's aggregate guaranty or insurance entitlement any amount taken over by any veteran-transferee, not just an immediate veteran-transferee, who consents to use his own entitlement. Authorizes the Administrator to make guaranteed loans to eligible veterans for manufactured homes permanently affixed to a lot. Redefines "special disabled veteran" for veterans' preference in Federal contracts purposes, to include veterans rated only 10 or 20 percent disabled if their specific disability is determined to be a serious employment handicap. Amends the veterans' benefits provisions concerning minors, incompetents' and other wards to permit the Administrator to authorize a Veterans Administration appointed fiduciary to deduct up to four percent of the benefits received by the beneficiary as a commission. Permits the use of certain excess funds appropriated for Veterans Administration major projects construction for undertaking working drawings in FY 1984 for the construction or alteration of medical facilities in FY 1985. Makes the Confederate Cemetery at Springfield, Missouri, part of the Springfield National Cemetery. Increases the maximum size of the Board of Veterans' Appeals from 50 to 65 members. Permits the Chairman to designate a temporary member from the professional staff. Limits such designees to one per section of the Board. Requires the Chairman to submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the Board's current handling of cases and projections for the subsequent fiscal year. Title III: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for this Act.

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs with amendment, S. Rept. 98-249) Veterans' Compensation and Program Improvements Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Part A: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses according to a specified table; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Part B: Compensation Program Amendments - Creates a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis) manifest to a degree of ten percent or more in a veteran who is a former prisoner of war. Decreases from 60 to 40 percent disabling, the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected total blindness must be rated to qualify for additional disability compensation. Reduces from 40 percent to 30 percent disabling the degree of deafness a veteran suffering from service-connected blindness with 5/200 visual acuity or less must be rated to qualify for such additional compensation. Makes an exception to the commencement of period of payment rule for an increased award of compensation by reason of a temporary increase in compensation for hospitalization or treatment of a veteran (thus making such temporary increase payable before the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the increase becomes effective). Prohibits the reduction of a rating of permanent total disability which has been continuously in force for ten years until a decision making such a reduction is final. Title II: Amendments to Other Veterans' Programs - Extends by five years, through FY 1989, the authority of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to make grants to States to assist in the establishment or improvement of State veterans' cemeteries. Repeals the 1989 termination date for educational assistance for Vietnam-era veterans. Permits a veteran eligible for more than one program of veterans' educational assistance to elect which program, but only one, in which to participate. Permits the Administrator to exclude from the computation of a veteran's aggregate guaranty or insurance entitlement any amount taken over by any veteran-transferee, not just an immediate veteran-transferee, who consents to use his own entitlement. Authorizes the Administrator to make guaranteed loans to eligible veterans for manufactured homes permanently affixed to a lot. Redefines "special disabled veteran" for veterans' preference in Federal contracts purposes, to include veterans rated only 10 or 20 percent disabled if their specific disability is determined to be a serious employment handicap. Amends the veterans' benefits provisions concerning minors, incompetents' and other wards to permit the Administrator to authorize a Veterans Administration appointed fiduciary to deduct up to four percent of the benefits received by the beneficiary as a commission. Permits the use of certain excess funds appropriated for Veterans Administration major projects construction for undertaking working drawings in FY 1984 for the construction or alteration of medical facilities in FY 1985. Makes the Confederate Cemetery at Springfield, Missouri, part of the Springfield National Cemetery. Title III: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for this Act.

Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Compensation Rate Increases - Increases the rates of veterans' disability compensation. Permits the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to adjust the rates of disability compensation for other specified persons. Increases the rates of additional compensation for dependents. Increases the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans. Title II: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rate Increases - Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses according to a specified table. Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Increases the rates of supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Title III: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for this Act.