| Support letter sent for S.3452 the Fred Hamilton Veterans' Lost Records Act which would ensure veterans whose military records are lost the US government through no fault of their own can still receive their earned VA benefits. After a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center destroyed the records of nearly 16 million veterans VA established a regulatory process for those affected that allowed veterans whose records were lost to use the next closed medical record or a buddy statement to meet the burden of proof required for VA health care and benefits. S.3452 would expand that process to all veterans whose records were lost by the VA or the Department of Defense. The Fred Hamilton Veterans' Lost Records Act would authorize VA to grant disability claims using previous medical disability exams credible buddy statements or a statement from impacted veterans whose records were lost or destroyed through no fault of their own. |