TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 77 - VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - ORGANIZATION; GENERAL

38 USC 7701 - Organization of the Administration

(a) There is in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Benefits Administration. The primary function of the Veterans Benefits Administration is the administration of nonmedical benefits programs of the Department which provide assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors.
(b) The Veterans Benefits Administration is under the Under Secretary for Benefits, who is directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of the Administration. The Under Secretary for Benefits may be referred to as the Chief Benefits Director.

38 USC 7703 - Functions of the Administration

The Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for the administration of the following programs of the Department:
(1) Compensation and pension programs.
(2) Vocational rehabilitation and educational assistance programs.
(3) Veterans housing loan programs.
(4) Veterans and servicemembers life insurance programs.
(5) Outreach programs and other veterans services programs.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - QUALITY ASSURANCE

38 USC 7731 - Establishment

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a quality assurance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration. The program may be carried out through a single quality assurance division in the Administration or through separate quality assurance entities for each of the principal organizational elements (known as services) of the Administration.
(b) The Secretary shall ensure that any quality assurance entity established and operated under subsection (a) is established and operated so as to meet generally applicable governmental standards for independence and internal controls for the performance of quality reviews of Government performance and results.

38 USC 7732 - Functions

The Under Secretary for Benefits, acting through the quality assurance entities established under section 7731 (a), shall on an ongoing basis perform and oversee quality reviews of the functions of each of the principal organizational elements of the Veterans Benefits Administration.

38 USC 7733 - Personnel

The Secretary shall ensure that the number of full-time employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration assigned to quality assurance functions under this subchapter is adequate to perform the quality assurance functions for which they have responsibility.

38 USC 7734 - Annual report to Congress

The Secretary shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report on the quality assurance activities carried out under this subchapter. Each such report shall include
(1) an appraisal of the quality of services provided by the Veterans Benefits Administration, including
(A) the number of decisions reviewed;
(B) a summary of the findings on the decisions reviewed;
(C) the number of full-time equivalent employees assigned to quality assurance in each division or entity;
(D) specific documentation of compliance with the standards for independence and internal control required by section 7731 (b) of this title; and
(E) actions taken to improve the quality of services provided and the results obtained;
(2) information with respect to the accuracy of decisions, including trends in that information; and
(3) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.