VA and DoD Must Create System Allowing Families to Add Post-Mortem Info to Deceased Veterans' Health Records Within One Year

The newly proposed Health Records Enhancement Act is a straightforward administrative fix that could make a huge difference for veterans’ families and medical history. Essentially, it requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to set up a new system within one year that allows specific people to add new, supplementary health information to the records of deceased veterans.

Filling in the Gaps

Think of this as closing the medical history loop. Right now, once a veteran passes, their official health record essentially stops. But sometimes, crucial information—like a condition observed during an autopsy, or a diagnosis made immediately following their departure—is missed in the official DoD or VA files. This bill allows that new context to be added, ensuring the record is as complete as possible. Importantly, Section 2 specifies that this new information will only supplement the existing records, meaning nothing previously documented will be changed or erased, which keeps the original record intact while adding valuable context.

Who Gets the Keys to the Record?

The bill is very specific about who can authorize these posthumous updates. First, the veteran themselves can designate an agent before they die to handle this task. If no one was designated, the authority falls to an “immediate family member.” The law clearly defines this group as the spouse, parent, brother, sister, or adult child of the veteran. It also includes any adult who acted as a parent figure (in loco parentis), which is a thoughtful provision acknowledging non-traditional family structures.

Real-World Impact for Families

For families, this is about accuracy and closure. Imagine a veteran’s family filing a claim or simply seeking to understand the full scope of their loved one's medical history. If a condition that developed shortly before death wasn't fully documented in the VA system, this bill ensures the family can provide that missing piece. For example, if a veteran was being treated for one issue but an autopsy revealed another, the family can ensure that crucial data point is logged. This not only provides a more accurate historical record for the family but also helps researchers and the VA better understand the full health trajectory of veterans over time. The requirement for the DoD and VA to establish a clear process for designation and updating within a year (Section 2) means this isn’t just a theoretical change; it’s a mandated administrative overhaul designed to be implemented quickly.