(a)
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the backlog of disability compensation claims.
(b)
Matters included— The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
The status of the backlog described in such subsection.
(2)
How the Secretary is addressing the backlog.
(3)
How the backlog is affecting the amount of time a claimant is waiting for the Secretary to adjudicate the claim.
(4)
Recommendations to improve the backlog.
(c)
Backlog of disability compensation claims— The term “backlog of disability compensation claims” means a backlog of disability compensation claims submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, pending before the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.