---
kind: "diff"
citation: "S. 89"
bill: "117-s-89"
heading: "Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2021"
from: "rs"
from_label: "Reported in Senate"
to: "es"
to_label: "Engrossed in Senate"
sections_amended: 2
sections_added: 0
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/117/s/89/changes/es"
---

# S. 89 — what changed

S. 89, Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2021 — 2 sections amended between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.

Edits are marked `<del>struck</del>` and `<ins>inserted</ins>`.

## Section 1 Short title

- This Act may be cited as the “Ensuring Survivor Benefits <del>During </del><ins>during </ins>COVID–19 Act of 2021”.

## Sec. 2 Medical opinions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who die of COVID–19

- (a) <ins>In general—</ins> <ins>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death before notifying the survivor of the final decision in any case in which all of the following factors are met:</ins>
  - (1) <ins>A claim for compensation is filed under chapter 13 of title 38, Unites States Code, with respect to a veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities who dies.</ins>
  - (2) <ins>The death certificate for the veteran identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death.</ins>
  - (3) <ins>The death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities of the veteran as the principal or contributory cause of death.</ins>
  - (4) <ins>A service-connected disability of the veteran includes a condition more likely to cause severe illness from COVID–19 as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</ins>
  - (5) <ins>The claimant is not entitled to benefits under section 1318 of such title.</ins>
  - (6) <ins>The evidence to support the claim does not result in a preliminary finding in favor of the claimant.</ins>
- (b) <ins>Outreach—</ins> <ins>The Secretary shall provide information to veterans, dependents, and veterans service organizations about applying to dependency and indemnity compensation when a veteran dies from COVID–19. The Secretary shall provide such information through the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs and via other outreach mechanisms.</ins>
- <del>In any case in which a veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities dies, the death certificate identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death, the death certificate does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for benefits is filed with respect to the veteran under chapter 13 of title 38, Unites States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death.</del>