WASHINGTON (May 11, 2005) - The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, established by Congress to review benefits going to disabled veterans and the survivors of deceased veterans, held its first meetings May 9 and 10 in Washington, D.C.

The 13-member panel, chaired by retired Army Lt. Gen. James Terry Scott, is scheduled to issue its final report to Congress in 15 months.

In setting up the commission, Congress instructed it to examine three specific issues:

• the "appropriateness" of compensation and other benefits for disabled veterans and for the survivors of veterans who died from causes related to military service;
• "the appropriateness of the level of such benefits"; and
• "the appropriate standard . . . for determining whether a disability or death of a veteran should be compensated."

The commission will take testimony at public meetings, oversee studies of the United States' disability compensation systems, and receive input from other organizations, including the Institute of Medicine and the Department of Defense.