Mr. Hipolit, would you agree with the Disability Commission that aid and attendance benefits currently do not focus on those individuals with cognitive impairments?

We've now had several commissions over 50 years talking about the need to reform our disability compensation.

We can be smart enough and bold enough to say it has got to be different in the future.

So, VA would be aware of veterans who appear to need those benefits but do not currently qualify?

There's a human face behind every one of these issues.

It shocks me to look back over the 50 years and see the similarities of every Commission that came out and the incredible predictability of the bureaucracy in Washington to say, well, you know what? It doesn't need to change.

So let me just ask real quick as it relates to severe Traumatic Brain Injuries and the need to get access to aid and attendance benefits, if they need them.

As Ranking Member Burr pointed out, we need to continue to examine the Rating Schedule.

I was just as frank with the last Administration as I will be with this one, and I'll do it as long as the Administration fights.

the profound importance of spouse commitment to the readiness and well-being of servicemembers . . . and to the security of our Nation.

We have made a long-term strategic blunder if we do that.

We are recognizing that there is a changing face of the modern battlefield.