In addition to addressing the published recommendations, the SOC  assumed responsibility for addressing the policy development and  reporting requirements contained in the NDAA 2008. Also, the IPO’s scope of  responsibility was broadened to include personnel and benefits data  sharing between DOD and VA.

	DOD and VA Have Completed the Majority of the Requirements to Jointly Develop Policies on Care and Management, Medical and Disability Evaluation, Return to Active Duty, and the Transition from DOD to VA

As of April 2009, DOD and VA have completed 60 of the 76 requirements  we identified for jointly developing policies for recovering  servicemembers on (1) care and management, (2) medical and disability  evaluation, (3) return to active duty, and (4) servicemember transition  from DOD to VA. DOD and VA Have Completed More Than Two-Thirds of the Requirements Regarding the Care and Management of Recovering Servicemembers

We found that more than two-thirds of the requirements for DOD’s and  VA’s joint policy development to improve the care and management of  recovering servicemembers have been completed while the remaining  requirements are in progress. Most of the completed requirements were addressed in DOD’s January  2009 Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM), which was developed in  consultation with VA. A VA official told  us that VA also plans to issue related policy guidance as part of a VA  handbook in June 2009. We identified 18 requirements for this  policy area and grouped them into three categories: (1) policy for  improved medical evaluations, (2) policy for improved physical disability  evaluations, and (3) reporting on the feasibility and advisability of  consolidating DOD and VA disability evaluation systems. DOD and VA anticipate issuing a final report on the pilot in  August 2009. DOD and VA  officials noted that they will be further developing the procedures,  processes, and standards for the transition of recovering servicemembers  in a subsequent comprehensive policy instruction, which is estimated to  be completed by June 2009. DOD and VA Officials Experienced Challenges during Joint Development and Initial Implementation of Required Policies

DOD and VA officials told us that they experienced numerous challenges  as they worked to jointly develop policies to improve the care,  management, and transition of recovering servicemembers. According to  officials, these challenges contributed to the length of time required to  issue policy guidance, and in some cases the challenges have not yet been  completely resolved. Finally, recent  changes to the SOC staff, including DOD’s organizational changes for staff  supporting the SOC, could pose challenges to the development of policy  affecting recovering servicemembers. In some cases, standardized definitions were critical to policy  development. The importance of agreement on key terms is illustrated by  an issue encountered by the SOC’s work group responsible for family  support policy. DOD also  established two new organizational structures—the Office of Transition  Policy and Care Coordination and an Executive Secretariat office. In contrast, others are concerned by DOD’s  changes, stating that the new organizations disrupt the unity of command  that once characterized the SOC’s management because personnel within  the SOC organization now report to three different officials within DOD  and VA. However, it is too soon to determine how well DOD’s new  structure will work in conjunction with the SOC. DOD and VA officials we  spoke with told us that the SOC’s work groups continue to carry out their  roles and responsibilities. Finally, according to DOD and VA officials, the roles and scope of  responsibilities of both the SOC and the DOD and VA Joint Executive  Council appear to be in flux and may evolve further still. While the SOC will  remain responsible for policy matters directly related to recovering  servicemembers, a number of policy issues may now be directed to the  Joint Executive Council, including issues that the SOC had previously  addressed. Appendix I: Summary of Selected Requirements from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

To summarize the status of the Departments’ of Defense (DOD) and  Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts to jointly develop policies for each of the four  policy areas outlined in sections 1611 through 1614 of the NDAA 2008, we  identified 76 requirements in these sections and grouped related  requirements into 14 logical categories.
Why GAO Did This Study

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (NDAA 2008) requires the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly develop and implement comprehensive policies on the care, management, and transition of recovering servicemembers. The Senior Oversight Committee (SOC)--jointly chaired by DOD and VA leadership--has assumed responsibility for these policies. The NDAA 2008 also requires GAO to report on the progress DOD and VA make in developing and implementing the policies. This statement provides preliminary information on (1) the progress DOD and VA have made in jointly developing the comprehensive policies required in the NDAA 2008 and (2) the challenges DOD and VA are encountering in the joint development and initial implementation of these policies. GAO determined the current status of policy development by assessing the status reported by SOC officials and analyzing supporting documentation. To identify challenges, GAO interviewed the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Executive Director and Chief of Staff of the SOC, the departmental co-leads for most of the SOC work groups, the Acting Director of DOD's Office of Transition Policy and Care Coordination, and other knowledgeable officials.

What GAO Found

DOD and VA have made substantial progress in jointly developing policies required by sections 1611 through 1614 of the NDAA 2008 in the areas of (1) care and management, (2) medical and disability evaluation, (3) return to active duty, and (4) transition of care and services received from DOD to VA. Overall, GAO's analysis showed that as of March 2009, 60 of the 76 requirements GAO identified have been completed and the remaining 16 requirements are in progress. DOD and VA have completed all of the policy development requirements for medical and disability evaluations, including issuing a report on the feasibility and advisability of consolidating the DOD and VA disability evaluation systems, although the pilot for this approach is still ongoing. DOD has also completed establishing standards for returning recovering servicemembers to active duty. More than two-thirds of the policy development requirements have been completed for the remaining two policy areas--care and management and the transition of recovering servicemembers from DOD to VA. Most of these requirements were addressed in a January 2009 DOD Directive-Type Memorandum that was developed in consultation with VA. DOD officials reported that more information will be provided in a subsequent policy instruction, which will be issued in June 2009. VA also plans to issue related policy guidance in June 2009. DOD and VA officials told GAO that they have experienced numerous challenges as they worked to jointly develop policies to improve the care, management, and transition of recovering servicemembers. According to officials, these challenges contributed to the length of time required to issue policy guidance, and in some cases the challenges have not yet been completely resolved. For example, the SOC must still standardize key terminology relevant to policy issues affecting recovering servicemembers. DOD and VA agreement on key definitions for what constitutes "mental health," for instance, is important for developing policies that define the scope, eligibility, and service levels for recovering servicemembers. Recent changes affecting the SOC may also pose future challenges to policy development. Some officials have expressed concern that DOD's recent changes to staff supporting the SOC have disrupted the unity of command because SOC staff now report to three different officials within DOD and VA. However, it is too soon to determine how DOD's staffing changes will work. Additionally, according to DOD and VA officials, the SOC's scope of responsibilities appears to be in flux. While the SOC will remain responsible for policy matters for recovering servicemembers, a number of policy issues may now be directed to the DOD and VA Joint Executive Council. Despite this uncertainty, DOD and VA officials told GAO that the SOC's work groups continue to carry out their responsibilities. GAO shared the information contained in this statement with DOD and VA officials, and they agreed with the information GAO presented.