US HB1685

Surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) would receive increased dependency and indemnity compensation regardless of how long the veteran had the disease before death

Qualifying surviving spouses must have been married to the veteran for a continuous period of 8 years or longer prior to death

Provisions apply to veterans who die from ALS on or after October 1, 2025

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress within 180 days identifying other service-connected disabilities with high mortality rates that should receive similar treatment

Report must include a comprehensive list of high-mortality service-connected disabilities and average life expectancy data for each condition