Veterans.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist a veteran and his or her dependents or survivors to make a claim against the United States arising out of war service and establishing a right to a privilege, preference, care, or compensation. This bill would instead authorize assistance for claims against the United States arising out of military service. The existing Military and Veterans Code contains various references to the "Director of the Veterans Administration" and to the "Veterans Administration" that have been rendered obsolete by subsequent changes in the law. This bill would correct these obsolete references by instead referring to the "Secretary of Veterans Affairs" and to the "United States Department of Veterans Affairs," respectively. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of each county to appoint a county veterans service officer to perform duties relating to the administration of benefits to veterans. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision. Existing law requires the county veterans service officer to assist every veteran and the dependents of every deceased veteran in presenting and pursuing any claim the veteran may have against the United States and in establishing the veteran's right to any privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws. This bill would require the county veterans service officer to also assist, in the manner described above, any qualified former member, as defined.