Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2023

HR 3517, the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2023, clarifies that military department secretaries (e.g., Secretary of the Army) retain final authority over fitness-for-duty determinations for service members in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), not the Defense Health Agency. It requires the Department of Defense to update IDES policies so Wounded Warriors can demand a full hearing within 90 days if they dispute a medical separation decision, conducted by their military chain of command. This hearing is separate from existing IDES appeals and must be adjudicated within 90 days of request. The bill directly affects service members undergoing medical evaluation for separation due to injury or illness sustained in service. It ensures due process rights are upheld throughout the IDES process without altering healthcare benefits or creating new financial obligations.