People....stop the panic. This has been the law for a while. The VA cannot make a determination of competency. That is something that only a court can do upon notice and the presentation of evidence and the opportunity to rebut said evidence.
This is simply a notice of what the law is. It is not a notification that any person has been or will be deemed incompetent.
That is most certainly not how the article reads. Here are a few quotes from it, since it doesn't seem like you read it. (Emphasis added)
Currently, the VA appoints fiduciaries, often family members, to manage the pensions and disability benefits of veterans who are declared incompetent. When that happens, the department automatically enters the veteran's name in the Criminal Background Check System.
A core group of lawmakers led by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., has for several years wanted to prohibit the VA from submitting those names to the gun-check registry unless a judge or magistrate deems the veteran to be a danger.
They (the VA) have been submitting names to the ATF of persons NOT adjudicated mentally ill.
"All I am saying is, let them at least have their day in court if you are going to take away a fundamental right given under the Constitution," Coburn said