United States Department of Veterans Affairs
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M21-1MR

Part 1 - Claimants' Rights and Responsibilities
Part 2 - Direct Services

Part 3 - General Claims Process
Subparti - Claims Processing Improvement Model
Subpartii - Initial Screening and Determining Veterans Status
Subpartiii - General Development and Dependency Issues
Subpartiv - General Rating Process
Subpartv - General Authorization Issues and Claimant Notifications
Subpartvi - Special Authorization Issues
Part 4 - Compensation, DIC, and Death Compensation Benefits
Subparti - Claims Processing Improvement Model
Subpartii - Compensation
Subpartiii - Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Compensation
 Part 5 - Pension and Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Subparti - Eligibility and Development
Subpartii - Rating
Subpartiii - Authorization Issues
Subpartiv - Pension Maintenance Centers
 Part 6 - Chapter 18 Benefits
Part 7 - Burial Benefits
Part 8 - Accrued Benefits
Part 9 - Ancillary and Special Benefits
Subparti - Ancillary Benefits
Subpartii - Special Benefits
 Part 10 - Matching Programs
Part 11 - Fiduciary Program

Part 1. Claimants' Rights and Responsiblities

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Table of Contents Updated 8/1/02
Chapter 1 - Duty to Assist
Table of Contents - Updated 4/25/07
Section A - Description and General Information, Updated 4/25/07
Section B - Handling Claims Under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act (VCAA), Updated 6/20/08
Section C - Requesting Records, Updated 8/4/09
Chapter 2 - Due Process
Table of Contents - Updated 8/4/09
Section A - General Information on Due Process, Updated 8/4/09
Section B - Notice of Proposed Adverse Action, Updated 8/19/05
Section C - Adverse Action Proposal Period, Updated 8/4/09
Section D - Contemporaneous Notice, Updated 8/4/09
Section E - Exhibits, Updated 8/4/09
Chapter 3 - Power of Attorney
Table of Contents - Updated 8/4/09
Section A - General Information on Power of Attorney (POA), Updated 8/4/09
Section B - Handling Power of Attorney (POA) Appointments, Updated 8/4/09
Section C - Payment of Attorney Fees, Updated 6/19/06
Chapter 4 - Hearings, Updated 5/6/05
Chapter 5 - Appeals, Updated 8/19/05
Table of Contents - Updated 8/4/09
Section A - General Information on Appeals, Updated 8/19/05
Section B - Notice of Disagreement (NOD), Updated 12/10/09
Section C - Decision Review Office (DRO) Review Process, Updated 8/4/09
Section D - Statement of the Case (SOC) and Supplement Statement of the Case (SSOC), Updated 8/4/09
Section E - Filing a Substantive Appeal, Updated 8/4/09
Section F - Docketing Certification and Claims Folder Transfer, Updated 8/4/09
Section G - Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) Decisions and Remands, Updated 8/4/09
Section H - Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) Hearings, Updated 8/19/05
Section I - Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), Updated 8/19/05
Section J - Special Appeal Issues and Cases, Updated 8/4/09
Section K - Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS), Updated 8/19/05

Changes
05/6/05   08/19/05   06/19/06   02/16/07   04/25/07   06/20/08   08/04/09   12/10/09  

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Part 2. Direct Services


Chapter 1 - General Information on the Direct Services Program- Updated 12/19/08
Table of Contents - Updated 12/19/08
Chapter 2 - Customer Service - Updated 12/19/08
Table of Contents, Updated 12/19/08
Chapter 3 - Telephone Interviews- Updated 08/17/09
Table of Contents - Updated 2/10/09
Chapter 4 - Personal Interviews- Updated 12/17/08
Table of Contents - Updated 12/17/08
Chapter 5 - Correspondence- Updated 6/15/09
Table of Contents - Updated 6/15/09
Chapter 6 - Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS)- Updated 6/15/09
Table of Contents - Updated 6/15/09
Chapter 7 - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA)- Updated 02/10/09
Table of Contents - Updated 2/10/09
Chapter 8 - Reference Information - Updated 12/17/08
Table of Contents - Updated 12/17/08

Changes
12/17/08    12/19/08    02/10/09    05/18/09    08/17/09

Part 3 - General Claims Process


SubptI - Claims Processing Improvement Model


Table of Contents - Chapter 1, Table of Contents, Updated 5/26/09

Chapter 1 - Structure of the Veterans Service Center (VSC), Updated 5/26/09
Chapter 2 - Pre-Discharge Claims
Table of Contents Updated 11/6/07
Section A - General Information on Pre-Discharge Claims, Updated 11/6/07
Section B - Responsibilities of Regional Offices (ROs) and Benefits Delivery at Discharge, Updated 11/6/07
Section C - Ancillary Claims and Miscellaneous Pre-Discharge Issues, Updated 11/6/07
Transmittal

Changes
10/24/05    11/6/07    11/6/07


SubptII - Initial Screening and Determining Veterans Status


Chapter 1 - Initial Screening Process, Updated 9/5/05
Table of Contents Updated 06/3/08
Section A - Process Overview, Updated 9/26/08
Section B - Mail Management, Updated 6/3/08
Section C - Initial Screening Policies, Updated 9/26/08

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Chapter 2 - Benefit Programs and Types of Claims, Updated 10/5/05
Table of Contents Updated 9/26/08
Section A - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefit Programs, Updated 10/5/05
Section B - Original Disability Claims, Updated 10/5/05
Section C - Original Death Claims, Updated 10/5/05
Section D - Informal Claims, Updated 9/26/08
Section E - Reopened Claims, Updated 10/5/05
Section F - Claims for Increase, Updated 10/5/05
Chapter 3 - Folder Establishment, Updated 4/19/05
Chapter 4 - Files and Folder Control, Updated 10/05/05
Table of Contents - Chapter 4 Table of Contents, Updated 10/5/05
Section A - Folder Storage, Updated 10/5/05
Section B - Handling Mail, Updated 10/5/05
Section C - Delivery and Recharge of Folders, Updated 10/5/05
Section D - Lost Folders, Updated 10/5/05
Section E - Duplicate Claim (DUPC) Transactions, Updated 10/5/05
Section F - Segregated Folders and Deceased Veterans’ Claims Folders, Updated 10/5/05
Section G - Folder Maintenance, Updated 10/5/05
Section H - File Types (DUPC) Transactions, Updated 10/5/05
Section I - Folders Meeting the Criteria for Review by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), Updated 10/5/05
Section J - Exhibits, Updated 10/5/05
Chapter 5 - Jurisdiction and Transfer, Updated 11/15/04
Table of Contents - Chapter 5 Table of Contents, Updated 11/15/04
Section A - Jurisdiction Over Claims Folders, Updated 11/15/04
Section B - Jurisdiction Over Deceased Veterans Claims Folders, Updated 11/15/04
Section C - Jurisdiction Over Education and Rehabilitation calims, Updated 11/15/04
Section D - General Policies for Permanent Transfer, Updated 10/24/05
Section E - Permanent Transfer Out or Transfer In of Claims Folders, Updated 11/15/04
Section F - Temporary Transfer, Updated 11/15/04
Section G - Transfer of Folders Subject to Review by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), Updated 11/15/04
Chapter 6 - Determining Veteran Status and Eligibility for Benefits, Updated 6/10/09
Chapter 6 - Table of Contents, Updated 6/10/09
Chapter 7 - Referrals to the Rating Activity, Updated 4/19/05


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Chapter 8 - First Notice of Death (FNOD) Processing
Table of Contents - Updated 5/11/06
Section A - General Policies for PNOD Processing, Updated 11/15/04
Section B - System Information, Updated 11/15/04
Section C - FNOD Claims Folders and Lightweight Folders, Updated 11/15/04
Section D - Interaction with the Records Management Center (RMC), Updated 11/15/04
Section E - Service Verification and Related Issues, Updated 6/10/08
Section F - Miscellaneous (FNOD) Issues, Updated 5/11/06

Changes
11/15/04    1/19/05    4/19/05    9/5/05    10/5/05    10/24/05   
5/11/06    6/3/08    9/26/08    6/10/08

SubptIII - General Development and Dependency Issues

Chapter 1 - Rules and Process, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents,Updated 12/13/05
Section A - Initial Considerations Regarding the Development Process, Updated 9/25/08
Section B - Evidence Requested from the Claimant, Updated 9/25/08
Section C - Requesting Evidence from Other Sources, Updated 9/25/08
Chapter 2 - Developing for service records, Updated 08/13/09
Table of Contents - Updated 08/13/09
Section A - General Information on Service Records, Updated 08/13/09
Section B - Service Record Migration, Updated 08/13/09
Section C - Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), Records Management Center (RCM) and the Service Treatment Record (STR) Folder, Updated 08/13/09
Section D - Information on Personnel Information Exchange System (PIES) Requests, Reports and Codes, Updated 08/13/09


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Section E - Alternative Sources of Service Records and Special Situations, Updated 08/13/09
Section F - Merchant Marine Service Records, Updated 08/13/09
Section G - Prisoners of War (POW) Service Records, Updated 08/13/09
Section H - Record Exchanges between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Service Departments, Updated 08/13/09
Section I - Control and Follow-up on Record Requests, Updated 08/13/09
Section J - Service Department Organzational Structures and service Record Address Codes, Updated 08/13/09
Section K - Other Contact and Reference Information, Updated 08/13/09
Chapter 3 - Information Requests to and from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Updated 08/17/09
Table of Contents - Updated 08/17/09
Section A - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Requests for Information from the SSA, Updated 08/17/09
Section B - SSA Requests for Information from VA, Updated 08/17/09
Chapter 4 - Information Requests to or from Other Federal and State Agencies, Updated 5/21/09
Table of Contents - Updated 5/21/09
Chapter 5 - Relationship and Dependency, Updated 08/14/06
Table of Contents - Updated 8/14/06
Section A - General Information on Relationship and Dependency, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - General Information on Establishing Marital Relationship, Updated 8/14/06
Section C - Establishing Common Law Marriages, Updated 8/14/06
Section D - Establishing Other Types of Marriages, Updated 8/14/06
Section E - Establishing Marital Relationship in Death Cases, Updated 8/14/06
Section F - Establishing Child relationship, Updated 8/14/06
Section G - Establishing relationship for a Biological Child, Adopted Child, and Stepchild, Updated 9/25/08
Section H - Marriage of a Child, Updated 8/14/06
Section I - Establishing Parental Relationship, Updated 8/14/06
Section J - Establishing Parental Dependency, Updated 8/14/06
Section K - Verification of Dependent Status, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 6 - School Attendance, Updated 11/26/07
Table of Contents - Updated 11/26/07
Section A - Eligibility Notification and School Attendance, Updated 11/26/07
Section B - Awards and Adjustments Based Upon School Attendance, Updated 11/26/06
Section C - Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), Updated 11/26/07
Section D - Exhibits, Updated 11/26/07
Chapter 7 - A Childs Permanent Incapacity for Self Support, Updated 9/25/08
Table of Contents - Updated 08/13/07

Changes
12/13/05    8/14/06    8/13/07    11/26/07    9/25/08    5/21/09    08/13/09    08/17/09   
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SubptIV - General Rating Process

Chapter 1 - - General Information on the rating Activity,Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 2 - Reviewing Claims, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 12/29/07
Section A - Preliminary Review of Claims, Updated 8/3/09
Section B - Reviewing for new and material Evidence, Updated 12/29/07
Chapter 3 - Examinations, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 12/29/07
Section A - Examination Request, Updated 8/3/09
Section B - Scheduling Examinations, Updated 12/29/07
Section C - Control of Examinations, Updated 8/3/09
Section D - Examination Reports, Updated 12/29/07
Section E - VA Medical Facilities, Updated 12/29/07
Chapter 4 - Rating Specific Disabilities, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 8/3/09
Section A - Musculoskeletal Conditions, Updated 12/29/07
Section B - Conditions of the Organs of Special Sense, Updated 12/29/07
Section C - Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional Deficiencies, Updated 12/13/05
Section D - Respiratory Conditions, Updated 12/29/07
Section E - Cardiovascular System Conditions, Updated 8/3/09
Section F - Endocrine Conditions, Updated 12/29/07
Section G - Neurological Conditionals and Convulsive Disorders, Updated 12/13/05
Section H - Mental Disorders, Updated 8/3/09
Section I - Conditions of Other Systems, Updated 8/3/09
Chapter 5 - Evaluating Evidence and making a Decision, Updated 8/3/09
Table of Contents - Updated 12/13/05

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Chapter 6 - The Rating Decision, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 12/13/05
Section A - Partial and Deferred Rating Decisions, Updated 6/20/08
Section B - Determining the Issues, Updated 8/3/09
Section C - Documenting the Decision, Updated 8/1/06
Section D - Codesheet Section, Updated 12/13/05
Section E - Coded Conclusion, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 7 - Finalizing and Reviewing the Rating Decision, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 12/13/05
Section A - Finalizing the Rating Decision, Updated 8/3/09
Section B - Reviewing the Rating Decision, Updated 8/3/09
Chapter 8 - Competency, Due Process and Protected Ratings, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Updated 8/3/09
Section A - Evaluating Competency, Updated 8/3/09
Section B - Proposed rating Decisions, Updated 12/13/05
Section C - Protected Ratings, Updated 12/13/05
Section D - Reductions in Awards, Updated 12/13/05
Section E - Other Due Process Concerns, Updated 12/29/07

Changes
12/13/05    08/1/06    06/20/08    12/29/07   8/3/09

SubptV - General Authorization Issues and Claimant Notifications

Chapter 1 - Administration Decisions
Table of Contents - Updated 3/7/06
Section A - General Information, Updated 3/7/06
Section B - Statutory Bar to Benefits and Character of Discharge, Updated 3/7/06
Section C - Former Prisioner of War (POW) Status, Updated 3/7/06
Section D - Willful Misconduct and Line of Duty, Updated 3/7/06
Section E - Insanity, Updated 3/7/06
Section F - Homicide, Updated 3/7/06
Section G - Presumption of Death, Updated 3/7/06
Section H - Finding of Fact and Date of Death, Updated 3/7/06
Section I - Reversal of Prior Determinations and Administrative Errors, Updated 3/7/06

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Chapter 2 - Award and Denial Authorization and Notification
Table of Contents Updated 11/13/08
Section A - Decision Authorization, Updated 11/13/08
Section B - Award and Denial Notification, Updated 5/11/06
Chapter 3 - Apportionments
Table of Contents - Updated 6/6/06
Section A - Apportionment Process, Updated 6/6/06
Section B - Adjusting Apportioned Awards, Updated 6/6/06
Section C - Special Issues in Apportionment cases, Updated 6/6/06
Chapter 4 - Elections, Waivers, and Recoupments
Table of Contents Updated 1/12/07
Section A - General Information on Elections, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - Recoupment of Readjustment, Separation, and Severance Pay, Updated 1/12/07
Section C - Waiver of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits During Reserve Training of Guard Drill, Updated 8/14/06
Section D - Federal Employees' Compensation (FEC), Updated 8/14/06
Section E - Two Parent Cases, Updated 8/14/06
Section F - Miscellaneous Election Issues, Updated 8/14/06

Chapter 5 - Military retirement Pay
Table of Contents - Updated 11/21/06
Section A - Elections and Waivers in Military Retirement Pay cases, Updated 11/21/06
Section B - Preparing and Adjusting Awards in Military Retirement Pay Cases, Updated 11/21/06
Section C - Coordinating Military retirement Pay Cases With retired Pay Centers and Service Departments, Updated 11/21/06
Section D - Reconciliation of Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and Department of Transportation (DoT) Records, Updated 11/21/06


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Chapter 6 - Hospitalization at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Expense
Table of Contents - Updated 4/10/07
Section A - Information Exchange Between VA Regional Offices (ROs) and Medical Facilities, Updated 4/10/07
Section B - Adjustments Under 38 CFR 3.551 and 3.556, Updated 4/10/07
Section C - Adjusting Awards Involving Aid & Attendance (A&A) Allowance, Updated 4/10/07
Section D - Adjusting Compensating When a Veteran is Hospitalized in Excess of 21 Days, Updated 4/10/07
Section E - Institutional Awards Specific to Incompetent Veterans, Updated 4/10/07
Section F - Estate limitations, Updated 4/10/07
Section G - The Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE) System and Compensation and Pension Record Interchange (CAPRI), Updated 4/10/07
Section H - Exhibits, Updated 4/10/07

Chapter 7 - Eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Dental Treatment
Table of Contents - Updated 5/26/09
Section A - Eligibility for Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care, Updated 4/12/07
Section B - Overview of Classes of Eligibility for Dental treatment, Updated 5/26/09
Section C - Processing Dental Claims, Updated 5/26/09

Chapter 8 - Incarceration
Table of Contents - Updated 5/21/09
Section A - General Information on the Payment of Benefits During Incarceration, Updated 5/21/09
Section B - Apportioning Benefits of an Incarcerated Veteran, Updated 5/21/09
Section C - Incarceration of a Dependent, Updated 5/21/09

Chapter 9 - Authorizing Awards for Incompetency and Fiduciary Cases
Table of Contents - Updated 7/26/07
Section A - General Information on Incompetency and Fiduciary Cases, Updated 7/26/07
Section B - Authorizing Awards for Incompentency Cases, Updated 7/26/07
Section C - Authorizing Awards for Fiduciary cases, Updated 7/26/07

Changes
3/7/06    5/11/06    6/6/06    8/14/06    11/21/06    1/12/07   
5/26/09   
4/10/07    4/12/07    5/14/07    7/26/07    11/13/08    03/26/09   

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SubptVI - Special Authorization Issues

Chapter 1 - Central Office Guidance, Equitable Relief, and Other Requests
Table of Contents - Updated 12/29/08
Section A - Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service Guidance, Updated 12/29/08
Section B - Equitable Relief and Other Request, Updated 12/29/08
Chapter 2 - Processing Awards Involving Indebtedness
Table of Contents - Updated 8/14/06
Section A - Simultaneous Award Adjustments, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - Fiscal Authorization (FISA), Updated 8/14/06
Section C - Debt Collection, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 3 - Special Act and Foreign Resident Beneficiaries
Table of Contents - Updated 8/14/06
Section A - Jurisdiction, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - Awards in Foreign Resident Beneficiaries, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 4 - Philippine Cases
Table of Contents - Updated 8/14/06
Section A - General Information on Philippine Cases, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - Eligibility for Benefits, Updated 8/14/06
Section C - Development of Philippine Cases, Updated 8/14/06
Section D - Awards and Payments, Updated 8/14/06
Section E - Unique Circumstances, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 5 - Fraud and Forfeiture
Table of Contents, Updated 5/10/07
Section A - Fraud, Updated 5/10/07
Section B - Forfeiture Discontinuance Provisions, Updated 5/10/07
Chapter 6 - Contested Claims
Table of Contents, Updated 5/10/07
Section A - General Information on Contested Claims, Updated 5/10/07
Section B - Contested Claims Development, Updated 5/10/07
Section C - Authorization and Notification, Updated 5/10/07
Chapter 7 - Certifications for Special Purposes, Updated 5/10/07
Table of Contents, Updated 5/10/07
Chapter 8 - Miscellaneous Authorization Issues, Updated 5/10/07
Table of Contents, Updated 5/10/07

Changes
8/14/06    5/10/07    12/29/08   
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Part 4. Compensation DIC, and Death Compensation benefits

SubptI - Claims Processing Improvement Model

Chapter 1 - Compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and Death Compensation Overview, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents - Chapter 1, Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05

Changes
12/13/05

SubptII - Compensation

Chapter 1 - Development
Table of Contents, Updated 09/08/09
Section A - Developing for Compensation Claims, Updated 09/08/09
Section B - Claims for service Connection for Radiogenic Diseases Under 38 U.S.C. 1112, Updated 9/5/08
Section C - Claims for Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting from Ionizing Radiation Exposure Under 38 CFR 3.311, Updated 09/08/09
Section D - Claims for service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Updated 09/08/09
Section E - Claims for Service Connection for Disabilities Associated with Gulf War (GW) Service, Updated 9/29/06
Section F - Claims for Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting from Exposure to Mustard Gas and Lewisite, Updated 9/29/06
Section G - Claims Based on Former Prisoner of war (POW) Status, Updated 12/13/05
Section H - Claims for Service Connection for Other Diseases and Disabilities, Updated 7/20/09

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Chapter 2 - Rating
Table of Contents, Updated 09/08/09
Section A - Evaluating Compensation Claims, Updated 09/08/09
Section B - Determining Service Connection, Updated 09/08/09
Section C - Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting from Exposure to Environmental Hazards, Updated 7/20/09
Section D - Service Connection for certain Disabilities Associated with Gulf war (GW) Service, Updated 9/5/08
Section E - Service Connection for Disabilities Incurred as a Prisoner of war (POW), Updated 12/13/05
Section F - Compensation Based on Individual Unemployability (IU), Updated 09/08/09
Section G - Benefits Under 38 U.S.C. 1151, Updated 9/5/08
Section H - Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), Updated 09/08/09
Section I - History of SMC, Updated 09/08/09
Section J - Compensation Under 38 CFR 4.28, 38 CFR 4.29, and 38 CFR 4.30, Updated 09/08/09
Section K - Other Compensation Considerations, Updated 09/08/09

Chapter 3 - Authorization Issues and Claimant Notification
Table of Contents, Updated 09/08/09
Section A - General Authorization and Claimant Notification Issues, Updated 09/08/09
Section B - Failure to report for Review Examination, Updated 12/13/05
Section C - Compensation for certain Paired Organs and Extremities Under 38 CFR 3.383, Updated 12/13/05
Section D - Disability Compensation Under 38 U.S.C. 1151, Updated 9/5/08

Changes
12/13/05  |  3/7/06  |  3/14/06  |  9/29/06  |  10/2/07  |  6/20/08  |  7/20/09  | 
9/08/09

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SubptIII - Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Compensation

Chapter 1 - Developing Claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Compensation,Updated 4/13/09
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 2 - Rating DIC and Death Compensation Claims, Updated 4/13/09
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 3 - Authorization and Notification in DIC and Death Compensation Claims
Table of Contents, Updated 4/13/09
Section A - General Authorization and Notification Issues, Updated 4/13/09
Section B - Initial Awards to Dependents, Updated 07/1/08
Section C - Awards to Survivors Upon the Death of a Dependent of a Deceased Veteran, Updated 4/13/09
Section D - DIC in Nonservice-Connected (NSC) Death cases, Updated 12/13/05
Section E - DIC to Children Pending Determination of a Surviving Spouse's Entitlement, Updated 4/13/09
Section F - Remarriage of a Surviving Spouse, Updated 4/13/09
Section G - DIC and Death Benefits Under 38 U.S.C. 1151, Updated 12/13/05
Section H - Elections Between DIC and Death Compensation Benefits, Updated 12/13/05
Section I - Survivor Benefit Plan, Updated 4/13/09
Section J - Awards barred by Receipt of Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Updated 12/13/05
Section K - Allowance, Allotments, or Service pay Under 38 U.S.C. 5110(j), Updated 12/13/05

Changes
12/13/05   |   7/1/08   |   4/13/09

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Part 5. Pension and Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)


SubptI - Eligibility and Development

Chapter 1 Overview of Eligibility and Development Requirements for Pension and Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) - Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 2 - Original Disability Pension Claims,Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 3 - Income and Net Worth Development, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Section A - General Information on Income and Net Worth Development, Updated 12/13/05
Section B - Income and Net Worth Development Forms and Acceptable Statements, Updated 12/13/05
Section C - Income development, Updated 12/13/05
Section D - Reduction of Income Due to Unreimbursed Expenses, Updated 12/13/05
Section E - Social Security Number (SSN) Development, Updated 12/13/05

Changes
12/13/05   3/5/09

SubptII - Rating

Chapter 1 - Live Pension Rating, Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Section A - Requirements for Live Pension Ratings, Updated 12/13/05
Section B - Determining Disability, Unemployability, and Marginal Employment, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 2 - Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 2 - Death Pension Rating, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 3 - Updated 12/13/05
Table of Contents, Updated 12/13/05
Chapter 3 - Special Monthly Pension (SMP) Ratings, Updated 12/13/05

Changes
12/13/05

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SubptIII - Authorization issues

Chapter 1 - The Effect of Income and New Worth on Pension and Parents Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Table of Contents, Updated 5/7/09
Section A - General Information on the Effect Income and Net Worth Have on Pension and Parents DIC, Updated 2/13/07
Section B - Social security Administration (SSA) Benefits Program, Updated 2/13/07
Section C - Section 306 Pension and Old Law Pension, Updated 2/13/07
Section D - Parents DIC, Updated 2/13/07
Section E - Improved Pension - Basic Rate Determination, Updated 02/13/07
Section F - Inproved Pension - Dependents, Updated 5/7/09
Section G - Improved Pension - Deductible Expenses, Updated 5/7/09
Section H - Improved Pension - Adjustments based on Changes in Status, Updated 2/13/07
Section I - Improved Pension - Counting Specigic Types of Income, Updated 2/13/07
Section J - Net Worth, Updated 2/13/07
Chapter 2 - Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Status Under 38 CFR 3.351
Table of Contents, Updated 5/14/07
Section A - General Information on Requirements for Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Status Under 38 CFR 3.351,
Updated 5/14/07
Section B - A&A Status for Beneficiaries Who Are Patients in a Qualified Nursing Home, Updated 5/14/07
Chapter 3 - Pension Reductions for Medicaid-Covered Nursing Facility Care, Updated 5/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 5/14/07
Chapter 4 - Pension Adjustments in Unusual Situations, Updated 5/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 5/14/07
Chapter 5 - Elections Between Pension Programs, Updated 5/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 5/14/07
Chapter 6 - Department of Defense (DoD) Survivor Annuities and Their Relationship to VA Death Pension and Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Updated 5/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 5/14/07
Chapter 7 - Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs), Updated 9/21/06
Table of Contents, Updated 9/21/06
Section A - EVR Selection Procedures, Updated 9/21/06
Section B - Initial Stages of EVR Processing, Updated 9/21/06
Section C - Second Stage EVR Processing by Veteran's Service Representative (VSRs), Updated 9/21/06
Section D - EVR Terminations and Related Issues, Updated 9/21/06
Section E - Miscellaneous EVR Issues, Updated 9/21/06

Changes
9/21/06    2/13/07    5/14/07    5/7/09

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SubptIV - Organization of the Pension Maintenance Centers

Chapter 1 - Organization of the Pension Maintenance Centers (PMCs), Updated 5/25/05
Table of Contents, Updated 3/22/04
Chapter 2 - Pension Maintenance Center (PMC) Procedures, Updated 5/25/05
Table of Contents, Updated 3/22/04
Transmittal

Changes
5/25/05

Part 6. Chapter 18 Benefits

Table of Contents, Updated 1/29/02
Chapter 1 - Updated 11/01/04 - General Chapter 18 Benefits Information
Table of Contents - Updated 11/01/04
Chapter 2 - Spina Bifida and Other Covered Birth Defects
Table of Contents, Updated 8/14/06
Section A - Process Overview, Updated 11/1/04
Section B - Eligibility and Development, Updated 9/26/08
Section C - Rating, Updated 8/14/06
Section D - Authorization Issues, Updated 11/1/04

Changes
1/29/02    5/27/05    8/14/06    9/26/08   
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Part 7. Burial Benefits

Table of Contents, Updated 1/29/02
Chapter 1 - Burial Benefits and Allowance
Table of Contents, Updated 4/26/05
Section A - General Information, Updated 4/26/05
Section B - Claimant Eligibility, Updated 4/26/05
Section C - Development, Updated 4/26/05
Section D - Authorization Payment Issues, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 2 - Service Connected Death Burial Allowance
Table of Contents, Updated 4/26/05
Section A - Veteran Eligibility, Updated 8/14/06
Section B - Authorization Eligibility Issues, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 3 - Transportation Allowance, Updated 8/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 4/26/05
Chapter 4 - Plot Allowance, Updated 8/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 8/14/06
Chapter 5 - Memorialization
Section A - Presidential Memorial Certificate, Updated 5/11/06
Section B - Flags, Updated 5/11/06
Section C - HeadStones and Markers, Updated 5/11/06
Chapter 6 - Exhibits, Updated 8/14/06
Table of Contents, Updated 8/14/06

Changes
4/26/05    4/28/06    5/11/06    8/14/06
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Part 8. Accrued Benefits

Table of Contents, Updated 11/26/02
Chapter 1 - Eligibility, Updated 5/7/09
Table of Contents, Updated 5/7/09
Chapter 2 - Development
Table of Contents, Updated 3/1/06
Chapter 3 - Rating, Updated 5/7/09
Table of Contents, Updated 3/1/06
Chapter 4 - Authorization and Notification, Updated 5/7/09
Table of Contents, Updated 3/1/06

Changes
3/1/06    5/7/09

Part 9. Ancillary and Special Benefits


SubpartI Ancillary Benefits:
Chapter 1 - Vocational Rehabilitation
Table of Contents , Updated 7/24/09
Section A - Eligibility, Updated 12/23/09
Section B - Development, Updated 7/24/09
Section C - Rating, Updated 7/24/09
Chapter 2 - Automobile and Adaptive Equipment Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 39, Updated 7/24/09
Chapter 3 - Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grants, Updated 11/21/06
Table of Contents , Updated 11/21/06
Chapter 4 - Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Updated 11/21/06
Table of Contents , Updated 11/16/04
Chapter 5 - Loan Guaranty Benefits
Table of Contents , Updated 7/24/09
Section A - General Information on Loan Guaranty Benefits, Updated 7/24/09
Section B - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension-Related Home Loans, Updated 7/24/09
Chapter 6 - Restored Entitlement Program For Survivors (REPS)
Table of Contents , Updated 12/6/04
Section A - General Information on REPS Benefits, Updated 12/6/04
Section B - Regional Office (RO) of Jurisdiction Action for REPS Benefits, Updated 4/19/05
Section C - General Information, Updated 11/21/06
Section D - REPS Master Record Inquiry, Updated 12/6/04
Chapter 7 - Clothing Allowance, Updated 4/19/05
Changes
11/16/04    12/6/04    4/19/05    11/21/06     8/6/08     7/24/09     12/23/09

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SubpartII Special Benefits:
Chapter 1 - Special Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1312 (a) and Medal of Honor Pension
Table of Contents , Updated 4/19/05
Section A - General Information, Updated 4/19/05
Section B - Eligibility, Updated 4/19/05
Section C - Development, Updated 4/19/05
Section D - Authorization and Notification, Updated 4/19/05
Section E - Medal of Honor, Updated 11/10/05
Chapter 2 - Ratings for Special Purpose, Updated 4/13/09
Table of Contents , Updated 11/21/06


Changes
11/16/04    4/19/05    6/2/05     11/10/05     11/21/06     4/13/09

Part 10. Matching Programs

Chapter 1 - General Information on Matching Programs, Updated 4/5/05
Chapter 2 - Social Security (SS) Verification Match, Updated 8/10/05
Chapter 3 - Civil Service Verification Project, Updated 2/05/08
Table of Contents , Updated 8/10/05
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 - Railroad Retirement (RR) Verification Report, Updated 8/10/05
Chapter 5 - Social Security (SS) Death Match, Updated 2/05/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/7/07
Chapter 5
Chapter 6- Semiannual Review of Potential Duplicate Payment Cases, Updated 2/7/07
Table of Contents , Updated 2/7/07
Chapter 6
Chapter 7 - Total Disability Income Provision (TDIP) Review, Updated 7/23/04
Chapter 8 - Social Security Number (SSN) Verification, Updated 09/03/09
Table of Contents , Updated 09/03/09
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 - Income Verification Match (IVM): Basic Components, Updated 2/5/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08
Chapter 9
Chapter 10 - Income Verification Match (IVM): Further Development, Updated 2/5/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 - Veterans on Active Duty in Receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits, Updated 09/03/09
Table of Contents , Updated 09/03/09
Chapter 11
Chapter 12 - Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Match, Updated 2/5/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/7/07
Chapter 12
Chapter 13 - Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), Master Record, and date of Death Reconciliation Project, Updated 4/5/05
Chapter 14 - 100 Year Old Review, Updated 2/5/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Social Security Administration (SSA) Prision Match, Updated 2/5/08
Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08
Chapter 15
Chapter 16 - Fugitive Felon Match, Updated 09/03/09
Table of Contents , Updated 09/03/09
Chapter 16

Changes
8/10/05    2/7/07    3/20/07    2/5/08    09/03/09
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Part 11. Fiduciary Program

Chapter 1 - Overview of the Fiduciary Program
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Overview of the Fiduciary Program, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - Job Functions and Responsibilities, Updated 7/13/05
Chapter 2 - Field Examinations
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Field Examinations Process, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - Field Examination Requests and Reports, Updated 7/13/05
Section C - Issues of Competency and Legal Disability, Updated 7/13/05
Section D - Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Field Examinations for Adults, Updated 7/13/05
Section E - Determining Payees and Follow-up Actions for Adult Beneficiaries, Updated 7/13/05
Section F - Special Issues Relating to Field Examinations for Adults, Updated 7/13/05
Section G - Guidelines for Conducting and reporting Field Examinations for Minors, Updated 7/13/05
Section H - Determining Payees and Follow-up Actions for Minor Beneficiaries, Updated 7/13/05
Section I - Special Issues Relating to Field Examinations for Minors, Updated 7/13/05
Chapter 3 - Account Audits
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Overview of the Accounting Analysis Process, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - General Guidelines for Protecting Beneficiary Funds, Updated 7/13/05
Section C - Requiring and Securing Accountings, Updated 7/13/05
Section D - Accounting Analysis, Updated 7/13/05
Section E - Bonds and Withdraw Agreements, Updated 7/13/05
Section F - Accounting Approval, Updated 7/13/05

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Chapter 4 - Estate Administration and Supervision
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Folder Management, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - Administrative Record Keeping and Control Responsibilies, Updated 7/13/05
Section C - Estate Administration Responsibilities, Updated 7/13/05
Section D - Issues regarding Beneficiary Funds, Updated 7/13/05
Section E - Closing Principal Guardianship Folders (PFGs), Updated 7/13/05
Chapter 5 - Misuse, Negligence, and Reissuance of Benefit Payments
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Misuse, Negligence, and Reissuance Issues, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - Misuse Allegations, Updated 7/13/05
Section C - Misuse Investigations, Updated 7/13/05
Section D - Misuse determinations and Reconsiderations, Updated 7/13/05
Section E - Reissuance of Benefits and Negligence Determinations, Updated 7/13/05
Section F - Referrals to the Office of Inspector General, Updated 7/13/05
Chapter 6 - Onsite Reviews
Table of Contents, Updated 7/13/05
Section A - Onsite Reviews - General, Updated 7/13/05
Section B - Onsite Review Protocol, Updated 7/13/05
Section C - Onsite Review Findings Report, Updated 7/13/05

Changes
07/13/05

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