Veterans Benefits Administration References
Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)

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

Subparti - Claims Processing Improvement Model

Subpartii - Compensation

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

Subparti - Eligibility and Development

Subpartii - Rating

Subpartiii - Authorization Issues

Subpartiv - Pension Maintenance Centers

Subparti - Ancillary Benefits

Subpartii - Special Benefits

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 

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 

Back to Top

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 

Back to Top

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

Chapter 1 - Rules and Process

Table of Contents,Updated 06/28/10

Section A - Initial Considerations Regarding the Development Process, Updated 3/25/10 

Section B - Evidence Requested from the Claimant, Updated 3/29/10 

Section C - Requesting Evidence from Other Sources, Updated 6/28/10

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 

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   03/25/10   03/29/10  06/28/10 

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 

Back to Top

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

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  

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  

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

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 03/25/10

Table of Contents, Updated 03/25/10 

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  |   03/25/10 

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 

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

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

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

Table of Contents, Updated 1/29/02 

Chapter 1 - General Chapter 18 Benefits Information - Updated 03/11/10

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 03/11/10

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   3/11/10  

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 

Chapter 1 - Vocational Rehabilitation

Table of Contents, Updated 7/24/09 

Section A - Eligibility, Updated 04/19/10

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 07/24/09

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 

Subpart II Special Benefits: 

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 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 6, Semiannual Review of Potential Duplicate Payment Cases, Updated 2/7/07 

Table of Contents , Updated 2/7/07 

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 9, Income Verification Match (IVM): Basic Components, Updated 2/5/08 

Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08 

Chapter 10, Income Verification Match (IVM): Further Development, Updated 2/5/08 

Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08 

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 12, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Match, Updated 2/5/08 

Table of Contents , Updated 2/7/07 

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 15, Social Security Administration (SSA) Prison Match, Updated 2/5/08 

Table of Contents , Updated 2/5/08 

Chapter 16, Fugitive Felon Match, Updated 09/03/09 

Table of Contents , Updated 09/03/09 

 

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 

 

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