New Va Form 21-0966

[vern2]

The Department of Veterans Affairs has made a proposal that claims can be started by filing VA Form 21-0966. This change has NOT gone into effect and will not go into effect until March 24, 2015. Claims filed on a VA Form 21-0966 prior to March 24, 2015 will not be processed.

If you have filed this form prior to 24 March 2015, it will not be accepted.

Got this from another web page for veterans, just passing on this info.

Vern2

[Berta]

More info here too;

http://www.state.tn.us/veteran/WhatsNew/Jan14/I.a.%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Claims%20and%20Appeals%20Forms%20Update.pdf

[carlie]

I believe they will still want additional forms such as a 21-526, etc... as below.

"The update has three major components:

 It standardizes the traditional informal claims process by employing a new standard form,

VA Form 21-0966, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or pension, survivors pension, or other benefits,

which an individual or his or her representative can submit in order to establish a potential effective date for benefits while they take up to a year to gather the evidence necessary to support the claim.

 The intent to file form may be submitted in one of three ways:

1) electronically via eBenefits or the Stakeholder Enterprise Portal,

2) on the paper form mailed to VA, or

3) over the phone with a VA call center or other public contact representative.

 The updated regulations allow VA to award increased benefits retroactive to the date of medical treatment

as long as the intent to file form is filed within 1 year of the treatment and the required claim form is filed

within the year after that.

It mandates use of specified forms designed to capture information necessary to identify and support compensation, pension, and other benefit claims. 

Compensation claims may be filed online through eBenefits, or submit VA Form 21- 526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, on paper.

 Pension claims must be filed on VA Form 21-527EZ, Application for Pension.

 Survivors claims for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), survivors pension, and accrued benefits must be filed on VA Form 21-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.

 It mandates use of a standardized notice of disagreement form in most cases when a claimant wishes to initiate an appeal of a VA decision.  Veterans initiate appeal of a decision with which they disagree by explaining their disagreement on VA Form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement. Veterans, survivors, and their representatives currently use the form on an optional basis."

[broncovet]

More paperwork. That's all we need...there are not "enough" VA forms, we have to file a NOD, on a NOD form, now. They were supposed to streamline this, not increase its complexity. "Intent to file", suggests we have to submit more forms "to actually file". Next we will have to file an "intent to file" an "intent" to file for benefits.

Edited March 15, 2015 by broncovet

[Guest]

What, have you seen this form.

It only has the very basic information. It does not even ask the veteran what disability/condition he/she intend to file a claim on. Why would this form even be necessary? Am I missing something? Did I download the wrong form? Yes, it is very clear that someone is trying to make it very hard for veterans to get any type of retro payment.

Bronco, the next form will be an INTENT TO FILE A DISAGREEMENT FOR COMPENSATION AND/OR PENSION, OR SURVIVORS PENSION AND/OR DIC

[Chuck75]

The form is necessary in the VA's opinion.

Why?

Well, we (VA) need to "standardize", which translates do it OUR way or else.

"Our way" is not intended to make claims filing and pursuit easier.

[Guest]

The form is necessary in the VA's opinion.

Why?

Well, we (VA) need to "standardize", which translates do it OUR way or else.

"Our way" is not intended to make claims filing and pursuit easier.

According to our government Their words not mine "VA is suppose to streamline the disability system to make it easier for veterans."

Standardize, VA form 21-526 was/is very standard until VA changed it. This form provides the veteran and VA with the necessary information needed to process a claim. All VA have to do is get the veterans military medical records and/or any private medical records and go from there. It's really not that hard, Social Security Admin. does it, the IRS does it. Can you amagine all the claim SSA process both for SSDI and SSI and can you amagine all the income tax forms the IRS process in a given year. The VA system is a lot smaller then SSA and IRS and these agencies get it done. I understand that all veterans have to follow the VA rules but again the system is suppose to help the veteran "to care for him who has borne the battle, and his widow and his orphan.” Abraham Lincoln.

Edited March 16, 2015 by pete992