Valuable Claim Info Update From The Va

[Swarthy]

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-09-25/html/2014-22633.htm

Federal Register September 2014
(The VA responds to public and Congressional comments)

Edited March 21, 2015 by Swarthy (see edit history)

[Notorious Kelly]

I'll wait for a translator ;)

[lotzaspotz]

It covers the new requirement to use standardized forms when filing claims or appeals.

[Swarthy]

I disagree that it will make things harder. Whereas previously you could write "F!@#k You" on a bar napkin and slip under the RO's door and they would have to accept that as a NOD (providing you put your name, social and medical condition on the napkin).

Now, you can't do that. But now you don't have to specifically claim each condition for it to be accepted.

The standard forms/Ebenifits provision will speed up the process.
I know, I've tried to decipher something I wrote on a bar napkin and stuffed it in my pocket.

Current standard forms such as VA Forms 21-526EZ, 21-

527EZ, and 21-534EZ (hereinafter ``EZ forms'') contain the statutorily

required notice to claimants of the information and evidence necessary

to substantiate a claim at the onset of filing a claim. See 38 U.S.C.

5103.

(No more VCAA forms to wait for, not lose, sign and return. The VCAA is right on the claim form you hand in)

This means claimants do not have to wait for VA to send notices

to claimants of VA's duty to assist in developing a claim. Claimants

will be informed of what information and evidence is necessary in

substantiating their claims prior to or at the time they file a claim.

In addition, the EZ forms used for filing disability compensation,

pension, and survivor benefits as well as the NOD form are shorter in

length, making them less burdensome and time-consuming for claimants to

complete.

Additionally, EZ forms contain pre-printed lists of

potentially available benefits to help guide claimants through the

claim process. VA believes that the standard format of VA's forms that

provide pre-printed selections from which claimants can choose poses

less of a burden on claimants because claimants spend less time

describing their intent to file a claim, identifying and describing

symptoms or medical conditions, or expressions of disagreement to a VA

decision in a narrative format of non-standard submissions.

Edited March 22, 2015 by Swarthy (see edit history)