**§1.518 Addresses of claimants.**

\(a\) It is the general policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
refuse to furnish addresses from its records to persons who desire such
information for debt collection, canvassing, harassing or for propaganda
purposes.

\(b\) The address of a Department of Veterans Affairs claimant as shown
by Department of Veterans Affairs files may be furnished to:

\(1\) Duly constituted police or court officials upon official request
and the submission of a certified copy either of the indictment returned
against the claimant or of the warrant issued for his or her arrest.

\(2\) Police, other law enforcement agencies, or Federal, State, county,
or city welfare agencies upon official written request showing that the
purpose of the request is to locate a parent who has deserted his or her
child or children and that other reasonable efforts to obtain an address
have failed. The address will not be released when such disclosure would
be prejudicial to the mental or physical health of the claimant. When an
address is furnished it will be accompanied by the stipulation that it
is furnished on a confidential basis and may not be disclosed to any
other individual or agency.

\(c\) When an address is requested that may not be furnished under
§§1.500 through 1.526, the person making the request will be informed
that a letter, or in those cases involving judicial actions, the process
or notice in judicial proceedings, enclosed in an unsealed envelope
showing no return address, with the name of the addressee thereon, and
bearing sufficient postage to cover mailing costs will be forwarded by
the Department of Veterans Affairs. If a request indicates that judicial
action is involved in which a process or notice in judicial proceedings
is required to be forwarded, the Department of Veterans Affairs will
inform the person who requests the forwarding of such a document that
the envelope must bear sufficient postage to cover costs of mailing and
certified or registered mailing fees, including cost of obtaining
receipt for the certified or registered mail when transmission by this
type special mail is desired. At the time the letter, process, or notice
in judicial proceedings is forwarded, the facility's return address will
be placed on the envelope. When the receipt for certified or registered
mail or the undelivered envelope is returned to the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the original sender will be notified thereof: However,
the receipt or the envelope will be retained by the Department of
Veterans Affairs. This provision will be applicable only when it does
not interfere unduly with the functions of the Service or division
concerned. In no event will letters be forwarded to aid in the
collection of debts or for the purpose of canvassing, harassing, or
propaganda. Neither will a letter be forwarded if the contents could be
harmful to the physical or mental health of the recipient.

\(d\) Subject to the conditions set forth in §1.922, the Department of
Veterans Affairs may disclose to consumer reporting agencies information
contained in a debtor's claims folder. Such information may include the
debtor's name and/or address, Department of Veterans Affairs file
number, Social Security number, and date of birth. (Authority: 38 U.S.C.
5701(g))

\[33 FR 10516, July 24, 1968 and 35 FR 5176, Mar. 27, 1970, as amended
at 46 FR 62059, Dec. 22, 1981\]