This chapter was previously M27-1, Part III, Section II, Chapter 11. It
was redesignated as M21-1, Part VII, Chapter 7 in April 2000 due to a
reorganization. The content of this chapter was not changed.

M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

**CONTENTS**

**CHAPTER 7 \-- VETERANS SERVICES PROCEDURES AT VA MEDICAL CENTERS**

**PARAGRAPH PAGE**

7.01 Mission and Staffing 7-1

7.02 Operational Responsibilities 7-2

7.03 Administrative Procedures 7-3

7.04 Pending Record File 7-4

7.05 Patients Schedule for Interview 7-5

7.06 Debt Prevention Procedures 7-6

7.07 Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) 7-6

7.08 Servicemen\'s Group Life Insurance 7-7

7.09 National Service and U.S. Government Life Insurance 7-7

7.10 Requests for Insurance Status - Hospitalized Veterans 7-8

7.11 Interviews with Patients Who May Be Eligible for Vocational
Rehabilitation 7-9

7.12 Special Notice to Adjudication Division 7-9

7.13 Informal Claim 7-10

7.14 Compensation Claims by Patients Separated from Active Duty Service
During VA

Hospitalization 7-10

7.15 Visual Impairment Services Team 7-11

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

**CHAPTER 7 \-- VETERANS SERVICES PROCEDURES AT VA MEDICAL CENTERS**

**7.01 MISSION AND STAFFING**

a\. The VBA (Veterans Benefits Administration) is committed to benefits
counseling, claims assistance and information dissemination services at
VA medical centers. This long-standing service has focused on direct
assistance to inpatients. The importance of the VSD (Veterans Service
Division) presence at medical centers has been reinforced by the Chief
Benefits Director through the strategic planning process. While duties
and responsibilities of VBCs (Veterans Benefits Counselors) assigned
full or part-time at VA medical centers may be diverse, the primary
responsibility will continue to be direct service to veteran patients.

b\. Because interviewing hospitalized veterans is the primary duty of
VBCs at medical center Veterans Services Units, and since complete
toll-free telephone service to OR\'s (regional offices) is available,
telephone interviews must be a very limited portion of the workload. The
medical center director should be asked to have all appropriate RO
telephone numbers posted outside the VBC\'s office. With the director\'s
permission, similar notices will be posted in other strategic hospital
locations and in outpatient clinics.

c\. Office hours may be established for interviewing outpatients and
non-patients. The VSO (Veterans Services Officer) will insure that such
interviews do not disrupt service to patients. The VSO will consider the
following factors in determining the appropriate office hours to be
provided by each Veterans Services Unit:

\(1\) The proximity of the medical center to the RO or an RO subordinate
location (s);

\(2\) Patient workload at the facility;

\(3\) The impact of assigned office hours on the ability to see
inpatients;

\(4\) Any other local conditions which may influence office hour
arrangements.

d\. Assigned office hours will be reviewed at least annually during
supervisory visits. Any recommended changes to hours will be included in
the narrative comments of the supervisory visit report and should
address the above cited factors.

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

e\. At an office with only one VBC assigned, absence without replacement
will not exceed 5 consecutive workdays. Assignment of VBCs to medical
center locations will be

permanent, whether full or part-time. Routine rotation of this
responsibility among employees may lessen the quality of service
provided. Additional VSD personnel may be assigned to medical center
locations to receive cross-training. This provides an opportunity for
employee development and ensures the availability of qualified
replacement staff.

f\. VSD personnel assigned will be familiar with and conform to medical
center requirements concerning duty hours, employee conduct, and other
matters of protocol and procedure. Every effort should be made to
establish an effective working relationship with medical center
employees. VBC\'s, among their responsibilities, must assure personal
availability to the facility director or other key staff personnel for
orientation or training regarding benefits programs or other significant
VBA activities and initiatives. They will also be available for meetings
with staff or patient groups regarding VBA benefits and services.
Attendance at director\'s staff meetings, upon invitation, is
recommended.

g\. The need for services for domiciliary or nursing care patients may
differ substantially from that of the hospitalized patients, as do the
conditions under which effective service may be provided. For this
reason, services to persons admitted to these facilities will generally
be provided to the extent time is available or on an on-call basis.

h\. The projection of a favorable image and general community presence
is an important factor of the medical center based assignment. An
extended service profile is anticipated for many VBCs assigned to
medical centers. Thus, effective and recurring liaison with service
organizations, public and private sector agencies and groups, community
organizations, information and referral resources, etc., is necessary.

**7.02 OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES**

a\. As indicated, a VBC assigned to a medical center has, as a primary
responsibility, the delivery of service to inpatients. The level of
inpatient service activity, however, will be determined by the criteria
indicated below. Patients who meet the following criteria will be
scheduled for an interview (classified see):

\(1\) Those requested or referred by medical center staff (e.g., MAS
(Medical Administration Service), Social Work, and Nursing).

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

\(a\) It is imperative that VBCs make medical center staff fully aware
of VBA programs and services. This liaison and training effort should
result in substantive referrals for personal service to inpatients in
need.

\(b\) Arrangements for such referrals can be established locally at the
medical center or can be documented in an agreement or standard
operating procedure among regional offices and individual medical
centers. VBCs at Domiciliary locations will arrange for newly admitted
patients to be advised of the availability of veterans services.

\(2\) Age 65 and over with wartime service (except those in receipt of
100 percent service connected compensation or the maximum improved
pension benefit with aid and attendance);

\(3\) No known address or identified by MAS as homeless;

\(4\) Recently separated from active duty (separation within 1 year);
and

\(5\) Active duty personnel transferred to VA facilities for medical
care (to the extent they are identifiable through admission data).

b\. VBCs may also conduct interviews with any other patients who, in
their judgment, should be seen. However, there must be an indication
from the information available that a substantive service may be
provided.

**7.03 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES**

a\. MAS responsibilities are outlined in M-1, part I, chapter 4, section
V, a reference with which the VSO and VBC should be familiar. MAS
personnel are responsible for obtaining information by admission
screening to assist VBCs in providing information and help in connection
with VA and other benefits. Their responsibilities include:

\(1\) Eliciting all necessary information from the patient unless
precluded by the patient\'s condition;

\(2\) Completing benefit payment change of address actions when
warranted;

\(3\) Providing each patient with VA Form 10-1225a, Veterans Benefits
Information, which furnishes general benefits information and advises
that VBC services are available upon request;

\(4\) Providing the VBC with computer generated VA Form 10-1225,
Veterans Assistance Unit Record, for each patient

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

admitted to the facility. This form will have sufficient information to
assist in selecting patients to be interviewed and aid in suggesting the
level or nature of VBA services to be provided.

b\. The VSO and the medical center VBC will maintain close and frequent
liaison with the Chief, MAS to coordinate the responsibilities noted
above.

c\. The VBC will review medical center admission data in order to ensure
that the computer generated VA Form 10-1225 is received for each new
patient. The VBC will review the information contained on each new
computer generated VA Form 10-1225 and, using paragraph 7.02 for the
selection criteria, identify those patients to be interviewed.

d\. During the review process, each record form for patients classified
\"see\" will be separated from those that do not meet the selection
criteria (referred to as \"no see\"). The \"see\" forms will be
maintained in accordance with instructions furnished later in this
chapter. After reporting the total number of forms screened or
classified as \"no see\" on VA Form 27-7288a, Daily Record of Veterans
Assistance Interviews, the \"no see\" forms will be immediately
destroyed.

e\. If a patient originally classified \"no see\" requests an interview
or is referred, the VBC will conduct the interview as soon as possible,
preferably during the next visit to the patient\'s ward. In such
instances, these interviews will be conducted without asking MAS to
prepare a duplicate record form. Instead, the VBC will solicit
sufficient information from the patient, medical center records, or
other as necessary to ensure that appropriate service is provided.

f\. Depending upon local conditions and agreements, VSOs and their VBCs
assigned to medical centers may use various automation tools. As
automation tools are made available nationwide, changes in
administrative procedures will be issued. Among these are: remote access
to the benefits delivery network and office automation

**7.04 PENDING RECORD FILE**

a\. The primary purpose of the pending record file is to maintain
control of pending interviews and function concurrently as a diary file
for followup actions. It will consist of computer generated VA Forms
10-1225 for those patients who have been interviewed but additional
action is required in order to complete service. It will also consist of
VA Forms 119, Report of Contact, in lieu of computer generated VA Forms
10-1225

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

for certain patients initially classified \"no see\" (see para. 7.05e).

b\. Record forms will initially be filed chronologically by date of
admission. When an attempt to interview a patient is unsuccessful or
followup actions are initiated, the form will be appropriately annotated
and maintained in the pending file by the date of the last activity. The
VBC will review the pending file each workday to ensure that new
patients are seen timely and follow-up actions on other patients are
completed.

c\. A record form will be maintained until all actions in behalf of the
patient have been completed. Then, after recording the interview(s) on
VA Form 27-7288a, the computer generated VA Form 10-1225 will be
destroyed. (At local option, VSOs may periodically instruct VBCs to
submit a sampling of these forms for quality review.)

d\. Staffing, workload , and certain medical center characteristics
(i.e., frequency of readmissions) may occasionally warrant the retention
of some record forms to prevent duplication of effort in behalf of
certain patients. Thus, as a local option, VSOs may allow medical center
VBCs to create an inactive file for retention of certain record forms.
Division management should ensure that locally-established procedures
for the maintenance and disposition of inactive forms do not create an
additional encumbrance that significantly detracts from our mission. The
VSO should not require the maintenance of inactive forms for every
patient with whom an interview was conducted.

e\. Service during an initial interview will be as nearly complete as
possible. However, if the patient is discharged before all actions are
completed, the computer generated VA Form 10-1225 will be retained in
the pending record file until all necessary followup is completed. In
most instances, service may be completed by advising the veteran, a
family member, or a representative of any remaining actions required to
complete service initiated during the hospital stay.

**7.05 PATIENTS SCHEDULED FOR INTERVIEW**

a\. VBCs will take proper precautions to ensure that the nature and
duration of an interview are not detrimental to the patient\'s condition
or interfere with treatment. Ordinarily, patients will not be disturbed
if found asleep, during scheduled rest periods, or at mealtimes.
Patients heavily sedated or seriously ill will not be interviewed
without first consulting the appropriate medical staff.

b\. Interviews with newly admitted patients may be ineffective due to
the patient\'s acute condition or the effect of

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

medications. Also, the patient may not be available because of
laboratory scheduling or other diagnostic procedures. In such instances,
the medical center VBC will keep the computer generated VA Form 10-1225
in the pending record file until such time as an interview can be
conducted. Another attempt will be made within 5 workdays following the
initial attempt to interview the patient, unless the VBC is advised by
appropriate medical staff to delay the interview further. Successive
\"5-workday\" periods will be extended until the patient has been
interviewed or discharged. All attempts will be documented on the
computer generated VA Form 10-1225.

c\. VBCs may use the remarks section of computer generated VA Form
10-1225 to include any personal reminders of actions still pending or
additional service to be rendered. However, a summary of all actions
taken and assistance furnished is not required, except if periodic
samplings are requested by the VSO for local quality review. (See par.
7.04d, if an inactive record file is being maintained.)

d\. If a patient is discharged before being interviewed, no followup
action is required (except as noted in M27-1, part I, chapter 6, par.
6B.04b(4), (b), and (c).) At local discretion, such patients may be
informed by letter of benefits and services available through VBA.
Instructions on how to contact the RO for additional information and
assistance will be included.

e\. When service is provided to a patient for whom a computer generated
VA Form 10-1225 does not exist, no record-keeping is anticipated beyond
recording the interview(s) on VA Form 27-7288a. In those instances where
some followup action is required, a VA Form 119 will be maintained in
the pending record file in lieu of the computer generated VA Form
10-1225.

f\. In the case of incompetent veterans, the efforts of the VBC should
be intensified and will involve additional emphasis, actions, and
precautions. If the interview is necessarily

inconclusive or precluded by the patient\'s condition, the VBC will
immediately initiate appropriate action to protect the patient\'s
benefits rights, including government life insurance coverage. This may
dictate the filing of claims for benefits as \"next friend.\" (See par.
7.13 on informal claims.)

g\. When interviews are conducted at bedside, the VBC shall exercise
caution to ensure the patient\'s right to privacy. Upon concurrence of
the medical center director, interviews with ambulatory patients may be
conducted on an appointment basis at office space in or adjacent to the
ward or at the office of the VBC.

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

a\. The VBC may, in the course of his duties, identify an incompetent
veteran who is subject to the reductions set forth in U.S.C.
3203(b)(1)(A). In such instances, the VBC will alert the appropriate
fiduciary activity of the veteran\'s admission to the facility in order
to ensure that timely action is taken to prevent an overpayment.

b\. The VBC will be available to discuss any existing or potential
overpayment issues as appropriate. Every effort should be made to help
beneficiaries avoid overpayment situations.

**7.06 DEBT PREVENTION PROCEDURES**

**7.07 SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS LIFE INSURANCE (RH)**

a\. When interviewing veterans or service personnel with potential
entitlement to service-disabled life insurance, often referred to as RH
insurance, medical center VBCs will fully explain the advantages and
provisions of the program. This includes informing the veteran or
service member of the deadline in making application for RH insurance.
Please note, the Insurance Service will accept applications completed
and submitted by active duty service personnel (whose separation is
imminent). However, these individuals are to be told that the insurance
cannot be issued until they are separated from active duty and found to
meet the eligibility requirements for RH insurance.

b\. Eligible patients may be assisted with VA Form 29-4364, Application
for Service Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (RH). The completed
application and initial premium should be forwarded to the insurance
center in Philadelphia. The mailing address for that office is
Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office and Insurance Center
(RH), PO\> Box 7208, Philadelphia, PA 19101. This address is shown on
the reverse side of the application.

c\. A special note is necessary concerning mentally incompetent
veterans. Application for HR Insurance may be completed by any VA
certified fiduciary or a State appointed guardian. In either case, the
application must be submitted within 1 year of the appointment as
fiduciary or guardian, or within 1 year after the disability is removed,
whichever is earlier (38 U.S.C. 722 (a)). If VA does not certify a
fiduciary or a guardian is not appointed, and the veteran remains
incompetent from a service connected disability until death, gratuitous
National Life Insurance,known as ARH insurance, may be paid to certain
beneficiaries. When a VBC becomes aware of a situation of potential
eligibility for ARH insurance, he or she should send VA Form 27-8886,
Insurance Flash, to the AO (Adjudication Officer) at the regional office
where the claims

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

folder is located. In the event of the veterans death, the AO will
notify the VSO so that the survivors may be notified of their possible
entitlement.

**a. Servicemen\'s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) may be converted to
Veteran\'s Group** Life Insurance (VGLI) provided an application and the
required premium are submitted to the Office of Servicemen\'s Group Life
Insurance (OSGLI) within 1 year and 120 days following release from
active duty. If the application is submitted within 120 days of release
from active duty, VGLI will be issued regardless of the veteran\'s
health. If the application is not submitted within the initial 120 day
period the veteran will still have an additional 1 year to apply,
however, good health requirements will now have to be met. Medical
center VBCs should be certain that all veterans seeking treatment within
120 days after discharge from service, as well as service personnel
awaiting release from active duty while hospitalized, are advised of the
deadlines for converting SGLI to VGLI (see M27-1, pt. I, ch. 11,
subchapter III, par. 11.12).

**7.08 SERVICEMEN\'S GROUP LIFE INSURANCE**

b\. The OSGLI notifies each recently separated veteran of his or her
entitlement to VGLI. An application for the special 5-year term
insurance is mailed to the veteran\'s address as shown on the DD 214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. However, unless
the veteran has received and returned the form, the VBC should furnish
the veteran with SGLV-8714, Application for Veteran\'s Group Life
Insurance Separated 120 Days or Less and encourage him or her to submit
the form to OSGLI along with the necessary premium.

c\. VBCs should bear in mind that hospitalized veterans who are eligible
for VGLI may, in many cases, be uninsurable or not insurable at standard
premium rates by commercial life insurance companies. Thus, VGLI
provides the veteran with 5 years of group coverage at a low cost while
also allowing the veteran the opportunity to convert the policy at the
end of the 5-year period to an individual policy with a participating
commercial life insurance company.

**7.09 NATIONAL SERVICE AND U.S. GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE**

a\. Any patient having NSLI (National Service Life Insurance) or USGLI
(United States Government Life Insurance) should be made aware of and
assisted in any pertinent provisions of the policy affected by that
hospitalization. For example, the VBC may need to assist the insured so
that the policy does not lapse during the hospital stay or assist in
reinstatement of a recently lapsed policy. The VBC may also help NSLI
policyholders who became totally disabled prior to their 65th birthday
by assisting with an application (VA Form 29-357, Claim

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

for Disability Insurance Benefits) for waiver of premiums. Note, USGLI
policies were declared paid-up in 1983, therefore premiums are no longer
required on these policies and they cannot lapse.

b\. Insured veterans can also be helped in other ways, especially by
asking them when they last updated their beneficiary designation and if
they know who they designated or what settlement option they chose for
that beneficiary. Very often the veteran will not know when he or she
last updated the designation nor, more importantly, who the beneficiary
is. Many veterans think the beneficiary is someone other than the person
who was actually designated or they believe the insurance proceeds are
automatically payable to their next-of-kin. It never hurts to have the
veteran complete and submit a current beneficiary option. This is good
practice to follow regardless of the veteran\'s age or physical
condition at the time of hospitalization or whether the veteran has a
USGLI or NSLI policy.

**7.10 REQUESTS FOR INSURANCE STATUS - HOSPITALIZED VETERANS**

a\. The VBC should ascertain the status of Government insurance for
hospitalized veterans. This may involve examination of records of prior
hospitalization including the medical center correspondence folder,
interviews with next-of-kin, utilizing Target (IINQ commands) or by
telephoning the insurance center.

b\. BIRLS should be accessed to obtain policy numbers if necessary, and
subsequently IINQ commands. If Target is not available, the VBC may call
insurance center personnel. Any further action required should be taken,
as appropriate.

c\. If a premium is due for an incompetent patient for whom an
institutional award is in place, MAS will immediately be notified so
that action can be taken relating to the payment of premiums.

d\. If a premium is due for an incompetent patient for whom a Federal
fiduciary or court-appointed fiduciary exists, the appropriate fiduciary
will immediately be notified for action relating to the payment of
premiums.

e\. When Target information shows that a premium is due for a competent
patient, the VBC will notify the patient, or the next of kin, concerning
the premium arrearage, and provide assistance as needed to bring the
policy up to date.

f\. When the VBC is asked to submit a beneficiary designation for an
incompetent veteran, the VBC

must always complete a VA Form 29-0590, Report of Testamentary Capacity,
and submit it

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M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

with the beneficiary designation. If there is reasonable doubt about the
veteran\'s testamentary capacity, the VBC should also obtain a
physician\'s statement about that testamentary capacity, and submit it
to the appropriate insurance center. A statement of testamentary
capacity is essential to resolving the issue of

lack of testamentary if the validity of that beneficiary designation is
challenged after the veteran\'s death. Therefore, VBCs should read 38
CFR 3.355 to familiarize themselves with the with the legal definition
of testamentary capacity. If further guidance on how to proceed in a
specific case is needed, the VBC should then call the appropriate
insurance center for assistance.

**7.11 INTERVIEWS WITH PATIENTS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION**

**a. Patients with service-connected disabilities may be entitled to
vocational** rehabilitation under Chapter 31 of Title 38, U.S.C. Special
attention must be given to those seriously disabled veterans such as
spinal cord injuries, blindness, or other severe disabilities. In
addition, patients receiving pensions based on their
nonservice-connected disabilities may also be entitled to a temporary
program of vocational training under Chapter 15 of Title 38, U.S.C. If
there is potential eligibility, the VBC will discuss the requirements
for VBA services and will attempt to motivate the veteran to take
advantage of any entitlement to vocational rehabilitation or vocational
training. Each patient interviewed for the possibility of vocational
rehabilitation or vocational training will be given the current edition
of VA Pamphlet 28-82-1 (Revised), Vocational Rehabilitation\--Your Key
to an Independent Future, and a VA Form 28-0588, Notice of Special
Benefits for the Service Disabled.

b\. The VBC will assist a patient potentially eligible for vocational
rehabilitation to complete VA Form 28-1900, Disabled Veteran\'s
Application for Vocational Rehabilitation. Similarly, the VBC will
assist a patient potentially eligible for vocational training to
complete VA Form 22-8966, Vocational Training Application for VA
Pensioners. The completed form will be sent to the appropriate regional
office for adjudication. The VBC will maintain close liaison with the
case managers of VR&C (Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling) and
VHS&RA (Veterans Health Services and Research Administration) to assist
where possible in ensuring that all subsequent actions are properly
completed.

c\. If the veteran does elect to participate in a vocational
rehabilitation or training program, the VBC will assist the VR&C case
manager in securing any needed relevant medical information.

**11-10**

M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

**7.12 SPECIAL NOTICE TO ADJUDICATION DIVISION**

a\. When a new, supplemental, or reopened claim is filed by or on behalf
of a patient, it is appropriate in certain situations for the VBC to
advise the Adjudication Division by VA Form 119 of pertinent facts and
circumstances not shown on the claim. Generally, these are limited to
those cases involving a veteran who is suffering from a terminal illness
or serious disease with medical information withheld, or there is
reliable evidence of financial hardship on the part of the veteran or
dependents. Applications prepared on behalf of patients having terminal
illness will be hand delivered to MAS in accordance with M-1, part I,
chapter 6, paragraph 6.45h.

b\. The VA Form 119 attached to the claim should state briefly the true
nature of the disability, the basis for the alleged hardship, and any
other facts which might guide Adjudication personnel in determining what
reports or expedited action might be needed.

**7.13 INFORMAL CLAIMS**

a\. VBCs have the authority to initiate claims on behalf of claimants
who, because of their physical or mental incapacity, are unable to take
such action themselves. Claims should not be initiated by VBCs if a
relative or fiduciary is available to act promptly on behalf of a
veteran. (NOTE: Only the veteran, a VA certified fiduciary, or a court
appointed fiduciary may initiate a claim for Service-Disabled (RH)
Insurance).

b\. When a VBC prepares an application under the circumstances noted in
the above paragraph, the VBC will affix the claimant\'s name on the
signature line and write underneath \"by (signature of VBC), as next
friend.\" The title VBC will not be used nor will the VBC cite VA Form
4505, Identification Card - Delegation of Authority.

c\. The VBC will provide the following information on the remarks
section of the application or on an attached VA Form 119:

\(1\) The reason which required that the application be filed as \"next
friend.\"

\(2\) Any additional actions which will be undertaken by the VBC to
acquire additional information in support of the claim. The VBC will
sign, date, and annotate all such statements utilizing VA Form 4505
authority.

d\. VBCs should be familiar with M21-1 references covering signature of
claimants, defective or incomplete applications and informal claims.

**7-11**

M21-1, Part VII April 17, 1991

**7.14 COMPENSATION CLAIMS BY PATIENTS SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE
DURING VA HOSPITALIZATION**

a\. VBCs will assist active duty service patients scheduled for
separation from the military in the preparation of VA Form 21-526,
Veteran\'s Application for Compensation or Pension.

b\. When it is likely that the individual will be medically retired from
the service, the advantages of waiver of retired pay or election of
compensation in lieu of retired pay should be explained. Since VA Form
21-526 contains a statement that retirement pay is waived as a result of
filing the claim for compensation, the service member should be advised
that a separate statement is required if he or she does not wish to
waive the retirement pay.

c\. Extreme care should be taken in completion of the VA Form 21-526 to
develop information concerning severance or retirement pay. When
applicable, the form will be clearly annotated to reflect that severance
or retirement pay is pending.

d\. These patients must be considered for insurance and vocational
rehabilitation benefits, as discussed previously in this chapter.

**7.15 VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SERVICES TEAM**

M-2, Part 23, \"Blind Rehabilitation Service,\" contains the VHS&RA
guidelines for the VIST (Visual Impairment Services Teams). VBCs
assigned to medical centers, VSOs, and appropriate supervisory staff
should be aware of the VBC role on the VIS team.

7-12