**Veterans Benefits Administration**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

Custom Federal Regulations Service™

**Book B---Adjudication**

Code of Federal Regulations

Title 38, Part 3

Jonathan Publishing

Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Publishing

**Need Assistance?**

Questions concerning **[missing supplements]{.smallcaps}**, need for
**[additional books]{.smallcaps}**, and other **[distribution
list]{.smallcaps}** issues for this loose-leaf service should be
directed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Administration

Mail Code: 20M33

810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington DC 20420

Telephone: 202/273-7588

Fax: 202/275-5947

E-mail: coarms@vba.va.gov

Questions concerning the **[filing instructions]{.smallcaps}** for this
loose-leaf service,

or the reporting of **[substantive errors]{.smallcaps}** in the text,

may be directed to:

Jonathan Publishing

855 Yorks Crossing

Driftwood TX 78619

Telephone: 512/858-1225

Fax: 512/858-1230

E-mail: jonpub@austin.rr.com

Internet: http://www.jonpub.com

Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Publishing

**Important Information**

**about this**

**Looseleaf Regulations Service**

Users of this looseleaf service should read this information in order to
better understand how the regulations are presented, indexed, and
supplemented. It is parti­cularly important to understand the
supplementing process so that errors in filing supp­le­ments do not render
the book useless.

**Presentation**. Each page contains information in six different
locations, as indicated on this sample page:

![](media/image1.emf){width="6.972222222222222in"
height="3.9305555555555554in"}

¨, Æ --- *Page numbers*. Page numbers have three parts:

\(1\) the section number (e.g., §25.30),

\(2\) a hyphen, and

\(3\) the page number within that section (e.g., 25.30-4).

The page number appears in both the upper left-hand corner and the upper
right-hand corner of the page. If there is only one section on the page,
these numbers will be identical. However, if the page contains two or
more short sections (e.g., §25.62 and §25.63), then the number in the
upper left-hand corner indicates the first section on the page (e.g.,
25.62-1) while the number in the upper right-hand corner indicates the
last section on the page (e.g., 25.63-1).

The page number(s) will always tell you what section(s) are on that
page, so that if you know the section number you can find that section
simply by flipping through the pages until you come to the appropriate
section number.

≠ --- *Section number and name*. In the top center of each page you will
find the section number and the title of that section. This is useful
for sections that are two or more pages in length because you can glance
at the top center and know the number and name of the section you are
reading.

Ø --- *Text*. The text of the regulation occupies the bulk of the page.
The text is as it appears in the official government publication, the
annual bound volume of the *Code of Federal Regulations*, as amended by
final rules published in the daily *Federal Regis­ter*. By using the
looseleaf format, we are able to make changes in response to amend­ments
as they appear in the *Federal Register* and send you those replacement
pages in a very short time. Thus these materials remain current at all
times. Relying on the bound volume of the *Code of Federal Regulations*
can be hazardous since it is three to four months out of date when
initially published, and sixteen to seventeen months out of date when
replaced a year later. Reading the *Federal Register* every day in order
to update the *CFR* can be a time-consuming and tiresome process. Our
service does all the preparatory work for you---leaving you free to read
and apply the regulations.

∞ --- "*Next Section Is*." For whatever reasons, promulgating agencies
do not always number their regulations consecutively (e.g., 25.1, 25.2,
25.3, 25.4). Sometimes the skips are at regular intervals (e.g., 25.10,
25.15, 25.20, 25.25) while other times the skips are just at the end of
subparts (e.g., 25.74, 25.75, 25.76, 25.100). In any case, when you move
directly from §25.3 to §25.55 it is not possible to know if this is the
actual order of the regulation numbers, or if there are missing pages.
To solve this problem---and to provide you with a means of determining
at any time if your set is complete---whenever there is a skip in
section numbers we tell you what the next section number should be. On
the last page of the preceding section, in the place on the page
indicated by the "∞" on the diagram, you will find the words "Next
Section is" followed by a section number. That tells you what the next
section number should be. If there is no "Next Section is" reference,
then the next section is in normal sequence.

± --- *Source*. In the lower left-hand corner of every page you will
find an entry that looks like one of these two formats:

(Original 4/30/92) or (Reprint 1996) or (No. 24 11/25/96)

One of the first two forms is on every page when the book is initially
published. It means that the original book was issued on 30 April 1992,
or reprinted in 1996.

The second form is used for replacement pages sent to you because an
amend­ment (or a new regulation) has been published. It indicates the
number of the supple­ment in which it was transmitted (e.g., No. 24), and
the date of preparation of that supple­ment (e.g., 25 November 1996).
This allows you to check your set for accuracy against our master set by
calling us at any time. It also allows you to know exactly when certain
changes in the regulations were made, and whether you have the
appropriate changes filed in your book.

**Indexing**. This looseleaf service has two indices.

**Index 1** is arranged by *Code of Federal Regulations* section number
and presents the contents in the order in which they appear in the *Code
of Federal Regulations*. Since our page numbering system uses the
section numbers, this index serves primarily as a table of contents for
the book.

**Index 2** is arranged by the titles of the sections, and gives the
titles of all sections in alphabetical order. Thus if you were
interested in the subject of burial benefits (forfeiture), you could
look under that subject in the *Index by Section Title* preceding Part 1
and find the entry alphabetically. You would then turn to page 3.1609-1
to obtain the required information.

**Supplements**. By far the most important feature of this service is
the supplement process. Supplements are prepared at the end of each
month during which at least one final rule modification in the parts of
Title 38 included in this book occurs. If no such change occurs in a
particular month, then no supplement is provided for that month. The
supplement will contain the following parts:

> 1\. Title page
>
> 2\. General instructions
>
> 3\. Filing instructions
>
> 4\. Highlights

The *title page* will tell you to which Book (A through H) the
supplement applies, so if you have more than one of our looseleaf
services you will have no problem in identifying the one addressed by a
particular supplement.

The *general instructions* explain how the supplement process works in
more detail than provided here, and gives specific guidance for making
the changes.

The *filing* *instructions* tell you exactly which pages to remove and
which pages to add.

The *highlights* section gives a brief summary of the nature of each
change made by the pages in that supplement so that you will be aware of
significant alterations in the regulations that might affect your
responsibilities.

Further instructions concerning supplements will be found in the
following section. The most important piece of information about the
supplement process, however, is the instruction to check the *Supplement
Filing Record* to make certain that all prior supplements have been
properly filed before beginning to file the current supplement. This
will prevent filing materials out of order. Nothing will wreck a book of
looseleaf regulations faster---and more irrevocably---than filing a
later supplement before an earlier one. What you have likely done in
such a case is to take out good, current material and insert old,
outdated material. To avoid this error, simply check the *Supplement
Filing Record* before filing each supplement. If there are missing

supplements, call the VA for replacements and do not file the current
supple­ment until those back issues are received and filed in proper
order.

**Supplement frequency**. Beginning on 1 August 1995 (as noted above)
supple-meanest are prepared at the end of every month during which at
least one final rule modification to the parts of Title 38 included in
this book occurs.

**[sources of assistance can be found on page B-2]{.smallcaps}**

> *Note:* All references in the text of the regulations to Title 38,
> United States Code, are to redesignated section numbers as established
> in 1991 by P.L. 102-40, P.L. 102-83, and other sources, as compiled by
> the Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.

**Instructions for Filing Supplements**

**Book B---Adjudication**

This compilation of federal regulations affecting the Veterans Benefits
Administration is provided for persons requiring easy access to current
regulatory information. By using the looseleaf format, changes in the
form of final rules published in the *Federal Register* can be
incorporated at regular intervals following publication. You will
receive supplements on a periodic basis reflecting new regulations and
amend­ments to existing regulations. Filing instructions will provide you
with an easy to follow routine for removing old pages and inserting new
pages. Once such supple­mental materials are filed, the set will reflect
the current regulatory regime at that time.

To ensure accuracy and timeliness of your materials, it is important
that you follow these simple procedures:

1\. Always file your supplemental materials immediately upon receipt.

2\. Before filing, always check the Supplement Filing Record (page B-5)
to be sure that all prior supplements have been filed. If you are
missing any supple­ments, contact the Veterans Benefits Administration at
the address listed on page B-2.

3\. After filing, enter the relevant information on the Supplement
Filing Record sheet (page B-5)---the date filed, name/initials of filer,
and date through which the *Federal Register* is covered.

4\. If as a result of a failure to file, or an undelivered supplement,
you have more than one supplement to file at a time, be certain to file
them in chronological order, lower number first.

5\. Always retain the filing instructions (simply insert them at the
back of the book) as a backup record of filing and for reference in case
of a filing error.

6\. Be certain that you *permanently discard* any pages indicated for
removal in the filing instructions in order to avoid confusion later.

> Reserved