### Section B. Original Disability Claims

#### Overview

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > This section contains the following topics:           |
| #### In th |                                                         |
| is Section |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

  ------------ ---------------------------------------------- ------------
  Topic        Topic Name                                     See Page

  6            Identification of Original Disability Claims   2-B-2

  7            Policies Regarding Original Disability Claims  2-B-6

  8            Claims Filed Prior to, or at the Time of,      2-B-10
               Discharge From Active Duty                     
  ------------ ---------------------------------------------- ------------

#### 6. Identification of Original Disability Claims

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains general policies for handling     |
| troduction | > original disability claims. It includes information   |
|            | > on                                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   what constitutes an original claim from a veteran   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   identifying an original disability claim            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   determining the type of claim                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   letters, memorandums, and other communications from |
|            |     claimants, and                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   injury due to hospital treatment.                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > November 15, 2004                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### a.   | > Per [38 CFR                                           |
|  What Cons | > 3.160](http://w                                       |
| titutes an | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_160.DOC), |
|  Original  | > an original claim is an initial formal application on |
| Claim by a | > a form prescribed by the Secretary of the Department  |
|  Veteran?  | > of Veterans Affairs (VA). For veterans, the           |
|            | > prescribed form is *VA Form 21-526*, *Veteran's       |
|            | > Application for Compensation or Pension*.             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### b.   | > Depending on the claimant's manner of preparation and |
| Identifyin | > the interpretation by the Veterans Service            |
| g an Origi | > Representative (VSR) of the claimant's intent, *VA    |
| nal Disabi | > Form 21-526,* constitutes an original claim for       |
| lity Claim |                                                         |
|            | -   disability compensation                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   disability pension, or                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   both.                                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: If any doubt exists as to which benefit   |
|            | > the claimant seeks, ask the claimant for              |
|            | > clarification.                                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

6\. Identification of Original Disability Claims, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### c.   | > Use the table below to determine the type of          |
|  Determini | > disability claim filed on *VA Form 21-526*.           |
| ng the Typ |                                                         |
| e of Claim |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| If the applicant ...                 | Then consider the application |
|                                      | a claim for ...               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| -   provides information claiming    | compensation *and* pension.   |
|     in-service treatment for         |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| ```{=html}                           |                               |
| <!-- -->                             |                               |
| ```                                  |                               |
| -   sickness                         |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   disease, or                      |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   injury, or                       |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| ```{=html}                           |                               |
| <!-- -->                             |                               |
| ```                                  |                               |
| -   claims to be totally disabled    |                               |
|     and                              |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| ```{=html}                           |                               |
| <!-- -->                             |                               |
| ```                                  |                               |
| -   furnishes information about      |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   employment, and                  |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   income                           |                               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| provides information claiming in     | compensation *only*.          |
| service treatment for                |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   sickness                         |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   disease, or                      |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   injury                           |                               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| -   claims to be totally disabled    | pension *only*.               |
|     without indicating that this was |                               |
|     due to military service, and     |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   furnishes information about      |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| ```{=html}                           |                               |
| <!-- -->                             |                               |
| ```                                  |                               |
| -   employment, and                  |                               |
|                                      |                               |
| -   income                           |                               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+

Continued on next page

6\. Identification of Original Disability Claims, Continued

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  c\. Determining the Type of Claim (continued)

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| If the applicant ...                 | Then consider the application |
|                                      | a claim for ...               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| provides information about dental    | > dental treatment *only*.    |
| treatment *only*                     | >                             |
|                                      | > ***Note***: Route *VA Form  |
|                                      | > 21-526* to the VA           |
|                                      | > outpatient clinic of        |
|                                      | > jurisdiction for that       |
|                                      | > veteran.                    |
|                                      |                               |
|                                      | ***Reference***: For more     |
|                                      | information on claims for a   |
|                                      | dental condition only, see    |
|                                      |                               |
|                                      | -   M21-1MR, Part III,        |
|                                      |     Subpart v, 7.C (TBD) or   |
|                                      |     M21-1, Part IV, Chapter   |
|                                      |     23.03                     |
|                                      |                               |
|                                      | -   [38 CFR                   |
|                                      |     17.161](http://           |
|                                      | www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38C |
|                                      | FR/BOOKi/PART17/S17_161.DOC), |
|                                      |     and                       |
|                                      |                               |
|                                      | -   [38 U.S.C.                |
|                                      |     1712(a)(1)](ht            |
|                                      | tp://straylight.law.cornell.e |
|                                      | du/uscode/html/uscode38/usc_s |
|                                      | ec_38_00001712----000-.html). |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Letters, memorandums, or other communications from    |
|  d. Letter | > claimants or their representatives may be considered  |
| s, Memoran | > *formal claims* if they                               |
| dums, and  |                                                         |
| Other Comm | -   request increased benefits                          |
| unications |                                                         |
|            | -   reopen previously denied claims, or                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   open a new claim.                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: Because the claimant has already          |
|            | > completed a prior formal application, he/she does not |
|            | > need to complete another.                             |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > ***Reference***: For more information on reopened     |
|            | > claims, see                                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   [38 CFR                                             |
|            |     3.155](http://                                      |
|            | www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_155.DOC) |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   [38 CFR                                             |
|            |     3.160](http://w                                     |
|            | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_160.DOC), |
|            |     and                                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   [M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart ii,                     |
|            |     2.E](http://152.125.216.223/bl/21/m21               |
|            | -1mr/pt03/sp02/ch02/pt03_sp02_ch02_secE.xml#III.2.2.E). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

6\. Identification of Original Disability Claims, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > Consider, as an informal claim for benefits under [38 |
| #### e. In | > U.S.C.                                                |
| jury Due t | > 1151](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/              |
| o Hospital | uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00001151----000-.html), |
|  Treatment | > any statement showing an intent to file a claim for   |
|            | > benefits resulting from                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   hospital, medical or surgical treatment by VA       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   examination by VA, or                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   pursuit of a course of vocational rehabilitation.   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > Such a claim may also be filed as a formal claim on   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for          |
|            |     Compensation or Pension.*                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-534*, *Application for Dependency and   |
|            |     Indemnity Compensation or Death Pension and Accrued |
|            |     Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child, or*        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-535*, *Application for Dependency and   |
|            |     Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s).*               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: If an individual or his/her               |
|            | > representative files an informal claim, send him/her  |
|            | > the appropriate application form.                     |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > ***Reference***: For more information, see [38 CFR    |
|            | > 3.154](http://w                                       |
|            | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_154.DOC). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 7. Policies Regarding Original Disability Claims

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains policy information regarding      |
| troduction | > original disability claims. It includes               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   general policy information, and                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   information on                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   furnishing an application for benefits upon receipt |
|            |     of a Notice of Death (NOD)                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   circumstances under which an application is not     |
|            |     routinely sent                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   information to complete on a form before furnishing |
|            |     the form to a claimant                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   requirements for completion of *VA Form 21-526*     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   signatures by mark or thumbprint                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   obsolete application forms                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   dependency issues, and                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   claims establishment.                               |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > October 5, 2005                                       |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### a.   | > If requested, provide the appropriate application to  |
|  General P | > any person applying for benefits, per [38 CFR         |
| olicies on | > 3.150](http://w                                       |
|  Providing | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_150.DOC). |
|  and Compl | >                                                       |
| eting the  | > Per [38 U.S.C.                                        |
| Appropriat | > 5101](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/              |
| e VA Form  | uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00005101----000-.html), |
|            | > an individual must file a specific claim on the form  |
|            | > prescribed by the Secretary in order to receive       |
|            | > benefits from VA.                                     |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Policies Regarding Original Disability Claims, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Upon receipt of a Notice of Death (NOD) of a veteran, |
| b. Providi | > send the appropriate application to prospective       |
| ng an Appl | > claimants whose names and addresses are of record,    |
| ication Up | > for completion by, or on behalf, of any dependent who |
| on Receipt | > has apparent entitlement to                           |
|  of a NOD  |                                                         |
|            | -   burial benefits                                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   pension                                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   compensation                                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), or     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   educational benefits under [38 U.S.C. Chapter       |
|            |     35](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/              |
|            | uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00003501----000-.html). |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: If an accrued benefit is payable, but     |
|            | > there is no indication that anyone is entitled to any |
|            | > other benefit, forward the appropriate application    |
|            | > form to the preferred dependent and indicate the time |
|            | > limit for receipt of the application.                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > If disability or death is due to VA hospital          |
| #### c. Ci | > treatment, medical or surgical treatment,             |
| rcumstance | > examination, or training, do *not* routinely send an  |
| s Under Wh | > application for benefits.                             |
| ich an App | >                                                       |
| lication I | > If, however, an informal claim for benefits has been  |
| s Not Rout | > filed and additional evidence is required in order to |
| inely Sent | > make a decision, send the appropriate application     |
|            | > form to the claimant.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > Before furnishing an application to a claimant in     |
| #### d. In | > person, enter the following information in the spaces |
| formation  | > provided on the form:                                 |
| to Complet |                                                         |
| e Before F | -   the veteran's name, and                             |
| urnishing  |                                                         |
| a Form to  | -   the veteran's file number.                          |
| a Claimant |                                                         |
|            | > ***Rationale***: This action helps to ensure ready    |
|            | > identification and later association with the claims  |
|            | > folder.                                               |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Policies Regarding Original Disability Claims, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### e.   | > *VA Form 21-526* constitutes a substantially complete |
|  Claimant  | > application if it contains:                           |
| Requiremen |                                                         |
| ts for Com | -   the claimant's name                                 |
| pletion of |                                                         |
|  VA Form 2 | -   sufficient service information for VA to verify     |
| 1-526 for  |     claimed service                                     |
| a Substant |                                                         |
| ially Comp | -   identification of the benefit sought                |
| lete Claim |                                                         |
|            | -   identification of medical condition(s) on which the |
|            |     claim is based                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   signature of the veteran (the veteran's mark or     |
|            |     thumb print), and                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a statement of income (if claim is for              |
|            |     nonservice-connected pension).                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > VA accepts signatures by mark or thumbprint if they   |
| #### f. Si | > are                                                   |
| gnatures b |                                                         |
| y Mark or  | -   witnessed by two people who sign their names and    |
| Thumbprint |     give their addresses                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   witnessed by an accredited agent, attorney, or      |
|            |     service organization representative                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   certified by a notary public or any other person    |
|            |     having authority to administer oaths for general    |
|            |     purposes, or                                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   certified by a VA employee who has been given       |
|            |     authority by the Secretary under [38 CFR            |
|            |     2.3](http:/                                         |
|            | /www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKA/PART2/S2_3.DOC). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Upon receipt of a claim for disability compensation   |
|  g. Obsole | > or pension filed on an obsolete application form      |
| te Applica |                                                         |
| tion Forms | -   consider the claim valid, and                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   determine if it is necessary to request completion  |
|            |     of VA Form 21-526 or another form in order to       |
|            |     obtain additional evidence necessary for completion |
|            |     of the claim.                                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > The table below indicates whether dependency is a     |
| h. Depende | > factor in determining entitlement to                  |
| ncy Issues |                                                         |
|            | -   compensation only, and                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   pension only.                                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Type of Claim        | Dependency Policy                             |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Compensation *only*  | > Dependency is *not* an entitling factor.    |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Pension *only*       | > Dependency *is* an entitling factor.        |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Policies Regarding Original Disability Claims, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### i.   | > The date of claim for claims establishment is the     |
| Claims Est | > *earliest date* a VA facility actually received the   |
| ablishment | > claim.                                                |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > ***Example***: If a VA medical center or another      |
|            | > regional office (RO) received the claim on October    |
|            | > 14, 1999, and then forwarded the claim to the RO      |
|            | > establishing the pending issue, the date of claim for |
|            | > claims establishment is October 14, 1999.             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 8. Claims Filed Prior to, or at the Time of, Separation From Active Duty

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on original           |
| troduction | > disability claims filed prior to, or at the time of,  |
|            | > discharge from active duty. It includes               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a reference for locating information on the Benefit |
|            |     Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   information regarding the handling of claims when   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526* has been filed, but is not of      |
|            |     record                                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526* is of record for a serviceperson   |
|            |     on active duty, whose separation is imminent        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526* is of record for a serviceperson   |
|            |     on active duty, whose separation is not imminent    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526* is of record for a serviceperson   |
|            |     on active duty, whose separation date is unknown    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-526* is of record for a serviceperson   |
|            |     on active duty awaiting separation while            |
|            |     hospitalized at a VA medical center, and            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   information on                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   claims establishment, and                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   date of claim.                                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > October 5, 2005                                       |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > This topic does *not* include information on          |
| # a. Where | > processing claims under the Benefit Delivery at       |
|  to Find I | > Discharge (BDD) program. For information on the       |
| nformation |                                                         |
|  on the BD | -   BDD program, see M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart i, 2    |
| D Program  |     (TBD) or M21-1, Part III, Chapter 2.03c.            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   BDD examination program, see M21-1MR, Part III,     |
|            |     Subpart iv, 3.A.4 (TBD) or [M21-1, Part VI, Chapter |
|            |     1.02b](htt                                          |
|            | p://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/part6/ch01.doc). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

8\. Claims Filed Prior to, or at the Time of, Separation From Active
Duty, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > If the veteran has submitted a *VA Form 21-526* with  |
| ## b. Hand | > the service department prior to or at the time of     |
| ling VA Fo | > his/her separation, the service department will take  |
| rm 21-526  | > the steps in the table below, provided the veteran is |
|            | > not participating in the BDD program.                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1     | Retains *VA Form 21-526* in the service department files     |
|       | until the serviceperson is separated.                        |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2     | Upon separation from service, forwards the following to the  |
|       | RO having jurisdiction over the veteran's permanent address: |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   *VA Form 21-526*                                         |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   *DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From   |
|       |     Active Duty*, and                                        |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   the service medical records.                             |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### c    | > If there is an indication that a claimant filed *VA   |
| . VA Form  | > Form 21-526* before separation, but the form is not   |
| 21-526 Not | > of record, send a request to your local Military      |
|  of Record | > Services Coordinator so that he/she may contact the   |
|            | > service department for the form.                      |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > ***Example***: End product (EP) 110 is pending, but   |
|            | > no claim is found.                                    |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Follow the steps in the table below upon receipt of   |
| d. Service | > *VA Form 21-526* for a serviceperson still on active  |
| person on  | > duty, whose separation is imminent.                   |
| Active Dut | >                                                       |
| y Whose Se | > ***Definition***: "Imminent" means ready to take      |
| paration i | > place. For the purposes of this topic, separation     |
| s Imminent | > occurring within 60 days is considered imminent.      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1     | -   Establish a Beneficiary Identification and Records       |
|       |     Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) record, and                    |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   build a claims folder.                                   |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

8\. Claims Filed Prior to, or at the Time of, Separation From Active
Duty, Continued

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  d\. Serviceperson on Active Duty Whose Separation is Imminent
  (continued)

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2     | Establish an EP 110 or 010.                                  |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 3     | -   Write to the claimant to                                 |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ```{=html}                                                   |
|       | <!-- -->                                                     |
|       | ```                                                          |
|       | -   request verification of service, specifically a DD Form  |
|       |     214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active     |
|       |     Duty                                                     |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   explain that VA cannot pay compensation to a person      |
|       |     still on active duty, and                                |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ```{=html}                                                   |
|       | <!-- -->                                                     |
|       | ```                                                          |
|       | -   control the claim for 60 days.                           |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 4     | Deny the claim if                                            |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   the claimant does *not* submit evidence to verify        |
|       |     service within 60 days, or                               |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   service data is unavailable in the Veterans Information  |
|       |     Solution (VIS) system.                                   |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > ***Note***: VIS is a web-based application that provides VA with    |
| > access to data from the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Registration |
| > System (DEERS). Verification of service may be obtained through     |
| > VIS.                                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### e. S | > Upon receipt of *VA Form 21-526* for a serviceperson  |
| ervicepers | > still on active duty, whose separation is not         |
| on on Acti | > imminent,                                             |
| ve Duty Wh |                                                         |
| ose Separa | -   establish EP 110 or 010                             |
| tion is No |                                                         |
| t Imminent | -   deny claim under reason code 19, ON ACTIVE          |
|            |     DUTY/RETIRED PAY, and                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   properly notify claimant of reason for denial.      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### f. S | > Upon receipt of *VA Form 21-526* for a serviceperson  |
| ervicepers | > still on active duty, whose separation date is        |
| on on Acti | > unknown, write to the claimant to                     |
| ve Duty Wh |                                                         |
| ose Separa | -   explain that VA cannot pay compensation for a       |
| tion Date  |     person still on active duty, and                    |
| is Unknown |                                                         |
|            | -   request that a DD Form 214 be submitted upon        |
|            |     discharge from active duty.                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

8\. Claims Filed Prior to, or at the Time of, Separation From Active
Duty, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| f\.        | > ***Note***: Do not establish EP control for receipt   |
| Ser        | > of service information. Since complete service        |
| viceperson | > information was not provided, the application is not  |
| on Active  | > substantially complete under [38 CFR                  |
| Duty Whose | > 3.159(a)(3)](http://w                                 |
| Separation | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_159.DOC). |
| Date is    |                                                         |
| Unknown    |                                                         |
| (          |                                                         |
| continued) |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### g. A | > Upon receipt of *VA Form 21-526* for a serviceperson  |
| ctive Duty | > who is on active duty awaiting separation while       |
|  Awaiting  | > hospitalized at a VA medical facility                 |
| Separation |                                                         |
|            | -   place the application for benefits under EP 010 or  |
|            |     110 control, and                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   establish a diary for review at 45-day intervals    |
|            |     until the separation from active duty is confirmed. |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: The diary's purpose is to determine the   |
|            | > date of separation from service.                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### h.   | > For establishment purposes, use the earliest date a   |
| Claims Est | > VA facility received the claim.                       |
| ablishment | >                                                       |
|            | > ***Example***: If a VA medical center or another RO   |
|            | > received the claim first and forwarded it to the RO   |
|            | > establishing the pending issue, use the date the      |
|            | > medical center or other RO received the claim.        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > The date of receipt of the claim at VA is the date of |
| ### i. Dat | > receipt of *VA Form 21-526* by the service            |
| e of Claim | > department.                                           |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > The date of receipt by the service department is the  |
|            | > date the veteran signed *VA Form 21-526* if           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the veteran signed the form prior to service        |
|            |     separation, and                                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   no contrary evidence exists.                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

####