### Section C. Duty to Assist

#### Overview

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| #          | > This section contains the topics listed in the table  |
| #### In Th | > below.                                                |
| is Section |                                                         |
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  ------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------
  Topic         Topic Name                                    See Page

  1             Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, PL    2-C-2
                106-475                                       

  2             Duty to Assist Criteria                       2-C-3
  ------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------

#### 1. Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, PL 106-475

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| ##### In   | > This topic describes the *Veterans Claims Assistance  |
| troduction | > Act of 2000* (VCAA), *PL 106-475*, and contains       |
|            | > information about the                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   responsibilities of VA                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   background and description of *PL 106-475*, and     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   elements of VCAA.                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     VCAA relates specifically to VA's duty to assist    |
|            |     individuals in obtaining any information or         |
|            |     evidence necessary to substantiate their claims.    |
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| ##### C    | > December 15, 2005                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > VA has a duty to assist an individual who files an    |
| #### a. Re | > application in obtaining evidence to substantiate     |
| sponsibili | > his/her claim before making a decision on the claim.  |
| ties of VA | > We are charged with granting every benefit supported  |
|            | > by the law.                                           |
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+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > On November 9, 2000, *PL 106-475, (Veterans Claims    |
| #### b. Ba | > Assistance Act)* was enacted, which                   |
| ckground a |                                                         |
| nd Descrip | -   redefines VA's duty to assist, and                  |
| tion of *P |                                                         |
| L 106-475* | -   mandates specific notice requirements.              |
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| ##### c. E | > VCAA notification is sent only in cases where VA is   |
| lements of | > considering a denial of benefits sought. The VCAA     |
|  the VCAA  | > notice must inform the individual of the following    |
| Notificati | > information and/or evidence                           |
| on Letters |                                                         |
|            | -   if any, that is needed to substantiate the claim    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   that VR&E will obtain, and                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   that the claimant must submit.                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > ***Note***: In cases where the evidence is sufficient to            |
| > substantiate the claim and to grant the benefit sought, it is       |
| > unnecessary to send the "notice statement" indicating what it takes |
| > to substantiate the claim.                                          |
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####  

#### 2. Duty to Assist Criteria 

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| ##### In   | > This topic contains information about duty to assist, |
| troduction | > including issues pertaining to                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   relevant                                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   federal records,                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   non-federal records, and                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   circumstances where VA will refrain from or         |
|            |     discontinue providing                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > assistance.                                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > December 15, 2005                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### a.   | > VA's duty to assist includes developing for all       |
|  Duty to O | > relevant records in the custody of a Federal          |
| btain Rele | > department or agency, including                       |
| vant Feder |                                                         |
| al Records | -   VA medical records                                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   service medical records                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   Social Security Administration records, or          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   evidence from other Federal agencies.               |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > ***Note***: Relevancy is determined by what is being considered.    |
| > See table below for examples.                                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > **[Examples of Duty to Obtain Relevant Federal                      |
| > Records]{.underline}**                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  If...                               Then...

  a case manager is considering a     the case manager must obtain copies
  determination of infeasibility due  of the treatment records from the
  to psychiatric or medical problems, VAMC prior to making a decision on
  and the individual claims to be     infeasibility.
  actively receiving treatment at a   
  VA Medical Center (VAMC)            

  an individual rated at 10% appears  the case manager should not deny
  to have an employment handicap but  the claim before obtaining
  no serious employment handicap, and **medical or other records**
  the individual has a claim pending  *related to* the pending claim for
  for increased compensation          increased compensation.
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Continued on next page

2\. Duty to Assist Criteria, Continued

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| ##         | > VA's duty to assist also includes developing for      |
| ### b. Dut |                                                         |
| y to Obtai | -   private medical records                             |
| n Relevant |                                                         |
|  Non-Feder | -   employment records                                  |
| al Records |                                                         |
|            | -   state workers compensation records                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   educational records, or                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   state rehabilitation agencies records.              |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     If necessary, the individual must authorize the     |
|            |     release of existing records on *VA form 21-4142,    |
|            |     Authorization And Consent To Release Information To |
|            |     The Department Of Veterans Affairs*, or in a form   |
|            |     acceptable to the person, company, agency, or other |
|            |     custodian holding the records.                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > ***Note***: If the individual does *not* provide the necessary      |
| > release, tell the individual that he/she must obtain and submit the |
| > identified records for them to be considered.                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > VA will not provide or continue to provide assistance |
|  c. Circum | > in obtaining evidence if there is no reasonable       |
| stances Wh | > possibility that any assistance VA would provide to   |
| ere VA Wil | > the claimant would substantiate the claim.            |
| l Refrain  | >                                                       |
| From or Di | > Discontinue providing assistance if the evidence      |
| scontinue  | > indicates that there is no reasonable possibility     |
| Providing  | > that further assistance would substantiate the claim. |
| Assistance |                                                         |
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