RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

2013 VIReC Database and Methods 

Cyber Seminar Series

1
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Improving Mortality Ascertainment 

Using the VHA Vital Status File

July 22, 2013

Presented by:

Elizabeth Tarlov, PhD, RN

2

2013 VIReC Database and Methods Cyber Seminar Series
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Objectives

At the conclusion of the program 

participants will be able to:

– Identify data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

– Understand the contents and structure of the 

VA Vital Status Files and their appropriate use 

for mortality ascertainment

– Describe limitations of using the VHA Vital 

Status File to ascertain mortality

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Topics

Data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

VHA Vital Status Files 

– Structure and contents

– Challenges in using the VHA VSF

Where to go for more help

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Audience Poll

(Heidi convert to poll)

How would you rate your knowledge of 

methods to ascertain death dates for 

Veterans in the VA?

– 1 (No knowledge)

– 2

– 3

– 4

– 5 (Expert)

Have you ever used the VHA VSF?

– 1 Yes, including the Master File

– 2 Yes, Only the Mini File 

– 3 No 5
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Topics

Data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

– Included in VHA Vital Status Files

– Other sources

VHA Vital Status Files 

– Structure and contents

– Challenges in using the VHA VSF

Where to go for more help

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

BIRLS Death File

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Beneficiary 

Identification and Records Locator System (BIRLS) 

database extract

Information sources:

– Family

– VHA hospitals

– VA National Cemetery Administration

– Social Security Administration (SSA)

Coverage: Veterans known to VA

Updates: Monthly (complete overlay)

Location: Austin Information Technology Center 

(AITC) 7
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VA CMS Vital Status File

Received from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services (CMS) annually

Information sources:

– SSA

– Medicare claims

– Other (e.g., family)

Coverage: Veterans enrolled in Medicare (>=65 

years old or disabled)

Updates: Annual

– Latest creation date: December 2011

Location: Available from VIReC

8

Data through 

March 2013 

received,

available soon
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

SSA Death Master File

Social Security Administration

Information sources:

– Multiple, incl. family members, funeral directors, 

post offices, financial institutions, other federal 

agencies, state vital records agencies

Coverage:

– Individuals with SSN (first issued 1936)

– Includes deaths occurring outside United States

– More complete for over 65 population and for 

beneficiaries1,2

Updates: 

– Weekly (and VA receives annual overlay)

Location: AITC 9
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Patient Treatment File

(Inpatient Medical SAS Files)

Information source: VistA PTF (45) File, 

Date of Disposition and Type of Disposition 

fields

– MedSAS variable name: DOD

Coverage: Inpatient deaths

– VA hospitals

– Non-VA when covered by VA (Fee Basis)

Updates: Weekly

Location: AITC

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

NCA death 

data to be 

incorporated 

into VHA VSF 

soon

National Cemetery Administration

11

Information sources:

– Multiple, incl. families

Coverage:

– Veterans who applied for burial benefits

Updates: 

– Monthly

To be incorporated into Master Veteran 

Index (MVI)3
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

OTHER AVAILABLE 

SOURCES

(Not in VHA VSF)

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VA Corporate Data Warehouse

SPatient.Spatient Table

Columns:

– DateofDeath

– DateOfDeathText

– Deceased

– Flag set to ‘Y’ if there is information in the 

DateOfDeathText column and ‘N’ if 

DateOfDeathText column is empty.

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VA Corporate Data Warehouse

Source: VistA Patient File (2), Date of 

Death Field (.351)

Current policy: Information to be 

entered from “official sources” 

only*

– VHA facility (if patient died in the VHA 

facility or while under VA auspices)

– Death certificate

– National Cemetery Administration _______________________

*

VHA Handbook 1906 14
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VA Corporate Data Warehouse

Coverage*

– Incomplete (~ 30% not recorded)

– Has dates of death not in VHA VSF†

• Patients in VSF: very recent deaths

• Deaths mostly before 1992

• Patients not in VSF: mostly due to no 

VHA/VBA activity after the end of FY 

1999 ______________________

*Information from recent analysis by the Data Quality 

Analysis Team, Office of Information and Analytics.

† >591,000 in this analysis 15
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

National Death Index

Recently acquired by VA SMITREC –

Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Resource 

and Evaluation Center *

Source: 

National Center for Health Statistics (State 

vital records agencies)

Gold standard for death ascertainment

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______________________

*Contact: Linda Mobley (Linda.Mobley@va.gov)
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

SMITREC NDI Data

Coverage:

– VHA inpatient or outpatient users, FY1998 to 

FY2009 with no indication of being alive at 

time of search based on VHA utilization

– OEF/OIF Roster who were VHA enrollees, even 

if not user 

Complete through end of FY2009

~18-month lag

Includes cause of death

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

SSA Epidemiological Search

Provides date of death

Validates SSN

Provides ‘presumed living’ status

– Based on SSA administrative data including:

• Payroll deductions, railroad retirement or 

disability payments, death claims filed by 

beneficiaries4

– Reduce loss to follow up

Deaths occurring outside the US

Fees

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Topics

Data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

VHA Vital Status Files structure and 

contents

Challenges in using the VHA VSF

Where to go for more help

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VHA VSF Background

DOD

Source Sensitivity4,5

BIRLS 64-80%

VA CMS 83%

SSA 89-95%

PTF 5-12%

20

Using the National Death Index as the 

gold standard5,6:

Single sources are incomplete

(Savas, 2009; Sohn, 2006)
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

VHA VSF Background

VIReC VA-NDI Mortality Data Merge 

Project6,7

– The combined use of the BIRLS Death File, the SSA 

Death Master File, the Medicare Vital Status File and 

inpatient Medical SAS data compared very favorably 

with the results of a NDI search.

– Use of external sources (SSA DMF and Medicare Vital 

Status File) increased the number of deaths 

identified by 22.4% over the use of only internal 

sources (BIRLS Death File and MedSAS data).

– Recommended the creation of a new VA file of 

combined mortality data

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Owner

– Built by National Data Systems (NDS)

– First available in October 2006

Data access information

– See VIReC Website

Updated quarterly

Veterans known to VA

– VHA activity FY 1992 or later

Two files + conversion file

– Master, Mini, scrambled real SSN 

VSF Available in 2006

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Vital Status Files

Veterans and 

non-veterans

One record per 

SSN/DOB/Sex 

combination

122 variables*

23

Veterans

One record per 

SSN

Combined data 

from multiple 

Master records

16 variables*

Master Mini

* VSF created 4/28/2013
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Construction of the VHA VSF 

NDS Methodology

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Construction of the Master File

Base Data Sources

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• One record per SSN/DOB/SEX 

• Last Activity Dates by Source

• Inpatient Deaths

VBA

Data

VHA

Data

Merge on SSN + DOB + SEX

Data Sources for SSN/DOB/Sex Key Combinations

• Medical SAS Inpatient Datasets and Census (PTF)

• Inpatient and Outpatient Encounter (ENC)

• Non-VA care or Fee Files (FEE) 

• DSS Pharmacy Files (DSS)

• Enrollment (ENR)

• Veterans Service Network Corporate Mini Master File (VETSNET)
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

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Merge on SSN only

Master Veteran Index6

• Add DOB, Sex, 

• DOD (from NCA) coming

MVI

Data

Construction of the Master File

Supplemental Data Sources: MVI

• One record per SSN/DOB/SEX 

• Last Activity Dates by Source

• Inpatient Deaths 

VBA

Data

VHA

Data

Merge on SSN + DOB + SEX
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

27

Construction of the Master File

Supplemental Data Sources

Add Death Data

• DOB, Sex, & DOD 

• Select ‘best’ DOD

BIRLS

CMS

SSA 

Deaths

Merge on SSN only

• Add DOB, Sex, 

• DOD (from NCA) coming

MVI

Data

• One record per SSN/DOB/SEX 

• Last Activity Dates by Source

• Inpatient Deaths 

VBA

Data

VHA

Data

Merge on SSN + DOB + SEX

Merge on SSN only
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

CMS Medicare data

SSA Death File

– Does not contain sex data

BIRLS Death File

Matched to VA data on SSN only

Demographics (DOB and Sex) and DOD

28

Construction of the Master File

Add Death Data from External Sources
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Structure and Contents of the Master File

One record for each VA SSN/DOB/SEX 

combination

DOB and SEX – Each record has:

– One set of DOB/Sex variables for each source of 

VSF data on the record

– All VA source variables have the same DOB/Sex

– BIRLS, Medicare, and SSA matched on SSN only 

and may have different DOB and/or Sex

Dates of death and ‘best’ DOD

– From Medicare, BIRLS, Inpatient (PTF & FEE), 

and SSA

– See Appendix A 29
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Contents of the Master File

Last Activity Dates

– VA sources and Medicare

– Medicare date exclusions

• DME (durable medical equipment) and Unpaid 

Carrier claims

Veteran Flags

– Based on means test variables and other 

veteran indicators

– Outpatient, Inpatient, Enrollment, and VBA

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Contents of the Master File

CMS information

– Race

– Submission flag by year (CMS_INDYY)

• 0 = ‘Not Submitted’ 

• 1 = ‘Submitted/Not Enrolled’ 

• 2 = ‘Submitted/Enrolled’ 

Quality of the date

– Indicates if full or partial data present in source 

(e.g., month, day, and year present; only year 

present, etc.)

– ‘Complete’ includes default values

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Construction of the Mini File

32

Master

File

Mini

File

One record per SSN

• Select Veterans

• Select ‘best’ DOB, SEX, DOD for an SSN

• Obtain Date of Last Activity for an SSN
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Construction of the Mini File

Select only Veteran records

Scenario 1: One record for an SSN on the 

Master File

– Use DOB and Sex on record

– Use ‘best’ DOD on record

Scenario 2: Multiple records for an SSN 

on the Master File

– Multiple DOB/Sex combinations

– Select ‘best’ DOB/Sex from all records

– Select ‘best’ DOD from all records

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

What is ‘Best’?

Use of an algorithm to select the value for 

a demographic variable (DOB, DOD, Sex) 

associated with an SSN when more than 

one value for that variable is found in the 

source data

Goal is to select the true value for the 

variable in the majority of cases

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Selecting ‘Best’ Dates

Scenario 2: Multiple records for an SSN 

on the Master File

– Select ‘best’ date of birth for each SSN 

among the SSN/DOB/Sex combinations

• Select ‘best’ utilization DOB date

– Based on scoring method (Score range: 0 to 40)

» Priority: PTF, Encounter, DSS, FEE

» Extra points if complete date, sex present, matches 

BIRLS, SSA or Medicare

• See Appendix B for selection routine from all DOB 

sources (Utilization, Medicare, SSA, BIRLS, 

Enrollment, VBA C&P)

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Selecting ‘Best’ Dates

Scenario 2: Multiple records for an SSN 

on the Master File

– Select ‘best’ Sex for each SSN among the 

SSN/DOB/Sex combinations

• Similar to selection of best DOB

– Select ‘best’ date of death among the 

SSN/DOB/Sex combinations

• Select inpatient DOD if present (PTF or FEE)

• See Appendix A for selection routine from all DOD 

(Inpatient, Medicare, SSA, BIRLS)

– NCA-sourced DOD trumps algorithm-selected 

best DOD if MVI has complete DOB and gender.

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Contents of the VHA VSF Mini File

One record per SSN

‘Best’ DOB, Sex, DOD

Last health care utilization date

Last activity date

Presumed living status

Source indicators

– DOB, DOD, and utilization dates

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Contents of the VHA VSF Mini File

Master Veteran Index & ‘Best’ DOB Source

MVI DOB replaces algorithm-derived 

‘best’ DOB if MVI DOB is complete.

VHA Directive 1906

38

“The MVI is the authoritative identity service 

within VA maintaining and synchronizing 

identities for VA clients, Veterans, and 

beneficiaries (see subpar. 5g). AUTHORITY: 

Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 7301(b). 

Recent analysis by NDS:

– < 2% of records changed from other source 

DOB to MVI DOB actually changed DOB
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Master Veteran Index and

‘Best’ DOB Source

‘Best’ DOB Source (VSF Mini 4/28/2013)

39

Source Count Percent

BRL 1,766 0.0%

CMS 463,971 3.0%

DSS 14,508 0.1%

ENC 497,898 3.3%

ENR 171,199 1.1%

FEE 7,575 0.1%

MVI 13,638,998 89.3%

PTF 170,136 1.1%

SSA 32,230 0.2%

VBA 276,666 1.8%

 Total 15,274,947 100.0%
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Contents of the Mini File

Last activity dates

– 1) Utilization (health care)

– 2) All activity (health care and benefits)

– From all SSN/DOB/Sex combinations for an SSN

Presumed living status7

– ‘0’: no death date

– ‘1’: death date

– ‘2’: death date and health care usage more than 

31 days after death

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Topics

Data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

VHA Vital Status Files structure and 

contents

Challenges in using the VHA VSF and 

potential strategies for addressing them

Where to go for more help

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Potential Challenges

Demographics do not match

Multiple dates of death

Activity after date of death

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Multiple (Master File) Records

24.5 million records*

17.6 million SSNs

66% of SSNs have one record

34% with multiple records

43

* Includes ~2.9 million non-Veteran records

4/28/2013 Vital Status Master File
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Multiple Records

DOB-Sex Combinations

44

Multiple records occur when there is >1 

DOB-Sex combination for an SSN in 

base data sources

Variations arise from

– Missing or incomplete dates

– Conflicting information

Default values in place of missing data

– Some sources use “1” for day and “January” 

for month
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

45

VIReC Data Investigation:

VSF DOB and Sex Quality*

Records 19,869,512

SSNs 14,009,035

> 1DOB 36.0%

> 1Gender 1.4%

SSNs with conflicting DOB and/or gender† 1,199,045 (8.6%)

Conflicting DOB and gender 2.2%

Conflicting DOB only 14.7%

Conflicting gender only 83.1%

Multiple Records

DOB-Sex Combinations

This is a test

_______________________

* Veteran records in the VSF created on 12/12/2010 were used in this investigation. 

Report available at http://vaww.virec.research.va.gov/Reports/Reports-Index.htm

† Some conflicting due to incomplete dates
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Multiple Dates of Death

‘Best’ DOD Source*

46

Source Count Percent

Medicare Vital Status 2,947,474 57.1%

SSA Death Master 1,296,260 25.1%

Patient Treatment File 697,940 13.5%

BIRLS Death File 144,729 2.8%

Fee Basis 79,116 1.5%

 Total Deaths 5,165,519 100.0%

* Data from VSF Mini created on 4/28/2013
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Activity After Death

VSF Mini Best DOD

– 19.6% of records with a DOD have healthcare 

or benefit activity after death (ACT_LAST_DT) 

• 7.7% of records with a DOD have activity more 

than 31 days after death

– 11.8% have healthcare activity after date of 

death

– 0.67% have Medicare activity (excluding DME, 

unpaid Carrier claims) after date of death

47

* Data from VSF Mini created on 4/28/2013 
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Activity After Death

48

CMS Activity After Date of Death 

(Best DOD)*

Days after DOD Count Percent

None 2,411,075 98.77%

< 1 month 23873 0.98%

1 - 3 months 450 0.02%

3 - 12 months 344 0.01%

>12 months 5329 0.22%

Total 2,441,071 100.00%

* Data from VSF Mini created on 4/28/2013 

Death dates 12/31/2009 or earlier 

CMS claims data through 12/31/2010 
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

CMS Activity >12 Months

After Death

49

Data Sources for CMS Activity >12 

Months After Death*

Best DOD

Source

Count Percent of 

AAD†

Percent of 

Best DOD

BIRLS 3786 71.05% 2.8%

Medicare 349 6.55% 57.1%

FEE 128 2.40% 1.5%

PTF 985 18.48% 13.5%

SSA 81 1.52% 25.1%

Total 5329 100% 100%

* Data from VSF Mini created on 4/28/2013 

Death dates 12/31/2009 or earlier 

CMS claims data through 12/31/2010 

† AAD: Activity after death
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Matching Cohort to VSF

Decisions

– Use Mini File?

– Use Master File?

– Match on SSN + DOB + Sex?

• All must match?

• Partial match (e.g., just year and sex)?

Possible Issues

– Demographics do not match

– Activity after date of death

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Points to Consider

You may find inconsistencies between 

VHA VSF demographics and your cohort 

demographics

To resolve these inconsistencies the 

Master file will be useful

Note: VHA VSF should not be used for 

business operations regarding individual 

veterans

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Possible Strategy

Use the Mini File for the initial search for 

deaths

– Match on SSN

Use the Master File to investigate unusual 

cases, for example:

– Cohort DOB/Sex do not match Mini DOB/Sex

• May be records on the Master File with matching 

demographics

– Activity after death

• Check DOB/Sex for DOD sources on Master File

• Are all DOD on Master File the same?

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Possible Strategy

Consider additional supplementary data 

sources

– Use the NDI or State Vital Statistics Offices for 

cases lost to follow up, i.e.,

• No death date

• No VHA or VBA activity after end of follow up

– CDW for individuals without activity after 1991 

or very recent deaths

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Session Topics

Data sources for Veteran vital status 

ascertainment

VHA Vital Status Files structure and 

contents

Challenges in using the VHA VSF

Where to go for more help

54
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Help

National Data Systems

– Dorothea Garrett (Dorothea.Garrett@va.gov)

VIReC Website Resources

 http://www.virec.research.va.gov

– Information on VA data sources and how to 

access data

– Documentation on some VA datasets

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

56

Help (cont’d)

HSRData Listserv

– Join at the VIReC Web site

– Discussion among >500 data stewards, 

managers, and users

– Past messages in archive (on intranet)

VIReC Help Desk

– VIReC staff will answer your question and/or 

direct you to available resources on topics

– VIReC@va.gov 

– (708) 202-2413
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

57

Questions?
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

58

Upcoming Seminar

Good Data Practices Series

– September 9-14, 2013
RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

References

1. Hill ME, Rosenwaike I. The Social Security Administration's 

Death Master File: the completeness of death reporting at 

older ages. Soc Secur Bull 2001;64:45-51.

2. Social Security Administration Preliminary Observations on 

the Death Master File, Statement of Daniel Bertoni, 

Testimony Before the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, United States. 

3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VHA Directive 1906 

Data Quality Requirements for Healthcare Identity 

Management and Master Veteran Index Functions. April 29, 

2013.

4. Doody MM, Chimes K. The Social Security Administration 

"presumed living" search. Am J Public Health 2000;90:1948-

1949.

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

References

5. Savas LS, del Junco DJ, Bastian LA, Vernon SW. Mortality 

ascertainment of women veterans: a comparison of sources 

of vital status information, 1979-2002. Med Care

2009;47:125-128.

6. Sohn MW, Arnold N, Maynard C, Hynes DM. Accuracy and 

completeness of mortality data in the Department of 

Veterans Affairs. Popul Health Metr 2006;4:2.

7. Arnold N, Sohn M, Maynard C, Hynes DM. VIReC Technical 

Report 2: VA NDI Mortality Data Merge Project. April 9, 2006. 

VA Information Resource Center. Available: 

http://www.virec.research.va.gov/Reports/TR/TR-VA-NDIMortality-CY06-ER.pdf

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Appendix A

Best Date of Death for VHA Vital Status File 

1. If all sources (Inpatient, BIRLS, Medicare, SSA) have a different date: 

– If complete inpatient death date present use inpatient death date ; otherwise 

– If Medicare death date present and the day was not equal to 28, 30, and 31, use the 

Medicare date; otherwise 

– If SSA death date present and the day is not equal to 00, 01, and 15, use the SSA date; 

otherwise 

– If BIRLS death date present use the BIRLS date; otherwise 

– If Medicare death date present and the day equals 28, 30, or 31 use the Medicare date; 

otherwise 

– If SSA death date present, use the SSA date. 

2. If all sources have a date and the external dates (SSA and Medicare) matched and the 

internal dates (Inpatient and BIRLS) matched but the external dates did not match the 

internal dates, use the inpatient death date. 

3. If the external sources only had matching dates:

– If an inpatient death date is present, use the inpatient death date; otherwise 

– Use the external date. 

4. If the internal sources only had matching dates use the internal source. 

5. If an external source matches an internal source: 

– Use the inpatient death date if the external source matches the inpatient death date; 

otherwise 

6. If BIRLS date is present, use the BIRLS date; otherwise 

7. If the FEE date is present, use the FEE date.

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RESEARCHERS’ GUIDE TO VA DATA

Appendix B

Best Date of Birth for VHA Vital Status File

1. If all sources had a different date: 

– If a complete Utilization birth date present, use the Utilization date (highest scoring 

Utilization birth date); otherwise

– If Medicare birth date present, use the Medicare date; otherwise 

– If SSA birth date present , use the SSA date; otherwise

– If Enrollment birth date present, use the Enrollment Date 

– If BIRLS birth date present, use the BIRLS date; otherwise 

– If VBA (C&P Mini) birth date present, use the VBA date; otherwise 

– Use incomplete Utilization birth date.

2. If all sources have a date and the external dates (SSA and Medicare) matched and the 

internal dates (Utilization, BIRLS, VBS and Enrollment) matched but the external dates 

did not match the internal dates, use the internal birth date. 

3. If the external sources only had matching dates:

– If a complete Utilization birth date present, use the Utilization date; otherwise use the 

external date. 

4. If the internal sources only had matching dates use the internal date. 

5. If an external source matches an internal source: 

– Use the Utilization birth date if the external source date matches the Utilization date; 

otherwise 

6. If BIRLS birth date present, use the BIRLS date; otherwise

7. If VBA (C&P Mini) birth date present, use the VBA date; otherwise 

8. Use incomplete Utilization birth date. 62