a parent that is not financially dependent on the Veteran, or the Veteran’s grandchild. References: Follow the instructions in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 1.B.1.d for documenting attempts to contact a Veteran by telephone, or M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 5.L.1.c for using the Automated Decision Letter (ADL) to provide Veterans with the notification described in this block. c. Using ADL to Meet Notification Requirements When ADL is used to prepare notification of the types of rating decisions discussed in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 5.L.1.b, the application automatically inserts the following paragraph into the decision notice: Your combined evaluation is 30 percent or more disabling; therefore, you may be eligible for additional benefits on dependency. If you wish to submit a claim for dependents, please complete and return the attached VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents. Please fill out every blank on the form. We may be able to pay you retroactive benefits for your dependents if you submit the VA Form 21-686c or report dependents within a year from the date of this letter. Exception: ADL does not insert the paragraph into a decision notice if the decision notice already includes a request for evidence/information required to add a dependent, or VA added a dependent or dependents to the Veteran’s award concurrent with promulgation of the rating decision that triggered the decision notice. Follow the instructions in the table below when entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent is granted or denied, and/or additional evidence/information is required to grant entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent. Action Means for Completing the Action Notify the Veteran that entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent was granted. Complete the fields on the RECORD DECISIONS – DEPENDENCY screen, to include the selection of entries in the AWARD STATUS and DECISION fields that reflect the decision to grant entitlement. Notify the Veteran that entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent was denied. Complete the fields on the DEPENDENCY tab in Share. Complete the fields on the RECORD DECISIONS – DEPENDENCY screen, to include the selection of entries in the AWARD STATUS and
DECISION fields that reflect the decision to deny entitlement. Note: If the Veteran failed to provide the information required to complete the fields on the DEPENDENCY tab in Share, enter as free text (during letter generation) the decision made and the reason for it. Notify the Veteran of the evidence considered (only when entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent is denied). List the evidence considered in the EVIDENCE field on the EVIDENCE LIST tab during letter generation. Request evidence/information required to grant entitlement to additional benefits for a dependent Complete the applicable fields on the DEPENDENCY DEVELOPMENT tab during letter generation. Reference: For more information about preparing decision notices using ADL, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart v, 2.B.4, and the . d. EP Control When Requesting Required to Add a Dependent in a Decision Notice Follow the instructions in the below when a Veteran lists a dependent on his/her application for benefits the evidence/information required to add the dependent to the Veteran’s award is not of record, and a request for the missing evidence/information is included in the letter that notifies the Veteran of the outcome of a rating decision. If the corresponding rating end product (EP) … Then …
Appropriate Effective Date for Adding a Same-Sex Spouse to a Veteran’s Award Scenario Circumstances Result 1 A Veteran with a 60-percent disability evaluation married his same-sex spouse on March 12, 2013. The Veteran submitted a claim for additional compensation for his spouse on August 1, 2013. Per , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for his spouse effective March 12, 2013. 2 A Veteran with a 60-percent disability evaluation married her same-sex spouse on March 12, 2013. The Veteran submitted a claim for additional compensation for her spouse in January 2014. Per , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for her spouse effective March 12, 2013. 3 A Veteran with a 60-percent disability evaluation married her same-sex spouse on February 8, 2012. The Veteran submitted a claim for additional compensation for her spouse on January 1, 2014. Per , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for her spouse effective September 4, 2013. 4 A Veteran with a 60-percent disability evaluation married his same-sex spouse on February 8, 2012. The Veteran submitted a claim for additional compensation for his spouse on January 1, 2015. Per , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for his spouse effective January 1, 2014. 5 A Veteran with a 60-percent disability evaluation married her same-sex spouse on October 1, 2013. The Veteran submitted a claim for additional compensation for her spouse on January 1, 2014. Per , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for her spouse effective October 1, 2013. 6 A Veteran married his same-sex spouse on February 8, 2012. VA granted the Veteran’s original claim for disability , the Veteran is entitled to additional compensation for his