Reference: For more information on reviewing VA Form 21-2680 to identify the benefit sought, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.B.1.f and g. spina bifida 21-0304, Application for Benefits for Certain Children with Disabilities Born of Vietnam and Certain Service Veterans. apportionment 21-0788, Information Regarding Apportionment of Beneficiary’s Award. dependents 21-526 21-527 (pension only) 21-527EZ (pension only) 21-686c 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance, (school children over 18 only), or 21P-509, Statement of Dependency of Parent(s), (for dependent parent(s) only) VA Form 21-4170, Statement of Marital History (for adding a spouse based on a common-law marriage), or VA Form 21-0538, Status of Dependents Questionnaire (if submitted as part of the verification process described in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 5.K). Important: A Veteran may use VA Form 21-0538, to initiate the process of adding a spouse to his/her award. However, this form contains no sections wherein the Veteran may provide his/her marital history or the marital history of his/her spouse. Without this information, VA cannot determine whether the Veteran and his/her spouse are free to marry. Accordingly, a Veteran in this case must ultimately provide the information contained in VA Form 21-686c in addition to the VA Form 21-0538. In accordance with M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 5.A.4.g, this information may be obtained through a phone call to the Veteran. Notes:
completes all or a portion of Part II of the application, which deals with service-related disabilities, and VII through X of the application, which deal with income net worth, and deductible expenses compensation and pension. requests dental treatment only dental treatment only. Note: Unless a claimant specifically claims disability compensation for a dental condition, refer the VA Form 21-526, or any other form of communication indicative of a dental claim, to the eligibility clerk of the VA medical center (VAMC) of jurisdiction for a determination of eligibility for dental treatment. Reference: For more information on claims involving dental conditions only, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart v, 7.C M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 2.2 , and . Note: If any exists as to which benefit a claimant is seeking, ask the claimant for clarification. d. Discretionary Application of 38 CFR 3.151(a) instructs that a claim for compensation may be accepted as a claim for pension and vice versa. Application of this provision of is discretionary. Not all claims for pension are necessarily claims for compensation and vice versa. Consider the following three criteria when deciding whether VA will make the discretionary decision to apply in the context of the Standard Claims and Appeals Forms rule: Regardless of which claims form is submitted, the information on the claim must constitute a substantially complete claim for the unclaimed benefit being considered under .
Important: If the medical evidence is insufficient to evaluate the disability, request examination of the condition as a part of the claim for SMC. Only address the condition in the rating decision when examination confirms a change in the disability evaluation of the SC issue is warranted or confirms the presence of the condition that is within the scope of another SC condition. i. VA’s Obligation to Address a Claimant’s Entitlement to Multiple Survivor Benefits VA designed most applications for benefits so that claimants may apply for multiple survivor benefits without filing separate applications for each one. By doing so, however, VA obligated itself to determine a claimant’s entitlement to each of the benefits named in the title of the application submitted by the claimant. The following table provides examples of which benefits VA must address depending on which forms the claimant submits. When ... Then VA is obligated to address the claimant’s entitlement to ... a surviving parent submits VA Form 21-535 DIC, and accrued benefits. a surviving spouse or child submits VA Form 21-534, or VA Form 21-534EZ DIC Survivors Pension, and accrued benefits. j. Receipt of EZ Form Requesting a Different Benefit Application The VA Form 21-526EZ and VA Form 21-527EZ contain instructions for the claimant to request a different benefit application. Use the to determine what action must be taken upon receipt of such notice. If the VA Form … Then send the claimant a request for application letter and attach … 21-526EZ has “Pension” written at the top of the form, or in the claimed disabilities section VA Form 21-527EZ. 21-527EZ has “Will claim compensation – send VA Form written at the top of the form, or in the claimed disabilities that prevent you from working section VA Form 21-526EZ. Reference: For more information about requests for applications, see