Name: ____________________________ Title: ___________________ k. MAP-D or When writing a letter to obtain information from the Veteran regarding a VBMS Letters PTSD claim based on personal trauma, use MAP-D or VBMS and select the to Use to appropriate personal trauma special issue on the CONTENTIONS screen Obtain Information MST (claims for any conditions, mental or physical (including PTSD), From the resulting from MST) Veteran in PTSD Personal Trauma (claims for PTSD resulting from a non-sexual – Claims Based personal trauma), or on Personal Non-PTSD Personal Trauma (claims for any condition, mental or physical Trauma (other than PTSD), resulting from a non-sexual personal trauma). Enclose to solicit details of the claim. VA Form 21-0781a Letters used by ROs to solicit details concerning a combat Important: stressful incident are inappropriate for PTSD claims based on personal trauma. l. Process for Review the claim and all attached documents. Request STRs and the entire Obtaining personnel folder from the appropriate records custodian, if necessary. Service Records in Claims VSRs must work closely with Rating Veterans Service Representatives Note: Based on (RVSRs) when developing personal trauma cases. Personal Trauma Because a personal trauma is an extremely personal and sensitive issue m. Problems Associated With many incidents of personal trauma are not officially reported, and Development in the victims of this type of in-service trauma may find it difficult to produce Claims Based evidence to support the occurrence of the stressor. on Personal Trauma It is often necessary to seek alternative evidence that may demonstrate the presence of markers. The term refers to evidentiary signs, events, or marker circumstances indicating a that the claimed stressor occurred such possibility as reports, lay statements, or behavioral changes that may be associated with the approximate timeframe of the claimed stressor. For information on References: alternative sources for information, see M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 1.D.5.n, and behavioral changes in claims based on personal trauma, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.H.4.d.
Name: ____________________________ Title: ___________________ k. MAP-D or VBMS Letters to Use to Obtain Information From the Veteran in Claims Based on Personal Trauma When writing a letter to obtain information from the Veteran regarding a PTSD claim based on personal trauma, use MAP-D or VBMS and select the appropriate personal trauma special issue on the CONTENTIONS screen MST (claims for any conditions, mental or physical (including PTSD), resulting from MST) PTSD – Personal Trauma (claims for PTSD resulting from a non-sexual personal trauma), or Non-PTSD Personal Trauma (claims for any condition, mental or physical (other than PTSD), resulting from a non-sexual personal trauma). Enclose VA Form 21-0781a to solicit details of the claim. Important: Letters used by ROs to solicit details concerning a combat stressful incident are inappropriate for PTSD claims based on personal trauma. l. Process for Obtaining Service Records in Claims Based on Personal Trauma Review the claim and all attached documents. Request STRs and the entire personnel folder from the appropriate records custodian, if necessary. Note: VSRs must work closely with Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSRs) when developing personal trauma cases. m. Problems Associated With Development in Claims Based on Personal Trauma Because a personal trauma is an extremely personal and sensitive issue many incidents of personal trauma are not officially reported, and the victims of this type of in-service trauma may find it difficult to produce evidence to support the occurrence of the stressor. It is often necessary to seek alternative evidence that may demonstrate the presence of markers. The term marker refers to evidentiary signs, events, or circumstances indicating a possibility that the claimed stressor occurred such as reports, lay statements, or behavioral changes that may be associated with the approximate timeframe of the claimed stressor. References: For information on alternative sources for information, see M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 1.D.5.n, and behavioral changes in claims based on personal trauma, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.H.4.d.