Appeals must also be controlled in Veterans Appeal Control and Important: Locator System (VACOLS) regardless of whether the claims folder is paper or electronic. 2. Establishing Claims This topic contains information about establishing claims, including Introduction preparing for claims establishment determining the end product (EP) for original and supplemental claims establishing claims in VBMS description of claim information fields in VBMS, and establishing claims in Share. Change Date September 25, 2015 a. Preparing The table below describes the stages of claims establishment and the for Claims references for guidance on these actions. Establishment Step Action Reference 1 Review the VBMS exclusions M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, to determine the system in 3.D.1.a. which to place the claim under control. 2 Check for a previously M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, established claims folder 3.A.1.d. number. 3 Determine the current claims M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, folder format and request 3.B.1.f, and scanning of paper claims M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, folders. 3.B.1.h. 4 Establish a claims folder in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.B.2. VA systems (if necessary). Establish EP control only upon receipt of a substantially Important: completed form. For more information on processing an Intent to File (ITF) and Reference: Incomplete ITFs, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.C. To administer proper EP control for rating-related claims, determine if the b. Determining
Important: Appeals must also be controlled in Veterans Appeal Control and Locator System (VACOLS) regardless of whether the claims folder is paper or electronic. 2. Establishing Claims Introduction This topic contains information about establishing claims, including preparing for claims establishment determining the end product (EP) for original and supplemental claims establishing claims in VBMS description of claim information fields in VBMS, and establishing claims in Share. Change Date September 25, 2015 a. Preparing for Claims Establishment The table below describes the stages of claims establishment and the references for guidance on these actions. Step Action Reference 1 Review the VBMS exclusions to determine the system in which to place the claim under control. M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.D.1.a. 2 Check for a previously established claims folder number. M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.A.1.d. 3 Determine the current claims folder format and request scanning of paper claims folders. M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.B.1.f, and M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 3.B.1.h. 4 Establish a claims folder in VA systems (if necessary). M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.B.2. Important: Establish EP control only upon receipt of a substantially completed form. Reference: For more information on processing an Intent to File (ITF) and Incomplete ITFs, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.C. b. Determining To administer proper EP control for rating-related claims, determine if the