Department of Veterans Affairs M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv Veterans Benefits Administration March 24, 2015 Washington, DC 20420 Transmittal Sheet The table below describes the changes included in this revision of Veterans Changes Included in Benefits Manual M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, “General Claims Process,” This Revision Rating Process.” “General Minor editorial changes have also been made to Notes: update incorrect or obsolete hyperlink references update section and topic titles to more accurately reflect their content renumber each topic based on the standard that the first topic in each section is Topic 1, and bring the documents into conformance with M21-1 and Knowledge Management (KM) standards. Reason(s) for the Change Citation To explain that the effective date of a reopened or revised M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, claim based on new and material evidence can be the date Chapter 2, Section B, Topic 1, of receipt of the intent to file, as well as the date of claim. Block c (III.iv.2.B.1.c) To update the for earlier effective to III.iv.2.B.1.d phrase “claim date” for earlier effective to be consistent with “request date” what constitutes a claim. To clarify that the submission of new and material evidence III.iv.2.B.3.a alone is not sufficient to reopen a claim beginning March 24, 2015. To clarify the definition of clear and unmistakeable error III.iv.2.B.4.a (CUE) To clarify that a CUE is an allegation and not a claim as III.iv.2.B.4.e defined by VA regulations. III.iv.2.B.5.a To clarify that a motion for reconsideration of a Board of III.iv.2.B.5.c Veterans Appeals (BVA) decision is not governed by the regulation change. Standard Claims and Appeals Forms None Rescissions By Direction of the Under Secretary for Benefits Authority Signature Thomas J. Murphy, Director Compensation Service
Department of Veterans Affairs M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv Veterans Benefits Administration March 24, 2015 Washington, DC 20420 Transmittal Sheet Changes Included in This Revision The table below describes the changes included in this revision of Veterans Benefits Manual M21-1, Part III, “General Claims Process,” Subpart iv, “General Rating Process.” Notes: Minor editorial changes have also been made to update incorrect or obsolete hyperlink references update section and topic titles to more accurately reflect their content renumber each topic based on the standard that the first topic in each section is Topic 1, and bring the documents into conformance with M21-1 and Knowledge Management (KM) standards. Reason(s) for the Change Citation To explain that the effective date of a reopened or revised claim based on new and material evidence can be the date of receipt of the intent to file, as well as the date of claim. M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 2, Section B, Topic 1, Block c (III.iv.2.B.1.c) To update the phrase “claim for earlier effective date” to “request for earlier effective date” to be consistent with what constitutes a claim. III.iv.2.B.1.d To clarify that the submission of new and material evidence alone is not sufficient to reopen a claim beginning March 24, 2015. III.iv.2.B.3.a To clarify the definition of clear and unmistakeable error (CUE) III.iv.2.B.4.a To clarify that a CUE is an allegation and not a claim as defined by VA regulations. III.iv.2.B.4.e III.iv.2.B.5.a To clarify that a motion for reconsideration of a Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) decision is not governed by the Standard Claims and Appeals Forms regulation change. III.iv.2.B.5.c Rescissions None Authority By Direction of the Under Secretary for Benefits Signature Thomas J. Murphy, Director Compensation Service