the address of the custodian of the records medical condition to which the records relate, and approximate time frame covered by these records. If the claimant identifies record sources at the same time he/she files the claim but furnishes no or equivalent form identifying VA Forms 21-4142 those sources (or submits incomplete notify the VA Forms 21-4142), claimant of the information and/or forms VA needs to request the records, and that VA cannot assist the claimant in obtaining the records until it receives the missing information and/or forms. The Section 5103 notice with all its enclosures (which are also called attachments and templates) must be of record in the claims folder to document compliance with its statutory notice responsibility. VA’s ROs are not required to include in the claims folder copies of any blank VA forms (such as, or VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, VA issued with the notification letter. Form 21-4142) For more information on References: to notify claimants of necessary evidence, see , and VA’s duty handling or equivalent form, see . VA Form 21-4142 The claimant must cooperate fully with reasonable efforts to obtain g. Claimant’s VA’s Duty to Identify relevant records by providing and Locate Records enough information to identify and locate the existing records, including the person, company, agency, or other custodian holding the records the approximate time frame covered by the records, and the condition(s) for which treatment was provided, in the case of medical treatment records. Full cooperation includes completing and returning the appropriate Note: authorization form, such as a VA Form 21-4142. For more information on handling or Reference: VA Form 21-4142 equivalent form, see . for the purpose of statutory duty to assist, are those h. Definition: “Relevant records,” VA’s Relevant records that Records relate to the disability or injury for which the claimant is seeking benefits, and have a reasonable possibility of helping to substantiate the claim. Not all medical records have a reasonable possibility of helping to Note: substantiate a disability claim.
the address of the custodian of the records medical condition to which the records relate, and approximate time frame covered by these records. If the claimant identifies record sources at the same time he/she files the claim but furnishes no VA Forms 21-4142 or equivalent form identifying those sources (or submits incomplete VA Forms 21-4142), notify the claimant of the information and/or forms VA needs to request the records, and that VA cannot assist the claimant in obtaining the records until it receives the missing information and/or forms. The Section 5103 notice with all its enclosures (which are also called attachments and templates) must be of record in the claims folder to document VA’s compliance with its statutory notice responsibility. ROs are not required to include in the claims folder copies of any blank VA forms (such as, VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, or VA Form 21-4142) issued with the notification letter. References: For more information on VA’s duty to notify claimants of necessary evidence, see , and handling VA Form 21-4142 or equivalent form, see . g. Claimant’s Duty to Identify and Locate Records The claimant must cooperate fully with VA’s reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records by providing enough information to identify and locate the existing records, including the person, company, agency, or other custodian holding the records the approximate time frame covered by the records, and the condition(s) for which treatment was provided, in the case of medical treatment records. Note: Full cooperation includes completing and returning the appropriate authorization form, such as a VA Form 21-4142. Reference: For more information on handling VA Form 21-4142 or equivalent form, see . h. Definition: Relevant Records “Relevant records,” for the purpose of VA’s statutory duty to assist, are those records that relate to the disability or injury for which the claimant is seeking benefits, and have a reasonable possibility of helping to substantiate the claim. Note: Not all medical records have a reasonable possibility of helping to substantiate a disability claim.