Department of Veterans Affairs M21-1MR, Part I, Chapter 5 Veterans Benefits Administration July 18, 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 I, “Claimant’s Rights and Responsibilities,” This Revision Chapter 5, “Appeals.” Notes: The term “regional office” (RO) also includes pension management center (PMC), where appropriate. Unless otherwise noted, the the official, term, “claims folder” refers to numbered, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) repository whether paper – or electronic for all documentation relating to claims that a Veteran and/or – his/her survivors file with VA. Minor editorial changes have been made to update incorrect or obsolete hyperlink references update obsolete terminology, where appropriate remove references to specific claims-processing systems, where doing so does not affect the clarity of the instructions or information provided renumber each topic based on the standard that the first topic in each section is Topic 1 reassign numerical designations to individual topics, where necessary, to account for new, relocated, and/or deleted topics reassign alphabetical designations to individual blocks, where necessary, to account for new and/or deleted blocks within a topic update section and topic titles to more accurately reflect their content clarify block labels and/or block text, and bring the documents into conformance with M21-1 standards. Reason(s) for the Change Citation M21-1, Part I, To clarify that appeals are added to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Chapter 5, Section F, (BVA) docket after the receipt of any form of a substantive appeal. Topic 1, Block a To add a cross reference to the discussion of what constitutes a (I.5.F.1.a) substantive appeal. I.5.F.2.a To add language clarifying that VA Form 646, Statement of is sent to all accredited Accredited Representative in Appealed Cases, representatives. To delete language regarding when is submitted. VA Form 646 I.5.F.2.b To add language clarifying when VA must provide to VA Form 646 accredited representative. an appellant’s To add language clarifying the time limit for completing and submitting VA Form 646. To delete language regarding when can be executed VA Form 646 prior to the certification of an appeal.
Department of Veterans Affairs M21-1MR, Part I, Chapter 5 Veterans Benefits Administration July 18, 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 I, “Claimant’s Rights and Responsibilities,” Chapter 5, “Appeals.” Notes: The term “regional office” (RO) also includes pension management center (PMC), where appropriate. Unless otherwise noted, the term, “claims folder” refers to the official, numbered, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) repository – whether paper or electronic – for all documentation relating to claims that a Veteran and/or his/her survivors file with VA. Minor editorial changes have been made to update incorrect or obsolete hyperlink references update obsolete terminology, where appropriate remove references to specific claims-processing systems, where doing so does not affect the clarity of the instructions or information provided renumber each topic based on the standard that the first topic in each section is Topic 1 reassign numerical designations to individual topics, where necessary, to account for new, relocated, and/or deleted topics reassign alphabetical designations to individual blocks, where necessary, to account for new and/or deleted blocks within a topic update section and topic titles to more accurately reflect their content clarify block labels and/or block text, and bring the documents into conformance with M21-1 standards. Reason(s) for the Change Citation To clarify that appeals are added to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) docket after the receipt of any form of a substantive appeal. To add a cross reference to the discussion of what constitutes a substantive appeal. M21-1, Part I, Chapter 5, Section F, Topic 1, Block a (I.5.F.1.a) To add language clarifying that VA Form 646, Statement of Accredited Representative in Appealed Cases, is sent to all accredited representatives. To delete language regarding when VA Form 646 is submitted. I.5.F.2.a To add language clarifying when VA must provide VA Form 646 to an appellant’s accredited representative. To add language clarifying the time limit for completing and submitting VA Form 646. To delete language regarding when VA Form 646 can be executed prior to the certification of an appeal. I.5.F.2.b