Important: Opinions that do not address whether a condition is at least as likely as not related to participation but instead indicate that of exposure are “effects exposure could be a or exposure may have unknown,” “an contributor,” “an a are insufficient to justify an award of SC. relationship” If the examiner does not review the claims folder, the examination report is insufficient and should be returned. A medical opinion without a supporting rationale carries no probative value and the claims folder should be returned to the examiner for a supporting rationale. d. When completing the SUBJECT LINE field on the ISSUE MANAGEMENT Identification of screen in VBMS-R, end the description of the disability with [CBRNE] CBRNE regardless of whether the issue is being awarded or denied. This will clearly Claimed Issues identify the CBRNE claimed issues, or those issues which the decision maker on the has decided are related to CBRNE testing, on the Codesheet. Codesheet Example: Scar, Residual of Chemical Tests [CBRNE].
Important: Opinions that do not address whether a condition is at least as likely as not related to participation but instead indicate that “effects of exposure are unknown,” “an exposure could be a contributor,” or “an exposure may have a relationship” are insufficient to justify an award of SC. If the examiner does not review the claims folder, the examination report is insufficient and should be returned. A medical opinion without a supporting rationale carries no probative value and the claims folder should be returned to the examiner for a supporting rationale. d. Identification of CBRNE Claimed Issues on the Codesheet When completing the SUBJECT LINE field on the ISSUE MANAGEMENT screen in VBMS-R, end the description of the disability with [CBRNE] regardless of whether the issue is being awarded or denied. This will clearly identify the CBRNE claimed issues, or those issues which the decision maker has decided are related to CBRNE testing, on the Codesheet. Example: Scar, Residual of Chemical Tests [CBRNE].
12-18-15_Key%20Changes_M21-1IV_ii_2_SecC.docx