Alternate evidence includes personal statements buddy statements unit histories news articles, and other lay evidence. Concede exposure to the claimed environmental hazard if the statements provided by the Veteran and/or others are consistent with the facts, places, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service. For more information on considering evidence in claims for Reference: disability compensation, see , and . m. Considering The Veteran’s lay statement of exposure to an environmental hazard or Lay Statements statements provided by others can be used to verify exposure to the claimed in Verifying environmental hazard if the statements provided by the Veteran and/or others Exposure to are consistent with the facts, places, and circumstances of the Veteran’s Environmental service. Hazards A Veteran’s lay statement of burn pit exposure, together with Example: evidence verifying that the Veteran served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Djibouti, generally will be sufficient to establish the occurrence of such exposure. For more information on considering lay statements, see M21-1, Reference: Part III, Subpart iv, 5.6.a. n. What to When requesting a medical examination and/or medical opinion for a claim Include in VA based on exposure to an environmental hazard listed in M21-1, Part IV, Examination Subpart ii, 2.C.5.a, review M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 1.I for guidance on and/or Medical what to include in the VA examination and/or medical opinion request. Opinion Requests in Environmental Hazard Claims Apply the provisions of when rating claims for disabilities resulting from o. Applying the Provisions of 38 exposure to environmental hazards during service in Southwest Asia if CFR 3.317 in Claims Based the medical evidence reveals the presence of on Exposure to an undiagnosed illness, or Environmental a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and Hazards in the medical evidence does not provide a sufficient link between this illness Southwest Asia and the Veteran’s military service.
Alternate evidence includes personal statements buddy statements unit histories news articles, and other lay evidence. Concede exposure to the claimed environmental hazard if the statements provided by the Veteran and/or others are consistent with the facts, places, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service. Reference: For more information on considering evidence in claims for disability compensation, see , and . m. Considering Lay Statements in Verifying Exposure to Environmental Hazards The Veteran’s lay statement of exposure to an environmental hazard or statements provided by others can be used to verify exposure to the claimed environmental hazard if the statements provided by the Veteran and/or others are consistent with the facts, places, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service. Example: A Veteran’s lay statement of burn pit exposure, together with evidence verifying that the Veteran served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Djibouti, generally will be sufficient to establish the occurrence of such exposure. Reference: For more information on considering lay statements, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 5.6.a. n. What to Include in VA Examination and/or Medical Opinion Requests in Environmental Hazard Claims When requesting a medical examination and/or medical opinion for a claim based on exposure to an environmental hazard listed in M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 2.C.5.a, review M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 1.I for guidance on what to include in the VA examination and/or medical opinion request. o. Applying the Provisions of 38 CFR 3.317 in Claims Based on Exposure to Environmental Hazards in Southwest Asia Apply the provisions of when rating claims for disabilities resulting from exposure to environmental hazards during service in Southwest Asia if the medical evidence reveals the presence of an undiagnosed illness, or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and the medical evidence does not provide a sufficient link between this illness and the Veteran’s military service.
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