For additional information on References: effective dates for claims based on receipt of additional service records, see , 26 Vet.App. 550, 554 (2014), and effective dates and reconsidering the merits of claims based on additional service records, see , 24 Vet. App. 273 (2011). e. Procedures All additional service records received at any time after VA non-duplicate for Rating makes a decision on a claim shall be forwarded to the rating activity for Activity Review review. See the table below for actions to take when reviewing the additional service records. If service records... Then the rating activity must ... require reconsideration of the indicate action necessary” on do not “no merits of a previous claim VA Form 21-6789, Deferred Rating End product (EP) 699 Decision. Military dental records are will be cleared. Example: received five years after a previous rating decision awarded SC for hypertension, low back strain, and hearing loss. No formal rating is required. require reconsideration of the merits of complete a formal rating decision a previously claimed issue(s) under EP 020 and include all pertinent issues that warrant Additional STRs received reconsideration. Example: indicate treatment from a private doctor while the Veteran was on leave during active duty. Several issues were previously denied SC in two separate rating decisions. All of these issues must now be reconsidered in a formal rating decision. contain a chronic unclaimed condition refer the claim to authorization activity to solicit a claim. For more information Reference: on soliciting a claim, see M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 2.A.1.f. 3. Reopening a Previously Denied Claim Based on New and Material Evidence
References: For additional information on effective dates for claims based on receipt of additional service records, see , 26 Vet.App. 550, 554 (2014), and effective dates and reconsidering the merits of claims based on additional service records, see , 24 Vet. App. 273 (2011). e. Procedures for Rating Activity Review All additional non-duplicate service records received at any time after VA makes a decision on a claim shall be forwarded to the rating activity for review. See the table below for actions to take when reviewing the additional service records. If service records... Then the rating activity must ... do not require reconsideration of the merits of a previous claim Example: Military dental records are received five years after a previous rating decision awarded SC for hypertension, low back strain, and hearing loss. No formal rating is required. indicate “no action necessary” on VA Form 21-6789, Deferred Rating Decision. End product (EP) 699 will be cleared. require reconsideration of the merits of a previously claimed issue(s) Example: Additional STRs received indicate treatment from a private doctor while the Veteran was on leave during active duty. Several issues were previously denied SC in two separate rating decisions. All of these issues must now be reconsidered in a formal rating decision. complete a formal rating decision under EP 020 and include all pertinent issues that warrant reconsideration. contain a chronic unclaimed condition refer the claim to authorization activity to solicit a claim. Reference: For more information on soliciting a claim, see M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 2.A.1.f. 3. Reopening a Previously Denied Claim Based on New and Material Evidence
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