The claimant files a claim for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Example: Orange exposure while serving in Vietnam. Since Agent Orange is identified as a special issue, the diabetes mellitus contention must contain an Agent special issue flash. Orange-Vietnam Special issues may need to be updated throughout the life of a claim. It is important that field users are vigilant in identifying when the circumstances of the claim result in addition, removal, or editing of special issue indicators. The claimant submits a Fully Developed Claim (FDC), and the user Example: properly applies the FDC special issue indicator to one of the contentions associated with the claim. The claim is later excluded from the FDC Program based on evidence received after claims establishment, so the user edits FDC special issue from to Fully Developed Claim FDC Excluded Evidence – Received After FDC CEST. Follow the steps in the table shown below when entering a claim-specific special issue flash to a contention in VBMS. Step Action 1 Under the CONTENTION tab, select the SPECIAL ISSUES down arrow. 2 Select the appropriate special to be associated to the contention. 3 Select the SAVE button to save the special issue or the CANCEL button to discard the changes. If you finish adding special issues and want to add another Note: contention select the SAVE and ADD button. To delete a special issue flash from a contention, click on the CLAIM Note: DETAILS screen and then select the TRASH CAN icon next to the special issue to be deleted. For more information on how to apply a special issues flash to a Reference: contention in VBMS, see the . f. Properly Special issues must be applied or updated once they are identified. Use the Applying below to determine how special issues should be applied to contentions. Special Issues If the special issue Then apply the special issue to ... applies to ... the claim one contention. Examples:
Example: The claimant files a claim for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure while serving in Vietnam. Since Agent Orange is identified as a special issue, the diabetes mellitus contention must contain an Agent Orange-Vietnam special issue flash. Special issues may need to be updated throughout the life of a claim. It is important that field users are vigilant in identifying when the circumstances of the claim result in addition, removal, or editing of special issue indicators. Example: The claimant submits a Fully Developed Claim (FDC), and the user properly applies the FDC special issue indicator to one of the contentions associated with the claim. The claim is later excluded from the FDC Program based on evidence received after claims establishment, so the user edits FDC special issue from Fully Developed Claim to FDC Excluded – Evidence Received After FDC CEST. Follow the steps in the table shown below when entering a claim-specific special issue flash to a contention in VBMS. Step Action 1 Under the CONTENTION tab, select the SPECIAL ISSUES down arrow. 2 Select the appropriate special to be associated to the contention. 3 Select the SAVE button to save the special issue or the CANCEL button to discard the changes. Note: If you finish adding special issues and want to add another contention select the SAVE and ADD button. Note: To delete a special issue flash from a contention, click on the CLAIM DETAILS screen and then select the TRASH CAN icon next to the special issue to be deleted. Reference: For more information on how to apply a special issues flash to a contention in VBMS, see the . f. Properly Applying Special Issues Special issues must be applied or updated once they are identified. Use the below to determine how special issues should be applied to contentions. If the special issue applies to ... Then apply the special issue to ... the claim one contention. Examples:
1-26-16_Key_Changes_M21-1III_iii_1_SecD.docx