VA Accreditation Exam Study Guide |
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Prep
Question 1
Pension Wartime Service Requirement
Correct Answer
A Veteran meets wartime service requirements if he/she served: a total of 90 days or
more during one or more periods of war; 90 or more consecutive days that began
or ended during a period of war; or for any length of time during a period of war if
he/she was discharged or released for a service-connected disability.
Question 2
PTSD due to Hostile Military or Terrorist Activities
Correct Answer
Elimination of the requirement for corroborating evidence of the claimed in-service
stressor if it is related to the Veteran's "fear of hostile military or terrorist activity."
The new regulatory provision requires that: (1) A VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or
contract equivalent, must confirm that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a
diagnosis of PTSD; (2) the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and
circumstances of the Veteran's service; and (3) the Veteran's symptoms are related
to the claimed stressor.
Question 3
Duty to Assist - BVA and HLR
Correct Answer
HLR and BVA have no DTA but must send the claim back to the RO if they identify a
DTA error that occurred prior to the RD
Page 1 of 55
,Question 4
Clinical Records
Correct Answer
comprised of a variety of health care treatment records that document a
servicemember's treatment at a military treatment facility (MTF)
Question 5
What are accrued benefits?
Correct Answer
Accrued benefits are those that are due to the beneficiary, but are not paid prior to
his or her death. If death occurred pre 12/16/03 accrued benefits payable are
limited to a period not to exceed two years prior to the last date of entitlement.
After, there is no restriction.
Question 6
When Duty to Assist Does Not Apply
Correct Answer
VA has no duty to assist a claimant when there is no reasonable possibility that
rendering assistance would substantiate his or her claim. (Ex: lacks qualifying
service; fails to meet other legal requirements; claim clearly lacks merit)
Question 7
21P-527EZ Application for Pension
Correct Answer
VA Form 21P-527EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for
the following types of Veterans Pension claims:
-Veterans Pension
-Special monthly pension (SMP) based on the
-Need for aid and attendance
-Status of being housebound
-Additional Veterans Pension benefits for a Veteran with a child incapable of self-
support
Page 2 of 55
,Question 8
apportionment form
Correct Answer
21-0788, Information Regarding Apportionment of Beneficiary's Award.
Question 9
Expeditious Processing - Homeless
Correct Answer
VBA employees search to determine if a Veteran is homeless:
-within the VA records system under the Veteran's Corporate Flashes
-the closest VAMC to determine if the Veteran has contacted the Domiciliary
-the VA Regional Office Homeless Coordinator. Each regional office has a Homeless
Coordinator that helps identify and monitor homeless Veterans claims
Question 10
Eff Date within a year of separation
Correct Answer
For original claims where the Veteran has been separated for less than a year, if VA
receives the application within one year of separation, VA can grant the award of
benefits retroactively to the day after the Veteran's separation from active service.
Question 11
Centralized Processing - Camp Lejeune
Correct Answer
primarily completed at the Louisville RO; however other regional offices are
authorized to process these claims in special circumstances to include:
-Pittsburgh RO processes these claims for Veteran's residing in foreign countries
-Salt Lake City, Winston Salem, and disability rating activity sites process original
pre-discharge claims
Page 3 of 55
, Question 12
Alternate Signer
Correct Answer
Public Law (PL) 112-154, Section 502, amended 38 U.S.C. 5101 to authorize VA to
accept an alternate signature on behalf of claimants or beneficiaries who are under
age 18; lack the mental capacity to provide substantially accurate information
needed to complete a form or to certify that the statements made on a form are
true and complete, or are physically unable to sign a form.
Question 13
special allowances
Correct Answer
Surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC may be granted a special allowance to
pay for aid and attendance by another person if they are patients in a nursing home
or require the regular assistance of another person. Surviving spouses receiving DIC
may be granted a housebound special allowance if they are permanently
housebound.
Question 14
Veterans Service Representative
Correct Answer
Responsible for determining what evidence is necessary to decide a claim,
undertaking development action to obtaining necessary evidence and determining
when a claim is ready for decision
Question 15
How to Identify a FDC
Correct Answer
Only a claim filed on an EZ form is potentially eligible for processing in the FDC
Program. If a claimant requests processing in the FDC Program but did not file their
claim on an EZ form, or uses an outdated version of an EZ form, the claim will be
excluded from the FDC Program.
Page 4 of 55
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Prep
Question 1
Pension Wartime Service Requirement
Correct Answer
A Veteran meets wartime service requirements if he/she served: a total of 90 days or
more during one or more periods of war; 90 or more consecutive days that began
or ended during a period of war; or for any length of time during a period of war if
he/she was discharged or released for a service-connected disability.
Question 2
PTSD due to Hostile Military or Terrorist Activities
Correct Answer
Elimination of the requirement for corroborating evidence of the claimed in-service
stressor if it is related to the Veteran's "fear of hostile military or terrorist activity."
The new regulatory provision requires that: (1) A VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or
contract equivalent, must confirm that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a
diagnosis of PTSD; (2) the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and
circumstances of the Veteran's service; and (3) the Veteran's symptoms are related
to the claimed stressor.
Question 3
Duty to Assist - BVA and HLR
Correct Answer
HLR and BVA have no DTA but must send the claim back to the RO if they identify a
DTA error that occurred prior to the RD
Page 1 of 55
,Question 4
Clinical Records
Correct Answer
comprised of a variety of health care treatment records that document a
servicemember's treatment at a military treatment facility (MTF)
Question 5
What are accrued benefits?
Correct Answer
Accrued benefits are those that are due to the beneficiary, but are not paid prior to
his or her death. If death occurred pre 12/16/03 accrued benefits payable are
limited to a period not to exceed two years prior to the last date of entitlement.
After, there is no restriction.
Question 6
When Duty to Assist Does Not Apply
Correct Answer
VA has no duty to assist a claimant when there is no reasonable possibility that
rendering assistance would substantiate his or her claim. (Ex: lacks qualifying
service; fails to meet other legal requirements; claim clearly lacks merit)
Question 7
21P-527EZ Application for Pension
Correct Answer
VA Form 21P-527EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for
the following types of Veterans Pension claims:
-Veterans Pension
-Special monthly pension (SMP) based on the
-Need for aid and attendance
-Status of being housebound
-Additional Veterans Pension benefits for a Veteran with a child incapable of self-
support
Page 2 of 55
,Question 8
apportionment form
Correct Answer
21-0788, Information Regarding Apportionment of Beneficiary's Award.
Question 9
Expeditious Processing - Homeless
Correct Answer
VBA employees search to determine if a Veteran is homeless:
-within the VA records system under the Veteran's Corporate Flashes
-the closest VAMC to determine if the Veteran has contacted the Domiciliary
-the VA Regional Office Homeless Coordinator. Each regional office has a Homeless
Coordinator that helps identify and monitor homeless Veterans claims
Question 10
Eff Date within a year of separation
Correct Answer
For original claims where the Veteran has been separated for less than a year, if VA
receives the application within one year of separation, VA can grant the award of
benefits retroactively to the day after the Veteran's separation from active service.
Question 11
Centralized Processing - Camp Lejeune
Correct Answer
primarily completed at the Louisville RO; however other regional offices are
authorized to process these claims in special circumstances to include:
-Pittsburgh RO processes these claims for Veteran's residing in foreign countries
-Salt Lake City, Winston Salem, and disability rating activity sites process original
pre-discharge claims
Page 3 of 55
, Question 12
Alternate Signer
Correct Answer
Public Law (PL) 112-154, Section 502, amended 38 U.S.C. 5101 to authorize VA to
accept an alternate signature on behalf of claimants or beneficiaries who are under
age 18; lack the mental capacity to provide substantially accurate information
needed to complete a form or to certify that the statements made on a form are
true and complete, or are physically unable to sign a form.
Question 13
special allowances
Correct Answer
Surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC may be granted a special allowance to
pay for aid and attendance by another person if they are patients in a nursing home
or require the regular assistance of another person. Surviving spouses receiving DIC
may be granted a housebound special allowance if they are permanently
housebound.
Question 14
Veterans Service Representative
Correct Answer
Responsible for determining what evidence is necessary to decide a claim,
undertaking development action to obtaining necessary evidence and determining
when a claim is ready for decision
Question 15
How to Identify a FDC
Correct Answer
Only a claim filed on an EZ form is potentially eligible for processing in the FDC
Program. If a claimant requests processing in the FDC Program but did not file their
claim on an EZ form, or uses an outdated version of an EZ form, the claim will be
excluded from the FDC Program.
Page 4 of 55
