Vsr Compensation Development Module 1
Lesson 2 UPDATED ACTUAL Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Types of Non-Original Claims - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- You will identify non-original
claims as one of the five following types: New claim-claim for a condition for which a
previous decision has not been made
Claim for increase-claim when disabilities were previously granted
Secondary claim-claim when a disability claimed is secondary to another disability
Reopened claim-claimed disability was denied after one year from the date the Veteran was
notified
Claim for reconsideration-a previously denied claimed condition in which the appellate
period has not expired
New Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A new claim is a claim for a condition that has not
been claimed previously and for which a previous decision has not been made. A new claim
does not require a prescribed form and does not involve reconsideration of a prior claim.
Review the C-File to see if a previous claim was submitted.
Start at the bottom of the center section and review forward to see if the Veteran previously
claimed and/or withdrew this disability. Also, review the ratings to see if that disability was
denied or granted.
Claim for Increase - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A claim for increase is any application for
an increase in rate of a benefit being paid under a current award, or for resumption for
payments previously discontinued (according to 38 CFR 3.160(f)).
If a claim has not been previously denied, determine if disability was previously granted.
There are two methods to determine if a disability has been granted:
•C-File
•Share
,Note that the claim is for an increase if a claimed disability has been granted.
c- file - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- access the rating decision
review the code sheet
determine if the disability has been granted as service connected
determine the percent of disability
share - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- access share
access the corporate rating screen
look for a Y in the SC column
Secondary Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A secondary claim is a claim for disabilities
that are proximately caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The
claimed condition could be a known complication of the Veteran's service-connected
disability. For example, known complications of service-connected diabetes include:
•Peripheral neuropathy
•Diabetic nephropathy
•Diabetic retinopathy
If the Veteran does not specify the cause of the claimed condition, check Medical Electronic
Performance Support System (EPSS) or consult with a Rating Veterans Service
Representative (RVSR) to find known complications of the Veteran's service connected
disabilities. You may also contact the Veteran to clarify the cause of the new claimed
condition.
Reopened Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A reopened claim is any claim for service
connection received after a finally denied claim in which VA must reconsider if the evidence
it presents is new and material. A finally denied claim means that over one year has elapsed
since the letter was sent notifying the claimant of the decision to deny the benefit sought.
Note: The term reopened does not apply to pension, increased ratings, or individual
unemployability. Those types of claims involve the review of new evidence based on new
applications, rather than reconsideration of prior decisions (see 38 CFR 3.160(e)).
, Find the notification letter that denied the disability in the center section of the C-File.
Compare the date of notification with the date of receipt stamp on the recently received
claim. Annotate your Compensation Checklist that the claimed condition is reopened, the date
on the rating in which it was denied, the reason it was denied, and the date of the award
notification letter. You will need all this information to build your Section 5103 letter in
MAP-D.
Claim for Reconsideration - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A claim for reconsideration is a
previously denied claimed condition within one year of the date on the award notification
letter. The Veteran has two choices to obtain a reconsideration of the condition: •Present new
and material evidence.
•File an appeal (notice of disagreement) on the denied claimed condition.
The Veteran has one year from the date on the notification letter to file an appeal on any
claim for compensation.
Disability claimed is secondary to another disability - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- secondary
claim
Disability was denied after one year of notification - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- reopened
claim
Previous decision has not been made for a claimed condition - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
new claim
Claim for reconsideration - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- reopened claim
New Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- For new claims, you will review the
correspondence submitted by the Veteran to identify the disabilities and/or special issues he
or she is claiming.
Special Issues - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Special issues claims have the following
characteristics:•Are politically and socially sensitive
•Require expeditious processing
•Require VA Regional Office (VARO)-specific development
, •Require minimal development (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cold weather
injury)
The following are special issues with special handling:•Agent Orange exposure
•Asbestos exposure
•Cold injury exposure
•Environment hazard exposure during the Gulf War
•HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
•Mustard gas exposure - transfer out
•Prisoner of war (POW)
•Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Radiation exposure - transfer out
•Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Clarify Claimed Disabilities - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Next, you will determine if the
Veteran needs to clarify any claimed disabilities. The purpose of clarifying claimed
disabilities is to obtain an accurate account of the claimed disabilities and issues.
For example, a Veteran may claim that he or she cannot walk on his or her leg and not say
which leg. You are required to specify which leg the disability affects.
Note what needs to be clarified either on note paper or on the Compensation Checklist from
the Compensation website.
Noting Submitted Evidence - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The purpose of noting the evidence
submitted by the Veteran is to identify development action for missing evidence.
The following are examples of submitted evidence: •Service personnel records (i.e., service
records, DD-214)
•Service treatment records (STRs)
•Private medical records (PMRs)
•Buddy statement
•Indication of treatment at VA Medical Center (VAMC)
•Post-service treatment records at military facility
Lesson 2 UPDATED ACTUAL Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Types of Non-Original Claims - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- You will identify non-original
claims as one of the five following types: New claim-claim for a condition for which a
previous decision has not been made
Claim for increase-claim when disabilities were previously granted
Secondary claim-claim when a disability claimed is secondary to another disability
Reopened claim-claimed disability was denied after one year from the date the Veteran was
notified
Claim for reconsideration-a previously denied claimed condition in which the appellate
period has not expired
New Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A new claim is a claim for a condition that has not
been claimed previously and for which a previous decision has not been made. A new claim
does not require a prescribed form and does not involve reconsideration of a prior claim.
Review the C-File to see if a previous claim was submitted.
Start at the bottom of the center section and review forward to see if the Veteran previously
claimed and/or withdrew this disability. Also, review the ratings to see if that disability was
denied or granted.
Claim for Increase - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A claim for increase is any application for
an increase in rate of a benefit being paid under a current award, or for resumption for
payments previously discontinued (according to 38 CFR 3.160(f)).
If a claim has not been previously denied, determine if disability was previously granted.
There are two methods to determine if a disability has been granted:
•C-File
•Share
,Note that the claim is for an increase if a claimed disability has been granted.
c- file - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- access the rating decision
review the code sheet
determine if the disability has been granted as service connected
determine the percent of disability
share - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- access share
access the corporate rating screen
look for a Y in the SC column
Secondary Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A secondary claim is a claim for disabilities
that are proximately caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The
claimed condition could be a known complication of the Veteran's service-connected
disability. For example, known complications of service-connected diabetes include:
•Peripheral neuropathy
•Diabetic nephropathy
•Diabetic retinopathy
If the Veteran does not specify the cause of the claimed condition, check Medical Electronic
Performance Support System (EPSS) or consult with a Rating Veterans Service
Representative (RVSR) to find known complications of the Veteran's service connected
disabilities. You may also contact the Veteran to clarify the cause of the new claimed
condition.
Reopened Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A reopened claim is any claim for service
connection received after a finally denied claim in which VA must reconsider if the evidence
it presents is new and material. A finally denied claim means that over one year has elapsed
since the letter was sent notifying the claimant of the decision to deny the benefit sought.
Note: The term reopened does not apply to pension, increased ratings, or individual
unemployability. Those types of claims involve the review of new evidence based on new
applications, rather than reconsideration of prior decisions (see 38 CFR 3.160(e)).
, Find the notification letter that denied the disability in the center section of the C-File.
Compare the date of notification with the date of receipt stamp on the recently received
claim. Annotate your Compensation Checklist that the claimed condition is reopened, the date
on the rating in which it was denied, the reason it was denied, and the date of the award
notification letter. You will need all this information to build your Section 5103 letter in
MAP-D.
Claim for Reconsideration - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A claim for reconsideration is a
previously denied claimed condition within one year of the date on the award notification
letter. The Veteran has two choices to obtain a reconsideration of the condition: •Present new
and material evidence.
•File an appeal (notice of disagreement) on the denied claimed condition.
The Veteran has one year from the date on the notification letter to file an appeal on any
claim for compensation.
Disability claimed is secondary to another disability - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- secondary
claim
Disability was denied after one year of notification - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- reopened
claim
Previous decision has not been made for a claimed condition - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
new claim
Claim for reconsideration - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- reopened claim
New Claim - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- For new claims, you will review the
correspondence submitted by the Veteran to identify the disabilities and/or special issues he
or she is claiming.
Special Issues - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Special issues claims have the following
characteristics:•Are politically and socially sensitive
•Require expeditious processing
•Require VA Regional Office (VARO)-specific development
, •Require minimal development (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cold weather
injury)
The following are special issues with special handling:•Agent Orange exposure
•Asbestos exposure
•Cold injury exposure
•Environment hazard exposure during the Gulf War
•HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
•Mustard gas exposure - transfer out
•Prisoner of war (POW)
•Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Radiation exposure - transfer out
•Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Clarify Claimed Disabilities - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Next, you will determine if the
Veteran needs to clarify any claimed disabilities. The purpose of clarifying claimed
disabilities is to obtain an accurate account of the claimed disabilities and issues.
For example, a Veteran may claim that he or she cannot walk on his or her leg and not say
which leg. You are required to specify which leg the disability affects.
Note what needs to be clarified either on note paper or on the Compensation Checklist from
the Compensation website.
Noting Submitted Evidence - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The purpose of noting the evidence
submitted by the Veteran is to identify development action for missing evidence.
The following are examples of submitted evidence: •Service personnel records (i.e., service
records, DD-214)
•Service treatment records (STRs)
•Private medical records (PMRs)
•Buddy statement
•Indication of treatment at VA Medical Center (VAMC)
•Post-service treatment records at military facility
