Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

New Regulations Become Effective

March 24, 2015

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015: 1. All claims governed by VA’s adjudication

regulations are required to be filed on standard forms prescribed by the Secretary.

2. All informal claims are required to be filed on a standard form.

3. All Notices of Disagreement are required to be filed on a standard form.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015: Compensation claims are required to be

filed on form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.

Pension claims must be filed on form 21-527EZ, Application for Pension.

Survivors claims must be filed on form 21-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015:

The EZ forms were previously available on an optional basis. Under the new regulations, VA will mandate their use.

Veterans and survivors do not have to file fully developed claims (FDCs) when using these mandatory forms, but VA is strongly encouraging FDC participation in order to help expedite delivery of benefits through the FDC program.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015: Informal claims must be filed using form

21-0966, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, Survivors Pension, or Other Benefits.

Because submitting an intent to file a claim protects an effective date of benefits for up to one year, individuals seeking compensation or pension benefits will have a full year to gather and submit evidence necessary to support a claim.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015: Form 21-0966 should be used by DAV Service Officers to protect an effective date of benefits while a claimant gathers evidence necessary to submit a Fully Developed Claim.

After the evidence is gathered, then an EZ Form is used to submit the FDC claim.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Effective March 24, 2015: A claimant or authorized representative

may initiate an appeal by using mandated form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement.

Any claimant receiving a VA Form 21-0958, with their decision on a claim, who wishes to appeal that decision, must do so by completing and submitting that form.

Standard Claims and Appeals Forms

Information about using the mandated EZ forms, the form 21-0966, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, Survivors Pension, or Other Benefits, and form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement, is included in:

• The DAV Service Officer Guide, available for download from the members-only section of the DAV.org web site

• The DSO-CSO Certification Training Program

Questions?

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