EMS Alternate Contention Name Job Aid
Create a concise, usable alternate contention name before an EMS exam request when the claimant wording or Caseflow label is confusing.
Curated operational layer · VA-network links
Use the useful job aid. Leave the archive behind.
The downloader captured everything. This page keeps the current, operationally useful layer visible while separating it from controlling M21/CFR authority.
Subject
EP
Exam Clarification Requests Prevention Job Aid
Build clearer exam requests and reduce avoidable clarification returns. Use with the current M21 exam/opinion rules.
Uploading VAMC Examination Requests Job Aid
System steps for associating VAMC examination requests and results correctly.
Reconstructing Fire-Related Records Job Aid
Follow the special development path when service records may have been destroyed in the NPRC fire.
PACT Act Implementation SOP — Version 9
Operational PACT/TERA processing instructions. Pair with current M21 and CFR authority and verify the live version before use.
TERA Determination Flow Chart — Version 2
Visual gate for whether a claimed issue requires TERA development/examination or another theory path.
TERA Exception Job Aid — Version 6
Screen claimed conditions and evidence against current TERA-exam exceptions before ordering an opinion.
TERA Memorandum Job Aid — Version 11
Complete and document the TERA memorandum when required. Check the 2026 embedded-VBMS mandate below.
Quality Reviewer Tip Sheet — VBMS-Embedded TERA Memorandum
Shows how QRT identifies and documents use of a standalone PDF instead of the mandated VBMS-embedded TERA memorandum.
Herbicide Presumptive Job Aid 3.0
Match qualifying herbicide service and conditions, then check direct and other theories when the presumption does not fit.
Gulf War Era Service Areas Job Aid
Visual/location support for qualifying Gulf War service-area questions.
Effective Date Job Aid for Presumptive Disabilities — Version 5.0
Orient special presumptive effective-date questions before applying the controlling rule to the claim timeline.
Suggested Diagnostic Codes for Parkinson's, MS, and ALS
Map common manifestations to diagnostic codes. Current M21 sections explicitly refer processors to this aid.
COD Advance-Notice Instructions — Version 3
Determine and issue the current advance notice for a character-of-discharge determination.
COD Decision and Notification Instructions — Version 3
Current COD decision/notification chain; directs users to M21-1 X.iv.1.A and the two current system aids below.
Entering COD Determinations Job Aid
Enter the completed COD determination in Share/BIRLS/VBMS under the current Version 3 procedure.
COD Notification Letters — VBMS Letters UI
Create current COD notification through the VBMS Letters interface; replaces the old static letter templates.
Notice of Exceptions SOP
Use for the dedicated notice-of-exception process when the claim facts and current procedure require it.
38 U.S.C. 5302B — Prevention of Debt Due to Processing Delays SOP
Screen qualifying processing-delay debt questions and required payment/debt-prevention action.
Updated Guidance — Dependents Involving Military Retired Pay
Handle dependent addition/removal when military retired pay affects the award action.
Failed Dependency Submissions SOP
Resolve dependency submissions that failed online/system processing instead of treating the submission as completed.
VA.gov Claim Submission Failure SOP
Protect and route a claim that failed online submission; preserve the receipt-date question and establish the correct downstream control.
VA.gov Failed 4142 Submission SOP
Resolve failed private-record authorization submissions and continue the correct evidence-development path.
Error Correction Validation Process SOP
Explains local QMS validation of completed error corrections and the audit trail used to confirm that corrective action actually occurred.
VBA Letter 20-24-06 — PACT Act Processing
Updated PACT Act policy guidance for disability claims, reviews, remands, and appeals. Use with the current M21 and implementation SOP.
ILER Guidance — Version 7
Obtain, interpret, and document ILER information in toxic-exposure development.
PACT Act Flowchart — Version 4
High-level routing aid across PACT presumptive and TERA processing paths.
PACT Special Issue Scenarios
Examples for assigning PACT-related special issues in different claim situations.
PACT Act FAQs — Version 6.0
Operational answers for recurring PACT processing questions; verify against current M21 and policy when an answer affects entitlement.
TERA Memorandum Examiner Job Aid — Version 3.0
Shows examiners how to use the TERA memorandum information supplied with an examination request.
TERA Rating Decision Narrative Examples — Version 3
Current-at-capture narrative examples for documenting TERA-related rating outcomes; examples do not replace issue-specific analysis.
VBMS-R TERA Special Issues Job Aid — Version 6
Select and document the applicable TERA special issue in VBMS-R.
TERA and CUE Guidance
Orient the interaction between TERA requirements and a CUE posture before applying the controlling CUE and PACT procedures.
PACT Act Section 103 SOP with Addendum — Version 5
Process Section 103 health-care eligibility determinations and related claims-system actions.
Section 103 Flowchart — Version 2.0
Visual routing companion to the Section 103 SOP.
VBA TERA Health Care Eligibility Checklist — Version 2
Document the VBA health-care eligibility determination required by the Section 103 process.
VBA Modified TERA Memorandum for Health Care Purposes — Version 2
Use only in the Section 103 health-care-purpose context described by current guidance.
C-123 Aircraft Herbicide Exposure Job Aid
Develop and decide the specialized C-123 aircraft herbicide-exposure service path.
Diagnostic Codes for Gulf War Presumptions
Operational diagnostic-code reference for qualifying Gulf War presumptive disability patterns.
Radiation Job Aid
Route radiation-exposure development under the correct statutory, regulatory, and M21 framework.
SHAD Job Aid
Develop claims involving Project SHAD/testing exposure under the dedicated procedure.
BDD Entrance Examinations Interim Guidance
Do not exclude an otherwise eligible BDD claim solely because the entrance exam is absent; complete and document the specified limited development.
BDD / BDD-Excluded PTSD Development Tip Sheet
Apply the pre-discharge PTSD/MST stressor-statement and DBQ routing rules described for BDD and BDD-excluded claims.
Requesting Air Force and Navy–Marine Corps Investigative Reports
Use the dedicated request channel for relevant service investigative reports instead of a generic records request.
Convalescence Effective Date Job Aid
Orient temporary-total convalescence evaluation and effective-date questions before applying the rating schedule and M21.
Spicer / Allen Aggravation Job Aid — Version 2
Analyze secondary aggravation under the current Spicer/Allen framework and request/assess the appropriate opinion.
SMC Calculator Job Aid
Operate the SMC calculator after the legal entitlement questions and required evaluations are resolved.
SMC Calculator User Guide
Detailed user instructions for the SMC calculator; not independent authority for SMC entitlement.
TBI and SMC(t) Job Aid
Specialized decision support when TBI residuals and potential SMC(t) are raised.
SOP for CUE Severance Award Processing
Implement a CUE/severance award action under the dedicated proposal, final-action, and payment procedure.
AQ95 Character of Discharge Guidance
Retained provisionally as floating COD guidance while it remains on the current source page; verify against current M21-1 X.iv.1.A.
Appendix F — MCM App. 12 Punishments
Supporting COD reference only; the document itself warns users to verify the current Manual for Courts-Martial.
Appendix G — SecVA Memorandum
Policy background for COD analysis; not a stand-alone workflow or current system instruction.
AskDFAS Waiver of Military Pay and Allowances
Submit and document a waiver inquiry through the designated AskDFAS process.
Direct Deposit Tip Sheet
Resolve recurring direct-deposit update and payment-routing questions using the current system procedure.
Proceeds Workflow SOP
Primary operational sequence for proceeds cases; use with the current M21 and related remediation guidance.
Proceeds Workflow Job Aid
Working companion for the proceeds SOP and required system steps.
Unresolved Proceeds Remediation Guidance
Use only for unresolved/remediation cases within its defined scope.
Self-Authorization Primer
Determine whether self-authorization is permitted and what risk controls apply.
Self-Authorization Job Aid
Complete the required system and review steps when self-authorization is allowed.
VLJ Survey Results and Claims Processing Reminders
Board-identified reminders for records, lay evidence, opinion adequacy, TERA opinions, and recurring development/decision defects.
Public Laws 117-303 / 117-271 MST Coordination Memorandum
Processing guidance for revised trauma forms, MST coordination, VHA notification consent, and related development.
Updating VHA Communication Consent and Enrollment Fields
Update the VBMS fields used by the MST automatic-notification process when the displayed values are incorrect.
Consent to VHA Letter Attachment
Current attachment explaining the optional VHA notification consent for covered MST-related events.
DSAID Lookup Tool SOP — Version 3.2
Use the designated lookup process when DSAID information is relevant to a personal-trauma/MST claim.
VA.gov Failed Claim Submission FAQs
Questions and examples supporting the failed 21-526EZ submission SOP.
Letter Creator User Guide
Operate the Letter Creator tool after the controlling notice content and recipient requirements are known.
Excluded from normal use
Superseded material stays out of recommendations.
Archived PL 24-01, old COD Appendices A/B, predecessor COD instructions, static COD letter templates, and January 2025 temporary AS21/AS27 guidance are excluded. Current COD Version 3 materials do not incorporate the old templates; the temporary AS21/AS27 rules are now in current M21 content.
Use controlling M21/CFR source →