VIII.iv.1.A
Part VIII module 3 · 27 section summaries
Use the dedicated lane for special claims and special benefits.
PTSD, FPOW, IU, SMC, chronic disease, §1151, paired organs, temporary total ratings, special operations, and diving claims.
27 of 27 section summaries shownVIII.iv.1.B
PTSD/personal trauma development
Use trauma-sensitive notice and marker-evidence development; do not require the same corroboration used for ordinary stressors.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.1.C
PTSD examinations/opinions
Request an examination that identifies the diagnosis, stressor basis, nexus, and marker opinion when applicable.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.1.D
PTSD evidence/decision
Determine stressor sufficiency and corroboration under the correct route, then decide diagnosis and nexus on the whole record.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.1.E
Personal-trauma PTSD decision
Evaluate markers, behavioral change, lay evidence, medical opinion, and reasonable doubt under the dedicated personal-trauma standard.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.2.A
FPOW status
Establish former-prisoner-of-war status and qualifying detention facts before applying FPOW presumptions.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.2.B
FPOW service records
Request and evaluate the specialized service records and sources used to confirm captivity and circumstances.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.2.C
FPOW development/exam
Develop claimed conditions, presumptions, captivity history, and required examinations under the FPOW procedure.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.2.D
FPOW rating
Apply qualifying status, listed presumptions, rebuttal rules, and direct theories to each claimed condition.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.3.A
IU—general
Identify how unemployability was raised and separate the legal IU question from a medical disability finding.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.3.B
IU development
Develop employment, education, earnings, functional impairment, treatment, and employer information reasonably available.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.3.C
IU rating/review
Apply schedular or referral rules, consider only service-connected impairment, explain employability findings, and review ancillary issues.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.3.D
IU income monitoring
Verify earned income and protected/marginal employment facts before proposing discontinuance or adjustment, with due process.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.4.A
Special monthly compensation
Consider every SMC level reasonably raised, using the specific anatomical-loss, loss-of-use, aid-and-attendance, housebound, and combination rules.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.4.B
SMC history
Use historical rules and effective dates when an older period may involve a prior SMC provision.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.5
Chronic diseases
Match the listed disease, qualifying service, manifestation period/degree, continuity facts, and rebuttal evidence to the presumption.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.6.A
§1151 development
Identify VA treatment/activity, additional disability or death, causation, fault/unforeseeability theory, consent evidence, and required medical opinion.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.6.B
§1151 rating
Compare condition before and after VA care, decide actual/proximate causation and the applicable fault or unforeseeability requirement.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.6.C
§1151 authorization
Authorize the award with correct coding, offsets, effective date, ancillary benefits, and notice; §1151 is not ordinary service connection.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.7.A
Paired organs/extremities
Determine whether the service-connected and non-service-connected paired disabilities meet 38 CFR 3.383 thresholds.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.7.B
Paired-organ awards/offsets
Build the award and any offset using the special paired-organ rule, correct evaluations, dates, and payment controls.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.8.A
Prestabilization rating
Use 38 CFR 4.28 only for qualifying recently discharged Veterans with unstable severe disability and control the mandatory reexamination/review.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.8.B
Hospitalization rating
Verify qualifying service-connected hospital treatment and duration under 38 CFR 4.29, including admission/discharge dates and extensions.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.8.C
Convalescent rating
Verify qualifying surgery/treatment, date, convalescence or severe postoperative residuals, and extension evidence under 38 CFR 4.30.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.8.D
Other temporary totals
Identify the exact temporary-total authority, eligibility facts, start/stop dates, examination control, and due-process requirements.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.9.A
Special operations incidents
Use restricted/specialized verification procedures for participation and incident facts, then develop diagnosis and nexus.
Read the captured Part VIII source →VIII.iv.9.B