X.i.1
Part X module 1 · 24 section summaries
Protect finality and due process before changing an award.
Priority and special claims, finality/protected ratings, supplemental review, adverse action, reductions, CUE, and severance.
24 of 24 section summaries shownX.i.2.A
FDC program—general
Determine whether the claim qualifies for the Fully Developed Claim program and what evidence/certification the claimant provided.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.2.B
Process FDCs
Process efficiently while still taking required VA actions; move the claim from FDC treatment when additional non-FDC development is necessary.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.3.A
Foreign/special-act jurisdiction
Route special-act and foreign-residency claims to the office with designated jurisdiction before substantive processing.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.3.B
Foreign claims
Develop identity, residence, service, evidence, exams, payment, and communication under the foreign-claim procedure.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.4.A
Philippine cases—general
Identify the service organization/category, benefit sought, residence/citizenship facts, and special payment limitations.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.4.B
Philippine-service eligibility
Verify recognized service and determine which VA benefits that service category can support.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.4.C
Philippine claim development
Use designated service-verification sources and develop identity, relationship, evidence, and benefit-specific facts.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.4.D
Philippine awards/payments
Apply the correct rate, currency/residence rule, effective date, and payment restrictions tied to Philippine service.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.5.A
Merchant Marine Veteran status
Determine whether the voyage/service and dates fall within a recognized Merchant Marine group.
Read the captured Part X source →X.i.5.B
Merchant Marine records
Request the designated discharge, voyage, and service records; reconcile name, vessel, and date discrepancies.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.1.A
Finality
Identify the prior decision, notice, appeal/review history, and whether it became final before choosing the next claim lane.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.1.B
Protected ratings
Check 5-, 10-, and 20-year protections and other preservation rules before reducing, severing, or changing an established award.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.2.A
Supplemental/revision submissions
Classify the submission, determine new-and-relevant evidence or another authorized revision basis, and protect continuous-pursuit dates.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.2.B
Supplemental service records
When relevant official service records arrive later, apply reconsideration and special effective-date rules rather than ordinary reopening rules.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.3.A
Proposed adverse-action notice
Before a covered reduction/termination, explain the proposed action, evidence, reason, response time, hearing rights, and representation rights.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.3.B
Proposal period
Control the response period, evaluate evidence/hearing requests, and do not finalize before procedural rights are satisfied.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.3.C
Contemporaneous notice
Use immediate action with contemporaneous notice only when a listed exception permits it and include all required rights.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.3.D
Proposed rating decision
Write the proposed decision with the evidence, proposed change, reasons, dates, and issues needed for later final action.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.4.A
Reduction for improvement
Establish actual sustained improvement under the applicable stabilization and examination rules before proposing a lower evaluation.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.4.B
Authorize 3.105(e) reduction
After valid proposal and response period, evaluate new evidence, set the lawful reduction date, and issue the final notice.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.5.A
CUE revision
Identify a final decision and undebatable outcome-changing error based on the law and record existing at that decision.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.5.B
Severance
Require the high severance standard, address protection, propose with due process, and place the burden correctly.
Read the captured Part X source →X.ii.5.C