The Disability Claims Process for Veterans Living Abroad Explained

Who's Involved?  ||  What Happens?  ||  How Long?

• Triage Team
  Receive and review application and establish an electronic veteran file
• Pre-Determination Team
  Schedule a VA examination, if necessary
  Gather evidence
  Decide when a claim is ready for a final decision
• Rating Team
  Prepare a decision on the claim citing all the evidence and reasons for approval or denial
• Post Determination Team
  Notify the veteran
  Prepare the award of benefits, or the disallowance document

• U. S. Department of State
  When the military service medical records are not complete, or so old as to require a more current medical evaluation of the condition(s) being claimed for disability benefits, and the medical evaluation is to be made overseas, VA will coordinate requests for overseas medical examinations through the local American embassy or consulate.
  
  
• Veterans Health Administration Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Office of Financial Aid in Denver, CO
  The FMP is responsible for reimbursing veterans for authorized travel for C&P examinations as well as for payment to the examining physician(s) and other medical costs associated with the requested examinations.
  
  
• National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
  The NPRC in St. Louis, MO is the principal storage for non-active duty military service records.    VA receives many requests for copies of military records.    VA does not store any military records except for records needed to decide eligibility for VA benefits, and only after a veteran applies for a benefit.

• Veteran completes VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension, on-line or downloads a copy of the form to complete and send by regular mail.
  
  Note:   Veterans should not use this form if applying for an increase in disability benefits for an existing claim.   A simple request for review detailing the particular disability would suffice.    That request may be made through VA's Ask a Question web page.  Click on "Question" and select "Benefits Issues Outside the U.S." for your topic.
  
  At the same time the claim is sent to VA, whether electronically, or hard copy via traditional mail, the veteran needs to send whatever evidence is available to support the information entered in the claim form.  This might include:
  • Separation, or discharge papers (DD 214).    Missing separation papers may be requested from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
  • Military medical records, if still in the veterans possession.    Otherwise, VA must wait for the military service department to furnish the records, or VA must request the records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO.
  • Any civilian medical records related to the claimed disability.
  • Copies of marriage and birth records for any claimed dependents.
  
  
  
• The electronic application is downloaded at one of the VA regional offices assigned to handle claims from abroad and converted to a paper document for processing.
  
  
• The veteran must print out and sign the last page of the electronic application and mail it to the office responsible for processing the foreign claim.    An award for benefits cannot be paid without the veteran's signature.    Processing can go forward, however, to the final decision, but a payment cannot be released without the signature.   The advantage of filing electronically is that benefits are paid from the date of claim regardless of how long it takes to process.   The date of claim is set electronically when the applicant completes the electronic application and presses the "Enter" key.
  
  
• The Triage Team reviews the application for complete information and enters data to create an electronic veteran record.    (At some point in the future this record will be created automatically from the electronic application.)   Incomplete forms will be returned.   If there is enough information and other evidence to begin processing, the Triage team will pass the claim to the Pre-Determination Team.
  
  
• The primary mission of the Pre-Determination Team is to provide complete and timely development of claims.   The team will fully develop and prepare Administrative Decisions after all evidence has been reviewed.   It is at this point that a medical examination may be required that will supply more current information as to the nature and severity of the disability condition(s).
  
  
• When further medical information is needed, the Pre-Determination Team will contact an embassy or consulate nearest the overseas veteran with a request for the examination.   At the same time, the veteran is notified that VA is scheduling the exam.   Forms for travel reimbursement and the examination are included with the notice.   It is the veteran's responsibility to cooperate by reporting for examinations as scheduled.    If the veteran does not report, VA regulations permit the claim to be adjudicated (reviewed and rated) without a VA examination.   The lack of current medical evidence may [and often does] result in denial of the benefit sought.
  
  
• The VA office handling your claim will set up a diary date for return of the new medical examination evidence.
  
  
• When all the evidence is gathered and certified as ready to rate, the Pre-Determination team will forward the package to the Rating Team for final assessment of the nature, type and degree of disability based on all evidence on hand.   In other words, the Rating Team decides whether the disability is the result of, or occurred during, a term of active military duty, the type of medical condition, and the degree to which the condition is disabling.   If service connection is granted and the rating is above zero percent, payments will be authorized.
  
  
• The last step is accomplished by the Post-Determination Team.   They send the notification to the veteran and follow up on any other issues raised by the Rating Team.   For instance, if the claim is denied, appeal rights are included in the notification letter.
  
  

• "How long will it take to get an answer?"
• "What's the status of my claim?"