| Veterans Law Library |
A Comprehensive Collection of
Materials Relating to the Veterans
Benefits Adjudication Process
Materials Relating to the Veterans
Benefits Adjudication Process
Primary Sources
At its core, veterans benefits and the adjudication process are creations of laws
passed by Congress. Title 38 is the section of the United States Code dealing with
veterans benefits.
These statutes are generally cited as "38 U.S.C. § ___."
Chapters particularly relevant to the adjudication process include:
passed by Congress. Title 38 is the section of the United States Code dealing with
veterans benefits.
These statutes are generally cited as "38 U.S.C. § ___."
Chapters particularly relevant to the adjudication process include:
- Chapter 11: Compensation for Service-Connected Disability or Death
Chapter 13: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Service
Connected Deaths
Chapter 51: Claims, Effective Dates, and Payments
Chapter 53: Special Provisions Relating to Benefits
Chapter 71: Board of Veterans Appeals
Chapter 72: United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs implements the laws created by Congress through
regulations.
These regulations are generally cited as "38 C.F.R. § ___"
Chapters particularly relevant to the adjudication process include:
Chapter 3 governing the adjudication process is in the process of being rewritten.
For more information, see William L. Pine & William F. Russo, Making Veterans
Benefits Clear: VA's Regulation Rewrite Project, 61 Admin. L. Rev. 407 (2009), and
William A. Moorman & William F. Russo, Serving our Veterans Through Clearer
Rules, 56 Admin. L. Rev. 207 (2004). VA has posted copies of the draft regulations
on its website here.
regulations.
These regulations are generally cited as "38 C.F.R. § ___"
Chapters particularly relevant to the adjudication process include:
- Chapter 3: Adjudication
Chapter 4: Schedule for rating disabilities
Chapter 19: Board of Veterans' Appeals: Appeals regulations
Chapter 20: Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice
Chapter 3 governing the adjudication process is in the process of being rewritten.
For more information, see William L. Pine & William F. Russo, Making Veterans
Benefits Clear: VA's Regulation Rewrite Project, 61 Admin. L. Rev. 407 (2009), and
William A. Moorman & William F. Russo, Serving our Veterans Through Clearer
Rules, 56 Admin. L. Rev. 207 (2004). VA has posted copies of the draft regulations
on its website here.
The adjudicators who staff VA's regional offices are generally not attorneys. The
M21-1 manual is used by these lay adjudicators. The manual is being rewritten, and
the revised version is denominated as the M21-1MR. Its most current version is
available here.
M21-1 manual is used by these lay adjudicators. The manual is being rewritten, and
the revised version is denominated as the M21-1MR. Its most current version is
available here.
VA adjudicators can refer an issue to the Office of General Counsel for an opinion
on a legal issue before deciding a case. These opinions are binding on VA, but are
merely persuasive authority for the federal courts.
on a legal issue before deciding a case. These opinions are binding on VA, but are
merely persuasive authority for the federal courts.
“The willingness
with which our
young people are
likely to serve in
any war, no matter
how justified, shall
be directly
proportional as to
how they perceive
veterans of earlier
wars were treated
and appreciated by
this country.”
George Washington
with which our
young people are
likely to serve in
any war, no matter
how justified, shall
be directly
proportional as to
how they perceive
veterans of earlier
wars were treated
and appreciated by
this country.”
George Washington
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |