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1. Objectives
To describe The Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program
To explain how to file both Formal and Informal FDC’s
To explain the value of DBQ’s in the FDC process
To explain Fast Letter and the one year retro requirements

2. National Performance
Based on national numbers as of June 1, 2014 for FY 2014:
Nearly 146K FDCs completed, with an average days to complete (ADC) to date of 147.4
Nearly 38K FDCs that have been excluded from the program with an ADC of 248.8
Nearly 682K non FDC claims (traditional claims) completed with an ADC of 261.9
To date, there are nearly 864K total claims completed with an ADC of 242.1

3. What is a Fully Developed Claim (FDC)?
The Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program is an initiative that offers Veterans and survivors faster decisions from VA on compensation, pension, and survivor benefit claims.
For an FDC, VA will
Retrieve relevant records from a Federal facility, such as a VA medical center when identified by a claimant
Provide a medical examination, or get medical opinion, if VA determines it is necessary to decide the claim
VA will send a development letter to the claimant under the FDC program only when:
- A claim for a condition has been previously denied
- VA determines that federal records are unavailable

4. What’s different about an FDC?
FDC Program
Provides claimants notice of the evidence necessary to substantiate a claim prior to submission
Claimants submit all evidence necessary to decide their claim at the time of submission and certify there is no additional evidence
Significant reduction in processing time
Standard Claim Process
Provides claimants notice of the evidence necessary to substantiate a claim after a claim is received
Supporting evidence is submitted after the claim is filed
- Often awaiting evidence from
sources, e.g. private doctors
Longer processing times

5. FDC Exclusions (Traditional Claims)
A few types of claims are not specifically covered by the FDC notice. Examples include:
Claims for Permanent & Total status
Claims for Hepatitis C
Claims for a higher level of SMC (i.e. R-2)
Administrative Exclusions:
IE.. Needs non-Fed evidence development, Evidence received after FDC is CEST’d, Claimant declined FDC processing, FDC certification incomplete, Additional claim submitted, Claim pending, Appeal pending, Necessary form(s) not submitted, Failure To Report to exam

6. By filing one or more of the VA approved FDC forms:
Submitting an FDC
By filing one or more of the VA approved FDC forms:
VA Form ez Fully Developed Claim (Compensation)
VA Form ez Fully Developed Claim (Pension)
VA Form ez Fully Developed Claim (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and Accrued Benefits)
Obtaining an eBenefits account to file online at
Please note: The new forms are dated August Only the forms dated August 2013 or later will be accepted into the FDC program .

7. Private medical evidence includes:
Submitting an FDC
A claimant must submit copies of Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQ’s) or their private treatment records for VA to consider in order to remain eligible for the FDC program
Private medical evidence includes:
- Treatment notes from private physicians
- Hospital records, Outpatient records
- National Guard/Reserve records
- Any medical records related to the claimed disability
Medical records alone typically will NOT replace the VA examination requirement
If the claimant submits a completed VA Form for a private provider the claim will be excluded from the FDC process

8. Disability Benefit Questionnaires
DBQs are downloadable electronic forms that, once completed by a private physician with an active medical license, serve as the equivalent to an examination at a VA facility
DBQs can speed the Fully Developed Claims process by providing medical information that is directly relevant to determining a disability rating
Claimant has the option of visiting a private health care provider to complete these at their cost instead of waiting for an appointment at a VA facility
Submitting an appropriately completed DBQ(s) along with an FDC can eliminate the need to attend a VA examination

9. What types of claims can be FDC?
Service connection (original, new, secondary, and reopened)
Service connection based on a period of active duty for training or inactive duty training
Increased disability compensation
Individual Unemployability
Temporary total disability rating due to hospitalization or due to surgical or other treatment
Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151
Increased benefits based on the need for aid and attendance or based on an additional disability or housebound status (SMC)
Specially adapted housing or special home adaptation
Automobile allowance or adaptive equipment
Benefits based on a Veteran’s helpless/seriously disabled child

10. What types of claims can be FDC? (cont.)
Improved Pension
Special Monthly Pension (Aid and Attendance or housebound benefits)
Improved Pension benefits based on a Veteran’s helpless/seriously disabled child
Accrued benefits
DIC based on service-connected cause of death
DIC based on 38 U.S.C. §1318
DIC based on active-duty-for-training or inactive-duty-training death
Survivor’s pension and Parents’ DIC
38 U.S.C §1151 DIC
Increased survivor benefits (aid and attendance or housebound)
Benefits for a Veteran’s helpless/seriously disabled child

11. VA’s Duty to Assist
The EZ forms provide notification required by 38 C.F.R§5103 at the time the claimant applies for benefits.
Compensation claims (1-10 on the previous slide) MUST be submitted on VA Form EZ
Pension claims (11-13 on the previous slide) MUST be submitted on VA Form EZ
Survivor claims (13-21 on the previous slide) MUST be submitted on VA Form EZ
All 3 of these forms satisfy the DTA requirements of 38 C.F.R§5103
All 3 of these forms can also be electronically completed and submitted at
Requirements for the submission of additional forms for “Special Circumstances” are described in the next 3 slides

12. Application Special Circumstances
Guard and Reserve members, must submit all service treatment and personnel records in the custody of their Unit(s)
If claiming dependents, must submit VA Form c, Declaration of Status of Dependents (with ALL birth and marriage documentation)
If claiming a child in school between ages of 18 and 23, must submit VA Form , Request for Approval of School Attendance
If claiming seriously disabled (helpless) child, must submit all relevant medical records pertaining to the child’s disabilities before obtaining the age of 18
If claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a completed VA Form , Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD; if claiming PTSD based on Personal Trauma, VA Form a

13. Application Special Circumstances (cont.)
If claiming Individual Unemployability (IU), a completed VA Form , Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, and a completed VA Form , Request for Employment Information in Connection with a Claim for Disability Benefits
If claiming a Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation, a completed VA Form , Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation
If claiming Auto Allowance, a completed VA Form , Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment
If claiming additional benefits because the Veteran or his/her spouse requires Aid and Attendance, a completed VA Form , Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance, If claiming Aid and Attendance, based on nursing home attendance, completed VA Form 0779, Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance

14. Application Special Circumstances (cont.)
If claiming DIC as the parent of the Veteran, all necessary income and net worth information and, if claimant benefits as the foster parent of the Veteran, a completed VA Form , Statement of Claiming to Have Stood in Relation of Parent
Survivor Claims require the submission of the Veterans Death Certificate (unless he/she died on active duty)
Dual Compensation and Pension claims MUST be submitted separately on VA Forms EZ and EZ

15. Exclusions from the FDC Program
An applicant can be excluded from the FDC program for various reasons, including:
The claimant indicates he/she does not want VA to process his/her claim under the FDC program
The claimant has a claim pending at the time VA receives the EZ form
The claimant has an appeal pending at the time VA receives the EZ form and the claims folder is not located at the regional office (RO) of jurisdiction
The claimant fails to simultaneously submit any of the additional items VA requires to process his/her specific claim
Further evidence is needed from the claimant such as
-(a) private medical care provider(s), or
-records in the custody of the Veteran’s Guard/Reserve unit

16. Exclusions from the FDC Program
The claim requires a character of discharge determination
Completion of NA Form 13055, Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data, (by the claimant) because his/her service treatment records were destroyed by a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973
The Veteran fails to report for a VA examination and asks VA to reschedule it (unless VA is solely at fault because it, for example, did not provide the examining facility with the claimant’s correct mailing address), or
The Veteran submits another claim, additional evidence, or a notice of disagreement after submitting the FDC

17. FDC Program Development
The only development VA undertakes in connection with an FDC is to request:
A VA Examination
To request Federal records in the custody of the Federal government (This includes records in the custody of VA medical centers but excludes records in the custody of a Veteran’s Reserve/Guard unit(s) or records at NPRC that can only be obtained if the claimant completes NA Form 13055), VA must undertake the development described in M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart i, 3.B and/or
If a claimant submits an FDC in an effort to reopen a previously denied claim, VA must undertake the development described in M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart i, 3.B.7.

18. FDC Program Development (cont.)
For both Federal Records and Reopened FDC’s when notifying the claimant of the VA’s findings it should include the following:
“We received your claim and your request to participate in the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program. Though you indicated you have no other information or evidence to give VA to support your claim, we are required to send you this notice. If you have information or evidence not previously submitted to VA that supports your claim, we recommend you submit it. As a reminder, if you submit any additional information or evidence at this point, VA will remove your claim from the FDC Program Expedited Process and process it in the Standard Claim Process.”
The VA will not wait for a response to the letter before undertaking the development actions
The VA will allow the claimant 30 days to respond to the letter. If the claimant submits additional evidence, then the claim is removed from the FDC program

19. FDC Program Development (cont.)
When a claim is excluded from the FDC program, either at initial receipt or subsequently, the claimant is notified using language such as:
“We cannot process your claim under the Fully Developed Claim Program because…
we received evidence requiring further development after the claim was received.
you did not report for a scheduled VA examination.
you did not sign your FDC application.

20. Informal or Incomplete Claims
To submit an Incomplete (online) or Informal claim, use VA Form or a letter with the following statement:
“The American Legion as POA or as Next Friend of Claimant, pursuant to 38 C.F.R (a) on behalf of the claimant informs the VA of the claimant’s intent to apply for compensation and/or pension benefits under the FDC Program.  This statement is to preserve the effective date for entitlement to benefits.  The veteran’s date of birth is 10/19/1951.
Claimant understands they have one year to complete the claim or they will lose the effective date of this claim.”

21. Informal or Incomplete Claims
If a claimant identifies a specific contention (e.g., left leg, diabetes, etc) the VA will consider it a formal application. It will place the claim under end product control (e.g., EP 020) effective the date of receipt of the communication, and it will be moved forward for processing.
Also if a claim is filed for one of the Special Circumstances such as PTSD, Agent Orange exposure, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), etc., and the claim is submitted without the proper forms and further development from the claimant is needed, then the claim must be removed from the FDC program (ie..submitting a VA Form )

22. One-year Retroactive Date
On August 6, 2012, the President signed a comprehensive legislative package, the “Honoring America Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012,” PL Section 506 of this Act amends 38 U.S.C.§5110 to allow up to a one-year retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation based on fully developed original claims. August 2, 2013 Fast Letter Processing Fully Developed Original Claims Received from August 6, 2013 through August 5, 2015 further defined this benefit.

23. Eligibility for the one-year retroactive date
The claim must be compensation – no other types of claims are eligible
The claim must be original, an initial formal (complete) claim filed by a Veteran or their representative
The Veteran must have separated from his/her last period of active duty service more than one year ago
The claim must be received from August 6, 2013 through
August 5, 2015
The claim must be received on a VA Form EZ. Veterans can also apply through eBenefits using VONAPP Direct Connect (VDC)
If any of these requirements are not met, VA will determine if the claim is still eligible for processing under the FDC program

24. Calculating the one-year retroactive date
The evidence of record must support the evaluation assigned from the effective date. For example; if evidence submitted with the FDC shows the level of disability existed for one year prior to submission of the claim, then process the award with a one-year retroactive effective date. If, however, the evidence of record supports less than one-year of disability, process the award accordingly Unless there is evidence clearly supporting a staged rating, the rating should be consistent through the entire retroactive period.

25. Calculating the one-year retroactive date
Claimants are eligible to receive retroactive pay and an effective date calculated as whichever is the earlier of
- the date up to one year prior to receipt of the complete
FDC if the facts support such an effective date, or
- the date of receipt of an informal claim for which a formal
(complete) FDC was subsequently received
In either case, the effective date may not be more than one year prior to the date the formal (complete) FDC claim is received.

26. Calculating the one-year retroactive date
If a claimant initiates an application for an original FDC compensation claim online on January 1, 2013, (considered the date of claim), but does not submit the completed electronic application until September 1, 2013, the effective date for any benefit awarded would be September 1, 2012, or one year from the date VA received the fully developed electronic claim.
The one-year retroactive pay is always calculated from the date the formal claim is filed.

27. Calculating the one-year retroactive date
If evidence of record submitted with an FDC shows the level of disability existed for one year prior to submission of the claim, then the claim should be awarded with a one-year retroactive effective date
If there is medical evidence clearly showing that the claimed medical condition did not exist, or had not manifested to a compensable degree, either during the one year prior to the date of claim, or following the date of claim, and evidence is received supporting the disability while the claim is pending, then the effective should be based on the specific facts in the case.
Important: The one-year retroactive effective date cannot be granted for claims removed from the FDC program

28. Time to Gather Evidence
Lock in an effective date by paper or online
A claimant can start a claim online at save the incomplete claim. Then complete the submission of the claim and all the supporting evidence once it is gathered
A claimant has one year from the date the claim is initiated to complete the submission of the fully developed claim to preserve the initiation date for benefit payment

29. Forms and Information
Download any VA Form including EZ Forms at:
DBQs can be downloaded at:
FDC Website is located at:
eBenefits:

30. eBenefits and SEP
Filing an electronic claim keeps the claim digital and allows VSO’s to work in the Stakeholder Enterprise Portal (SEP).
Enter/Update Dependency claims
Accept/Decline new Power of Attorney requests
Check the status of pending claims
Upload supporting documents
View payment history
Complete some online claims forms; VA Form ez, VA Form C, VA Form , VA Form , and VA Form VA Form and VA Form have been integrated into the EZ and the questions that need to be answered for those forms will be brought up through that process.

31. Questions