M21-1 Manual  /  Part II, Subpart iii, Chapter 4, Section A

The Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) Direct Connect (VDC) Program and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Claims Submission Service Websites

M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, Chapter 4, Section A

Overview

In This Section

 This section contains the following topics:
TopicTopic Name
1 Introduction to the VDC Program
2 VDC Rating Claims Intake
3 Determining the Date of Claim (DOC) and Effective Date for VDC Claims
4 Applications from VA Claims Submission Service Websites

1. Introduction to the VDC Program

Introduction

 This topic contains information about VDC claims, including
  • general description of the VDC Program
  • VDC interview process
  • identifying VDC claims, and
  • assignment of jurisdiction for claims.

Change Date

January 20, 2022

II.iii.4.A.1.a. General Description of the VDC Program

 Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) Direct Connect (VDC) allows claimants to file disability compensation and dependency applications via Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims submission service websites. In addition to an application for benefits, VDC allows claimants to upload supporting documents, eliminating mail and scanning procedures, to form a timelier end-to-end electronic claims process.

II.iii.4.A.1.b. VDC Interview Process

 VDC utilizes a question-and-answer interview-style interface to guide the claimant in completing forms approved by VA. The interview process limits omissions and misinterpretations of information requested from the Veteran for adjudicating a claim. Currently, VDC contains an interview process for the forms listed below. In addition to these forms, claimants may upload five supporting documents. Notes:
  • Pension and survivors’ claim forms are unavailable through VDC.
  • VDC accepts pre-discharge claims (excluding Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) claims).
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests may be contained within materials submitted by the claimant via VDC.
References: For more information on

II.iii.4.A.1.c. Identifying VDC Claims

 VDC claims are identifiable through a special issue flash and claim labels. Upon establishment of a claim, the VDC process affixes the special issue flash VONAPP Direct Connect under the first listed contention. Additionally, VDC uses claim labels beginning with the term eBenefits. The table below lists the VDC claim labels with corresponding end product (EP) series.
Claim LabelsEP Series
eBenefits 526EZ Initial Live Comp <8 Issues 110
eBenefits 526EZ Initial Live Comp 8+ Issues 010
eBenefits 526EZ Supplemental 020
eBenefits Dependency Adjustment 130
eBenefits Dependency Adjustment Reject 130
eBenefits School Attendance 130
eBenefits School Attendance Reject 130
eBenefits 526EZ-Pre Discharge <8 Issues 110
eBenefits 526EZ-Pre Discharge 8 + Issues 010
eBenefits 526EZ-Pre Discharge 020
Notes:
  • All claims received subsequent to the VDC submission by the claimant will create an incremental EP 400 series with an eBenefits claim label.
  • If a claimant submits his/her/their claim by means other than VDC and subsequently submits a claim through VDC, this will also create an incremental EP 400.
References: For more information on
  • EP control for pre-discharge claims, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.B.2, and
  • incremental EPs on VDC claims, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 4.A.2.d and e.

II.iii.4.A.1.d. Assignment of Jurisdiction for Claims

 Upon the establishment of an original claim, the VDC process assigns the station of origination (SOO) based on the claimant’s address. Non-original claims have the SOO assigned based on the station to last process an award. Established claims will be assigned to stations for processing by the National Work Queue (NWQ).

2. VDC Rating Claims Intake

Introduction

 This topic contains information regarding intake of rating claims submitted through VDC, including
  • workload management for VDC claims
  • review of VDC claims
  • Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) exclusions on VDC claims
  • incremental EPs on VDC claims
  • incremental EP consolidation on VDC claims, and
  • pre-discharge claims received through VDC.

Change Date

 February 9, 2021

II.iii.4.A.2.a. Workload Management for VDC Claims

 NWQ will distribute newly established VDC rating claims to regional offices (ROs) for processing. The RO in receipt of the rating EP to process will be responsible for consolidating any incremental VDC claims that have been established under an EP 400, following the instructions in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 4.A.2.e.

II.iii.4.A.2.b. Review of VDC Claims

Upon receipt of the claim in the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) work queue, the claims processor reviews the original and any incremental claims by taking the steps outlined in the table below.
StepAction
1 Perform a thorough review of the Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem record. If an error message is received or two records for the same Veteran are found, refer to the Duplicate Record Consolidation Materials for procedures to correct the records.
2 Request conversion of the paper claims folder if one exists.
3 Verify the EP and claim label. If necessary, correct the EP and claim label using the options found in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 4.A.1.c.

4

 Verify that the required attributes discussed in M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.F are associated with the Veteran or claim. Applying the correct claim attributes will ensure NWQ routes the claim to the correct station of jurisdiction in VBMS.
5 Review the claim and any supporting documentation uploaded by the claimant and manage received evidence in VBMS.
Note: For historical information on VDC Application Initiation and Dropped Evidence Reviews, see the attachment Historical_M21-1III_i_4_SecC_9-21-17.docx. References: For more information on

II.iii.4.A.2.c. VBMS Exclusions on VDC Claims

VDC does not screen claims to determine if they meet VBMS claims processing criteria. If VDC establishes a claim in VBMS that is an exclusion identified in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 3.A.1, process the claim using legacy systems as needed and upload legacy system-generated documents to the electronic claims folder (eFolder).

II.iii.4.A.2.d.
Incremental EPs on VDC Claims

 Claimants may submit up to nine additional disability claims electronically while a VDC claim EP is pending. Upon submission of these claims, VDC will establish incremental EPs in the 400 series. Note: Automatic establishment of incremental EPs only applies to claims submitted through VDC. Do not manually establish a 400 series EP for this purpose.

II.iii.4.A.2.e.
Incremental EP Consolidation on VDC Claims

 If a 400 series EP is established by VDC, the contention and evidence submitted with that subsequent submission must be consolidated into the pending primary VDC claim. The incremental EPs must be reconciled by the claims processor assigned to work the primary VDC claim using the table below.
StepAction
1 Copy all contentions from the incremental EP 400 to the primary rating EP.
2 Ensure proper date of receipt and special issue indicators are entered for each contention, as discussed in M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.F.
3 Add the new unsolicited evidence under the primary EP, following instructions in the VBMS Job Instruction Sheet - Manage Evidence.
4 Cancel the incremental 400 series EP(s) associated with the primary EP.
Note: Certain scenarios involving the VDC Dropped Evidence Review may have required specific actions to maintain proper EP control. Historical information regarding these actions is located in the attachment, Historical_M21-1III_i_4_SecC_9-21-17.docx.

II.iii.4.A.2.f. Pre-Discharge Claims Received Through VDC

 VDC accepts pre-discharge claims (excluding IDES claims). Reference: For more information on initial actions on receipt of an electronic pre-discharge claim, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.B.3.l.


3. Determining the DOC and Effective Date for VDC Claims

Introduction

 This topic contains information regarding the determination of the DOC and effective date for VDC claims, including
  • date stamp for claims submitted electronically
  • DOC for VDC claims, and
  • application initiation date.

Change Date

 February 9, 2021

II.iii.4.A.3.a.
Date Stamp for Claims Submitted Electronically

 Once a claim is submitted through a VA claims submission service website, VDC will time stamp the application and note the claim was submitted electronically on the top left corner of the application.

II.iii.4.A.3.b. DOC for VDC Claims

 Upon submission, VDC automatically establishes the EP with the date of claim (DOC) matching the submission date.

II.iii.4.A.3.c.
Application Initiation Date

 A claimant has up to one year to complete and submit an application once it is initiated in VDC. The application initiated date is recorded in the VA Date Stamp box on the top right corner of the application.

4. Applications From VA Claims Submission Service Websites


Introduction

 This topic contains information about applications received from VA claims submission service websites, including
  • general description of the VA.gov application process
  • identifying claims submitted through VA claims submission service websites
  • development when private medical records (PMRs) are identified during the compensation application process, and
  • compensation intent to files (ITFs) and claims submission service websites.

Change Date

 April 26, 2023

II.iii.4.A.4.a. General Description of the VA.gov Application Process

 The VA.gov claims submission service website (formerly available at Vets.gov) allows claimants to file initial claims for compensation, (such as a new claim for compensation or for an increased evaluation of a service-connected disability), supplemental claims for compensation benefits, Veterans Pension, and burial benefits via electronic submission of the following forms: The claimant can upload documents with the application. Any information that exceeds the character limits of the field on the application will be presented on a separate page at the end of the application and identified by a field number. The table below provides details on how the various claims applications are processed through the VA.gov submission process.
If the claimant submits a(n) ...Then the ...
initial claim for compensation claim will automatically be established and documents will be placed in the claimant’s eFolder.
supplemental claim documents will appear in the Centralized Mail (CM) portal and be referred for manual establishment of the claim in Caseflow.
  • Veterans Pension, or
  • burial benefits
documents will appear in CM. The claim will need to be manually established.
References: For more information on

II.iii.4.A.4.b. Identifying Claims Submitted Through VA Claims Submission Service Websites

 VA.gov will assign applications claim attributes based on the claim type. Use the table below to assist with identifying applications submitted via VA.gov.
If the online submission is a(n) ... Then the application will have the following identifying attributes...
initial compensation claim
  • an Electronic Submission watermark in the upper left corner of every page
  • EVSS listed as the SYSTEM SOURCE in the document properties, and
  • an eBenefits claim label.
Note: The following elements of the application will be provided to the claimant during the claims submission process but will not be part of the submitted form:
  • application instructions
  • Fully Developed Claim information, or
  • What The Evidence Must Show pages.
supplemental claim for compensation benefits
  • an Electronic Submission watermark in the upper left corner of every page
  • SMS listed as the SYSTEM SOURCE in the document properties, and
  • two separate date stamps from both the CM portal and VA.gov.
Note: The claimant’s acknowledgement of Section 5103 notice will be reflected on the generated VA Form 20-0995.
  • pension, or
  • burial application
  • an Electronic Submission watermark in the upper left corner of every page, and,
  • two separate date stamps from both the CM portal and VA.gov.
Important: The actual date of VA receipt of the application is based on the VA.gov or Vets.gov electronic date stamp and not the CM date stamp. Reference: For more information on VBMS document properties, see the VBMS Core User Guide.

II.iii.4.A.4.c. Development When PMRs Are Identified During the Compensation Application Process

 When a Veteran identifies private medical records (PMRs) related to the compensation claim and provides the information required by the forms, VA.gov will generate completed VA Forms 21-4242, Authorization to Disclose Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and 21-4142a, General Release for Medical Provider Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The completed forms will then be automatically routed to the PMR contractor to obtain the medical records on VA’s behalf, as discussed in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.2. Important:
  • The VA Form 21-526EZ overflow page (after the signature page) is annotated to indicate that the forms have been sent to the PMR contractor. VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a are not uploaded to the Veteran’s eFolder until the PMR contractor completes development for the PMRs.
  • Claims processors must add a tracked item if PMR development is still pending, as instructed in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 3.2.g.

II.iii.4.A.4.d. Compensation ITFs and Claims Submission Service Websites

 VA.gov will generate an intent to file (ITF) when a Veteran initiates and saves an initial compensation application or a supplemental claim for compensation benefits. Reference: For more information on ITFs, see

Source: VA M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, Chapter 4, Section A (U.S. government work, reproduced for reference). Browse all sections →