Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program-Duty To Assist

This document amends the vocational rehabilitation and employment regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning VA's responsibility to provide notification regarding information or evidence needed for an individual to substantiate a claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits and services, and regarding applicable time periods. VA's duty to assist claimants in substantiating their claims for benefits was expanded by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. This rulemaking incorporates those provisions in VA's regulations. Specifically, upon receipt of a substantially complete application for benefits, VA will make reasonable efforts to help the claimant obtain the evidence necessary to substantiate the claim. In addition, VA is making changes to improve readability and other clarifying changes that are nonsubstantive.

Agency Contact: Alvin Bauman, Senior Policy Analyst, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (28), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-9613.