Tennessee Department Of Veterans’ Affairs

38 CFR

Code of Federal Regulations Pensions, Bonuses and Veteran’s Relief Parts 0 to 17 And Parts 18 to end Presented by Randy D. Lingerfelt, VBR III

Tennessee Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Subject: What is the CFR and how to use it.

Objective: Understand how to find things and use the CFR to better serve our Veterans in the claims process. Know where to find other reference materials to assist you in doing your job as a Service Officer.

What is the C.F.R.?

The Code of Federal Regulations is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

What C.F.R.?

The main parts you should be familiar with are: Part 1 - General Provisions Part 3 - Adjudication Part 4 - Schedule for rating disabilities Part 17 - Medical Part 19 - BVA regulations Part 20 - BVA rules of practice Part 21 - Voc Rehab and Education

What C.F.R.?

Parts you should be aware of: Part 6 - U.S. Government life insurance Part 7 - Soldiers’ and sailors’ civil relief Part 8 - National Service Life Insurance Part 8a - Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance Part 9 - SGLI and VGLI Part 13 - Fiduciary activities Part 14 - Legal services Part 36 - Loan Guaranty

38 CFR, PART 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

    The United States Flag for Burial Purposes: 1.10

Parking Fees at VA Medical Facilities: 1.300 - 1.303

Release of Information from VA Records Relating to Drug Abuse, Alcoholism or Alcohol Abuse, Infection With HIV or Sickle Cell Anemia: 1.460 - 1.469

Disclosure with Patient’s Consent: 1.475 1.479

Part 1 Cont.

    Disclosure Without Patient Consent: 1.485 - 1.489

Court Orders Authorizing Disclosures and Use: 1.490 - 1.496

Release of Information From VA Claimant Records: 1.500 - 1.527

Safeguarding Personal Information in VA Records: 1.575 - 1.582

Part 1 Cont.

    Expanded Remote Access to Computerized Veterans Claims By Accredited Representatives: 1.600 - 1.603

Homeless Claimants: 1.710

Standards of Collection of Claims: 1.910 1.924

Standards of Compromise of Claims: 1.930 - 1.936

Part 1 Cont.

   Standards for Suspending or Terminating Collection Action: 1.940 - 1.944

Referrals to GAO, Department of Justice, or IRS: 1.950 - 1.953

Regional Office Committees on Waivers and Compromises: 1.955 - 1.970

38 CFR, PART 3 - ADJUDICATION

 Broken down into three Subparts    Subpart A - Pension, Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Subpart B - Burial Benefits Subpart D - Universal Adjudication Rules That Apply to Benefit Claims Governed by Part 3 of This Title.

 (Subpart C - [Reserved]

Part 3, Subpart A

 Subpart A - Pension, Compensation & DIC      General: 3.1 - 3.432

Relationship: 3.50 - 3.60

Administrative: 3.100 - 3.115

Claims: 3.150 - 3.160

Evidence Requirements: 3.200 - 3.217

Part 3, Subpart A, Cont

 Dependency, Income and Estate: 3.250 3.277

 Regulations Applicable to Programs in Effect Prior to January 1, 1979: 3.250 - 3.270

 Regulations Applicable to the Improved Pension Program Which Became Effective January 1, 1979: 3.271 - 3.277

Part 3, Subpart A, Cont

    Ratings and Evaluations; Basic Entitlement Considerations: 3.300 - 3.302

Ratings and Evaluations; Service Connection: 3.303 - 3.344

Ratings for Special Purposes: 3.350 3.363

Rating Considerations Relative to Specific Diseases: 3.370 - 3.385

Part 3, Subpart A, Cont

     Effective Dates: 3.400 - 3.405

Reductions and Discontinuances: 3.500 3.505

Hospitalization Adjustments: 3.551 3.559

Adjustments and Resumptions: 3.650 3.669

Concurrent Benefits and Elections: 3.700 3.715

Part 3, Subpart A, Cont

      Retirement: 3.750 - 3.754

Special Benefits: 3.800 - 3.816

Incompetents, Guardianship and Institutional Awards: 3.850 - 3.857

Forfeiture: 3.900 - 3.905

Protection: 3.950 - 3.960

Accrued: 3.1000 - 3.1009

Part 3, Subpart B

 Subpart B - Burial Benefits  3.1600 - 3.1612

Part 3, Subpart D

 Subpart D - Universal Adjudication Rules That Apply to Benefit Claims Governed by Part 3 of this Title  General: 3.2100 - 3.2130

 Revisions: 3.2600

38 CFR, PART 4 - SCHEDULE OF RATING DISABILITIES

 Broken down into two Subparts   Subpart A - General Policy in Rating Subpart B - Disability Ratings  With three Appendixes    Appendix A - Table of Amendments and Effective Dates Since 1946 Appendix B - Numerical Index of Disabilities Appendix C - Alphabetical Index of Disabilities

Part 4, Subpart A

 Subpart A - General Policy in Rating  4.1 - 4.31

Part 4, Subpart B

 Subpart B - Disability Ratings     The Musculoskeletal System: 4.40 - 4.73

The Organs of Special Sense: 4.75 - 4.84a

Impairment of Auditory Acuity: 4.85 4.87a

Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders and Nutritional Deficiencies: 4.88 - 4.89

Part 4, Subpart B, Cont

     The Respiratory System: 4.96 - 4.97

The Cardiovascular System: 4.100 - 4.104

The Digestive System: 4.110 - 4.114

The Genitourinary System: 4.115 - 4.115b

Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast: 4.116

Part 4, Subpart B, Cont

      The Hemic and Lymphatic Systems: 4.117

The Skin: 4.118

The Endocrine System: 4.119

Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders: 4.120 - 4.124a

Mental Disorders: 4.125 - 4.130

Dental and Oral Conditions: 4.149 - 4.150

38 CFR, PART 17 - MEDICAL

     Definitions and Active Duty: 17.30 - 17.31

Protection of Patient Rights: 17.32 - 17.33

Tentative Eligibility Determinations: 17.34

Enrollment Provisions and Medical Benefits Package: 17.36 - 17.40

Examinations and Observation and Examination: 17.41 - 17.42

Part 17, Cont

    Hospital, Domiciliary and Nursing Home Care: 17.43 - 17.49

Use of Community Nursing Home Care Facilities: 17.57 - 17.60

Community Residential Care: 17.61 17.72

Vocational Training and Health-Care Eligibility Protection for Pension Recipients: 17.90 - 17.91

Part 17, Cont

     Outpatient Treatment: 17.92 - 17.98

Breaking Appointments: 17.100

Charges, Waivers, and Collections: 17.101 - 17.105

Co-payments: 17.108 - 17.111

Payment and Reimbursement of the Expenses of Medical Service Not Previously Authorized: 17.120 - 17.132

Part 17, Cont

    Prosthetic, Sensory, and Rehabilitative Aids: 17.149 - 17.154

Automotive Equipment and Driver Training: 17.155 - 17.159

Dental Services: 17.160 - 17.166

Transitional Housing Loan Program: 17.800 - 17.805

Part 17, Cont

  Health Care Benefits for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans - Spina Bifida and Covered Birth Defects: 17.900 - 17.905

Payment or Reimbursement for Emergency Services for Non-service Connected Conditions in Non-VA Facilities: 17.1000 - 17.1008

38 CFR, PART 19 - BVA: APPEALS REGULATIONS

 Part 19, Appeals Regulations; Divided into five Subparts:  Subpart A - Operation of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals  Subpart B - Appeals Processing by Agency of Original Jurisdiction

Part 19, Cont

 Subpart C - Administrative Appeals  Subpart D - Hearings Before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals at Department of Veterans Affairs Field Facilities  Subpart E - Simultaneously Contested Claims

38 CFR, PART 20 - BVA: RULES OF PRACTICE

 Part 20 - Rules of Practice; Divided into 14 Subparts:     Subpart A - General: 20.1 - 20.3

Subpart B - The Board: 20.100 - 20.102

Subpart C - Commencement and Perfection of Appeal: 20.200 - 20.204

Subpart D - Filing: 20.300 - 20.306

Part 20, Cont.

    Subpart E - Administrative Appeals: 20.400 - 20.401

Subpart F - Simultaneously contested Claims: 20.500 - 20.504

Subpart G - Representation: 20.600 20.608

Subpart H - Hearings on Appeal: 20.700 20.717

Part 20, Cont

    Subpart I - Evidence: 20.800

Subpart J - Action by the Board: 20.900 20.904

Subpart K - Reconsideration: 20.1000 20.1003

Subpart L - Finality: 20.1100 - 20.1106

Part 20, Cont

   Subpart M - Privacy Act: 20.1200 20.1201

Subpart N - Miscellaneous: 20.1300 20.1304

Subpart O - Revision of Decision on Grounds of Clear and Unmistakable Error: 20.1400 - 20.1411

 Appendix A to Part 20 - Cross References

38 CFR PART 21 - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION

 Part 21 - Voc Rehab and Education; Divided into 12 Subparts:   Subpart A - Vocational Rehabilitation Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31: 21.1 21.430

Subpart B - Claims and Applications for Educational Assistance: 21.1029 21.1033

Part 21, Cont

    Subpart C - Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35: 21.3001 - 21.3344

Subpart D - administration of Educational Assistance Programs: 21.4001 - 21.4279

Subpart F - Education Loans: 21.4500 21.4507

Subpart G - Post-Vietnam era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32: 21.5001 - 21.5296

Part 21, Cont

   Subpart H - Educational Assistance Test Program: 21.5701 - 21.5901

Subpart I - Temporary Program of Vocational Training for Certain New Pension Recipients: 21.6001 - 21.6420

Subpart J - Temporary Program of Vocational Training and Rehabilitation: 21.6501 - 21.6523

Part 21, Cont

   Subpart K - All volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program (Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty): 21.7000 - 21.7320

Subpart L - Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve: 21.7500 - 21.7807

Subpart M - Vocational Training & Rehab for Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans Spina Bifida and Covered Birth Defects: 21.8010 - 21.8410

Additional information sources:

Web automated Reference Material System (WARMS) e-cfr (website search) 38 CFR for all Department of Veterans Affairs 38 CFR, Part 3 - Adjudication 38 CFR, Part 4 – Schedule for Rating Disabilities 38 CFR. Part 13 – Fiduciary Activities Handout with updated alphabetic Index of 38 CFR

Handout: 38 CFR Index Sheet (Double Click to open)

THE END