{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/regulation-changes/2026-03-30","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:33:46.022Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"week_of":"2026-03-30","changes":[{"source":"M21-1","section":"Part II, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section A - Applications for Benefits","date":"2026-04-02","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000174869/M21-1-Part-II-Subpart-iii-Chapter-1-Section-A-Applications-for-Benefits","formatting_only":false,"added":["21P-534EZ, Application for D.I.C., Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits","21P-0514-1, D.I.C.","Parents' Eligibility Verification Report","receipt of EZ form requesting a different benefit application","April 2, 2026","M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G.1","M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G.1","All claims must be liberally read to consider other potential theories of SC when doing so would benefit the claimant."],"removed":["21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits","21P-0514-1, DIC Parent’s Eligibility Verification Report","receipt of EZ Form requesting a different benefit application","November 4, 2024","M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G","M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G","All claims must be liberally read to consider other potential theories of SC.","Although VA is obligated to determine all potential claims raised by the evidence, theories of SC which have no support in the record need not be further developed or specifically addressed in a rating decision."]},{"source":"M21-1","section":"Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 4, Section A - Effective Dates","date":"2026-04-02","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180492/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-ii-Chapter-4-Section-A-Effective-Dates","formatting_only":false,"added":["A Veteran claims SC for coronary artery disease (CAD).","The evidence supports entitlement to SC on a presumptive basis for CAD associated with herbicide exposure, and","References","For more information on","considering multiple (including unclaimed) theories of SC, see","M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 1.A.2.f","maximizing benefits with effective date determinations in herbicide claims, see","M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart i, 1.C.4.a"],"removed":["A Veteran claims SC for coronary artery disease.","The evidence supports entitlement to SC on a presumptive basis for coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure, and","M21-1, Part X, Subpart v, 1.A.1","For more information on effective dates for hospital ratings","for disabilities claimed during the course of the hospitalization, see","for all general circumstances, see","A claim for secondary SC is an allegation of additional disability that is proximately due to or the result of a SC disease or injury.","As an additional disability, a secondarily SC disability cannot be treated as an increased evaluation under"]},{"source":"M21-1","section":"Part II, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section B - Lost Paper Claims Folders and Reconciliation of Duplicate Records","date":"2026-03-30","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000174864/M21-1-Part-II-Subpart-ii-Chapter-1-Section-B-Lost-Paper-Claims-Folders-and-Reconciliation-of-Duplicate-Records","formatting_only":false,"added":["appending a corporate flash, see Share Online Help, and","updating BIRLS to show a rebuilt folder, see Share Online Help.","Share Online Help, and","removing a corporate flash, see Share Online Help, and","updating BIRLS to remove the rebuilt folder indicator, see Share Online Help.","preparing the records for consolidation by the Office of Business Integration (OBI) Benefits Data Quality (OBIBDQ)","March 30, 2026","Veterans Benefits Administration automation functionality"],"removed":["appending a corporate flash, see the","Share User Guide",", and","updating BIRLS to show a rebuilt folder, see the","Share User Guide","Share User Guide",", and","removing a corporate flash, see the"]},{"source":"M21-1","section":"Part II, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section A - Folder Maintenance","date":"2026-03-30","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000174866/M21-1-Part-II-Subpart-ii-Chapter-2-Section-A-Folder-Maintenance","formatting_only":false,"added":["March 30, 2026","Responses from corporate mailboxes related to claims development must be uploaded to the eFolder to avoid duplication of effort by future claims processors.","March 30, 2026",", should not be deleted from an eFolder and should be managed using VBMS functionality, as discussed in","M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 2.A.1.h","All ROs must each designate, at minimum, five PDF editors to receive and complete station requests to amend documents in the VBMS eFolder.","For more information on the intake fax number for the CM scanning vendor, see the","How to File a VA Disability Claim"],"removed":["July 17, 2019","July 26, 2024",", should not be deleted from an eFolder.","All ROs, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and decision review operations centers must each designate, at minimum, five PDF editors to receive and complete station requests to amend documents in the VBMS eFolder.","Note","PDF editors must be assigned a terminal digit (TD) range to receive and complete the requests to amend documents in the VBMS eFolder (such as User 1 – TD 00-19, User 2 – TD 20-39, and so forth).","For more information on the intake fax number for the CM scanning vendor, see the VA","Mailing Address for Disability Compensation Claims"]}]}}