M21-1 and 38 CFR changes, week of Oct 5, 2026

Added

• processing rework associated with the Secretary’s Timeliness Instruction
• rework SSA Income Match Timeliness Memo
• processing accrued claims associated with the Secretary’s Timeliness Instruction, and
• accrued benefits Finance Memo associated with the Secretary’s Timeliness Instruction
• October 9, 2026
• These cases should not be included in the erroneous payment log.
• For more information on the erroneous payment log, see

and 291 more added passages

Removed

• January 15, 2026
• Did the claimant respond with evidence showing payment of SSA income that began after June 24, 2022, or any evidence that no overpayment would result from adjusting the SSA income?
• process EP 600, and

and 2 more removed passages

Added

• October 5, 2026
• The PMR Retrieval Program utilizes a contractor to provide development assistance by attempting to retrieve all PMRs that Veterans and their dependents have identified on the
• with an original signature
• prepare a letter notifying the claimant that VA cannot complete the request.
• Ask the claimant to
• send the form directly to the medical care provider, or
• obtain the records and submit them directly to VA.

and 22 more added passages

Removed

• August 28, 2025
• PMR Retrieval Program
• utilizes a contractor to provide development assistance by attempting to retrieve all PMRs that Veterans and their dependents have identified on the
• with an original signature, and
• VA Form 21-4142
• in the claims folder has an original signature
• make a photocopy of the
• VA Form 21-4142

and 47 more removed passages

Added

• The same Veteran is receiving Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (D.I.C.).
• Disability compensation is countable income and will potentially cause a reduction to the Parents’ D.I.C.
• If the spouse is receiving pension or Parents’ D.I.C., the claims processor should
• October 5, 2026
• Rating decisions are routed directly to the authorization activity, which is responsible for processing rating decisions.
• , VA may not pay monetary benefits based on an original, supplemental, or increased award of compensation, pension, or D.I.C.
• for any period prior to the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the beneficiary became entitled to the benefit.

and 10 more added passages

Removed

• The same Veteran is receiving Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
• Disability compensation is countable income and will potentially cause a reduction to the Parents’ DIC award.
• If the spouse is receiving pension or Parents’ DIC, the claims processor should
• June 5, 2026
• After rating decisions are completed they are routed directly to the authorization activity, which is responsible for processing rating decisions.
• , VA may not pay monetary benefits based on an original, supplemental, or increased award of compensation, pension, or DIC for any period prior to the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the beneficiary became entitled to the benefit.
• For pension and Parents' DIC cases only
• denying additional compensation for a dependent(s), or

and 16 more removed passages