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38 U.S.C. § 5108 — Supplemental claims
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** If new and relevant evidence is presented or secured with respect to a supplemental claim, the Secretary shall readjudicate the claim taking into consideration all of the evidence of record.
**(b) Duty to Assist.—**
(1) If a claimant, in connection with a supplemental claim, reasonably identifies existing records, whether or not in the custody of a Federal department or agency, the Secretary shall assist the claimant in obtaining the records in accordance with [section 5103A of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5103a&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) Assistance under paragraph (1) shall not be predicated upon a finding that new and relevant evidence has been presented or secured.
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_829d2b42cf3917cfc4fd2c17
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-38/section-5108-supplemental-claims--2959a77789.md
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Source location: Title 38, Chapter 51, § 5108; chapter-051-claims-effective-dates-and-payments.md
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**(a) In General.—** If new and relevant evidence is presented or secured with respect to a supplemental claim, the Secretary shall readjudicate the claim taking into consideration all of the evidence of record.
**(b) Duty to Assist.—**
(1) If a claimant, in connection with a supplemental claim, reasonably identifies existing records, whether or not in the custody of a Federal department or agency, the Secretary shall assist the claimant in obtaining the records in accordance with [section 5103A of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5103a&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) Assistance under paragraph (1) shall not be predicated upon a finding that new and relevant evidence has been presented or secured.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
There is hereby established, under Article I of the Constitution of the United States, a court of record to be known as the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 7251
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
For the purposes of this title—
(1) The terms “Secretary” and “Department” mean the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, respectively.
(2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
(3) The term “surviving spouse” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title) a person who was the spouse of a veteran at the time of the veteran’s death, and who lived with the veteran continuously from the date of marriage to the date of the veteran’s death (except where there was a separation which was due to the misconduct of, or procured by, the veteran without the fault of the spouse) and who has not remarried.
(4)
(A) The term “child” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title (other than with respect to a child who is an insurable dependent under subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(10) of such chapter) and [section 8502(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section8502/b&num=0&edition=prelim)) a person who is unmarried and—
(i) who is under the age of eighteen years;
(ii) who, before attaining the age of eighteen years, became permanently incapable of self-support; or
(iii) who, after attaining the age of eighteen years and until completion of education or training (but not after attaining the age of twenty-three years), is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution;
and who is a legitimate child, a legally adopted child, a stepchild who is a member of a veteran’s household or was a member at the time of the veteran’s death, or an illegitimate child but, as to the alleged father, onl
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** In the case of a decision by the Secretary under [section 511 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section511&num=0&edition=prelim) affecting the provision of benefits to a claimant, the Secretary shall, on a timely basis, provide to the claimant (and to the claimant’s representative) notice of such decision. The notice shall include an explanation of the procedure for obtaining review of the decision.
**(b)** Each notice provided under subsection (a) shall also include all of the following:
(1) Identification of the issues adjudicated.
(2) A summary of the evidence considered by the Secretary.
(3) A summary of the applicable laws and regulations.
(4) Identification of findings favorable to the claimant.
(5) In the case of a denial, identification of elements not satisfied leading to the denial.
(6) An explanation of how to obtain or access evidence used in making the decision.
(7) If applicable, identification of the criteria that must be satisfied to grant service connection or the next higher level of compensation.
**(c)** The Secretary may provide notice under subsection (a) electronically if a claimant (or the claimant’s representative) elects to receive such notice electronically. A claimant (or the claimant’s representative) may revoke such an election at any time, by means prescribed by the Secretary.
**(d)** The Secretary shall annually—
(1) solicit recommendations from stakeholders on how to improve notice under this section; and
(2) publish such recommendations on a publicly available website of the Department.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 5104
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1)
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a specific claim in the form prescribed by the Secretary (or jointly with the Commissioner of Social Security, as prescribed by [section 5105 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5105&num=0&edition=prelim)) must be filed in order for benefits to be paid or furnished to any individual under the laws administered by the Secretary.
(B)
(i) The Secretary may pay benefits under chapters 13 and 15 and sections 2303, 2307, and 5121 of this title to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal claim if the Secretary determines that the record contains sufficient evidence to establish the entitlement of the survivor to such benefits.
(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph and [section 5110 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5110&num=0&edition=prelim), the earlier of the following dates shall be treated as the date of the receipt of the survivor’s application for benefits described in clause (i):
(I) The date on which the survivor of a veteran (or the representative of such a survivor) notifies the Secretary of the death of the veteran through a death certificate or other relevant evidence that establishes entitlement to survivors’ benefits identified in clause (i).
(II) The head of any other department or agency of the Federal Government notifies the Secretary of the death of the veteran.
(iii) In notifying the Secretary of the death of a veteran as described in clause (ii)(I), the survivor (or the representative of such a survivor) may submit to the Secretary additional documents relating to such death without being required to file a formal claim.
(2) If an individual has
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 5101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Duty To Assist.—**
(1) The Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to assist a claimant in obtaining evidence necessary to substantiate the claimant’s claim for a benefit under a law administered by the Secretary.
(2) The Secretary is not required to provide assistance to a claimant under this section if no reasonable possibility exists that such assistance would aid in substantiating the claim.
(3) The Secretary may defer providing assistance under this section pending the submission by the claimant of essential information missing from the claimant’s application.
**(b) Assistance in Obtaining Private Records.—**
(1) As part of the assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant private records that the claimant adequately identifies to the Secretary.
(2)
(A) Whenever the Secretary, after making such reasonable efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant records sought, the Secretary shall notify the claimant that the Secretary is unable to obtain records with respect to the claim. Such a notification shall—
(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable to obtain;
(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made to obtain such records; and
(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the claim based on the evidence of record but that this section does not prohibit the submission of records at a later date if such submission is otherwise allowed.
(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two requests to a custodian of a private record in order for an effort to obtain relevant private records to be treated as reasonable under this section, unless it is made evident by the first request that a second request would be futile in obtaining such records.
(3)
(A) This
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 5103A
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Within One Year of Decision.—**
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in any case in which the Secretary renders a decision on a claim, the claimant may take any of the following actions on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision with respect to that claim:
(A) File a request for higher-level review under [section 5104B of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5104b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(B) File a supplemental claim under [section 5108 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5108&num=0&edition=prelim).
(C) File a notice of disagreement under [section 7105 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section7105&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2)
(A) Once a claimant takes an action set forth in paragraph (1), the claimant may not take another action set forth in that paragraph with respect to the same claim or same issue contained within the claim until—
(i) the higher-level review, supplemental claim, or notice of disagreement is adjudicated; or
(ii) the request for higher-level review, supplemental claim, or notice of disagreement is withdrawn.
(B) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a claimant from taking any of the actions set forth in paragraph (1) in succession with respect to a claim or an issue contained within the claim.
(C) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a claimant from taking different actions set forth in paragraph (1) with respect to different claims or different issues contained within a claim.
(D) The Secretary may, as the Secretary considers appropriate, develop and implement a policy for claimants who—
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 5104C
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the effective date of an award based on an initial claim, or a supplemental claim, of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension, shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of application therefor.
(2) For purposes of determining the effective date of an award under this section, the date of application shall be considered the date of the filing of the initial application for a benefit if the claim is continuously pursued by filing any of the following, either alone or in succession:
(A) A request for higher-level review under [section 5104B of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5104b&num=0&edition=prelim) on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(B) A supplemental claim under [section 5108 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5108&num=0&edition=prelim) on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(C) A notice of disagreement on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision.
(D) A supplemental claim under [section 5108 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5108&num=0&edition=prelim) on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the Board of Veterans’ Appeals issues a decision.
(E) A supplemental claim under [section 5108 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5108&num=0&
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 5110
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** All questions in a matter which under [section 511(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section511/a&num=0&edition=prelim) is subject to decision by the Secretary shall be subject to one review on appeal to the Secretary. Final decisions on such appeals shall be made by the Board. Decisions of the Board shall be based on the entire record in the proceeding and upon consideration of all evidence and material of record and applicable provisions of law and regulation.
**(b)** Except as provided in [section 5108 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5108&num=0&edition=prelim), when a claim is disallowed by the Board, the claim may not thereafter be readjudicated and allowed and a claim based upon the same factual basis may not be considered.
**(c)** The Board shall be bound in its decisions by the regulations of the Department, instructions of the Secretary, and the precedent opinions of the chief legal officer of the Department.
**(d)** Each decision of the Board shall include—
(1) a written statement of the Board’s findings and conclusions, and the reasons or bases for those findings and conclusions, on all material issues of fact and law presented on the record;
(2) a general statement—
(A) reflecting whether evidence was not considered in making the decision because the evidence was received at a time when not permitted under [section 7113 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section7113&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(B) noting such options as may be available for having the evidence considered by the Department; and
(3) an order granting appropriate relief or denying relief.
**(e)** After reaching a deci
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 7104
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Appellate review shall be initiated by the filing of a notice of disagreement in the form prescribed by the Secretary. Each appellant will be accorded hearing and representation rights pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and regulations of the Secretary.
**(b)**
(1)
(A) Except in the case of simultaneously contested claims, a notice of disagreement shall be filed within one year from the date of the issuance of notice of the decision of the agency of original jurisdiction pursuant to section 5104, 5104B, or 5108 of this title.
(B) A notice of disagreement postmarked before the expiration of the one-year period shall be accepted as timely filed.
(C) A question as to timeliness or adequacy of the notice of disagreement shall be decided by the Board.
(2)
(A) Notices of disagreement shall be in writing, shall identify the specific determination with which the claimant disagrees, and may be filed by the claimant, the claimant’s legal guardian, or such accredited representative, attorney, or authorized agent as may be selected by the claimant or legal guardian.
(B) Not more than one recognized organization, attorney, or agent may be recognized at any one time in the prosecution of a claim.
(C) Notices of disagreement shall be filed with the Board.
(3) The notice of disagreement shall indicate whether the claimant requests—
(A) a hearing before the Board, which shall include an opportunity to submit evidence in accordance with [section 7113(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section7113/b&num=0&edition=prelim);
(B) an opportunity to submit additional evidence without a hearing before the Board, which shall include an opportunity to submit evidence in accordance with [section 7113(c)
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 38 U.S.C. § 7105
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 1040
TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS
§ 5108
in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall, upon the request of the claimant or on the Sec-
retary’s own motion, order the claim readjudicated
under chapter 51 of such title, as amended by this Act,
as if the denial or dismissal had not been made.
‘‘(2) A denial or dismissal described in this paragraph
is a denial or dismissal of a claim for a benefit under
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs that—
‘‘(A) became final during the period beginning on
July 14, 1999, and ending on the date of the enactment
of this Act; and
‘‘(B) was issued by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs or a court because the claim was not well
grounded (as that term was used in section 5107(a) of
title 38, United States Code, as in effect during that
period).
‘‘(3) A claim may not be readjudicated under this sub-
section unless a request for readjudication is filed by
the claimant, or a motion is made by the Secretary,
not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
‘‘(4) In the absence of a timely request of a claimant
under paragraph (3), nothing in this Act [see Short
Title of 2000 Amendments note set out under section 101
of this title] shall be construed as establishing a duty
on the part of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to lo-
cate and readjudicate a claim described in this sub-
section.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective Sept. 1, 1989, see section 401(a) of
Pub. L. 100–687, set out as a note under section 7251 of
this title.
§ 5108. Supplemental claims
(a) IN GENERAL.—If new and relevant evidence
is presented or secured with respect to a supple-
mental claim, the Secretary shall readjudicate
the claim taking into consideration all of the
evidence of record.
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 38 U.S.C. § 5108
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.