--- title: "Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 6, Section A Developing Claims Filed Under 38 U.S.C. 1151" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 6, Section A" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/viii.iv.6.a-developing-claims-filed-under-38-u-s-c-1151" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000177483/M21-1-Part-VIII-Subpart-iv-Chapter-6-Section-A-Developing-Claims-Filed-Under-38-USC-1151" updated: "2026-09-07T14:37:40.349564Z" --- August 18, 2025 ### VIII.iv.6.A.1.a. General Information About Claims Filed Under 38 U.S.C. 1151 [38 U.S.C. 1151]() provides for the payment of compensation for additional disability or death proximately caused by * Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) * hospital care * medical or surgical treatment, or * examination * participation in vocational rehabilitation training, or * participation in compensated work therapy. Disabilities and/or causes of death recognized under this provision of law are compensated “ _as if_ ” service-connected (SC), but are _not_ actually SC. * entitlement to benefits under [38 U.S.C. 1151](), see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B](), and * considering direct and presumptive service connection in 1151 claims, see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B.6.a](). ### VIII.iv.6.A.1.b. Possible Sources of Information About the Incident Documentary evidence pertinent to the incident upon which the claim is based may assume many possible forms, including * medical records * surgical records * hospital clinical records, and/or * nurses’ notes. Upload to the Veteran’s electronic claims folder any and all clinical reports, progress notes, and hospital summaries associated with the incident in question housed in the * Compensation and Pension Record Interchange (CAPRI), and/or * Joint Logitudinal Viewer (JLV). ### VIII.iv.6.A.1.c. Requesting Information From the Medical Facility For all claims under [38 U.S.C. 1151](), request comprehensive evidence of the claimed incident using CAPRI’s electronic _[VA Form 10-7131, Exchange of Beneficiary Information and Request for Administrative and Adjudicative Action]()_ , request functionality. Select the 7131 REQUEST tab in the patient’s CAPRI record; check the OTHER/EXAM (REVIEW REMARKS) box; and cut and paste the following text into the COMMENTS field, populating necessary details about the claimant where appropriate: _We have received a claim from the person identified below for benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1151 based on alleged injury while at your facility._ _Name:__File Number:__SSN:__Date of Birth:_ _The claimant alleges sustaining an injury to the _**[condition]**_. This injury occurred on _**[MM-DD-YYYY]**_._ _To assist us in making a determination, please furnish all of the following evidence, if available, for this patient for the period of medical care from_**[MM-DD-YYYY]**_to_**[MM-DD-YYYY]**_:_ * _medical records_ * __surgical records__ * _hospital clinical records_ * _nurses’ notes, and_ * _any other documentation of patient injury._ **Note:** The electronic [_VA Form 10-7131_]() in CAPRI * supports text entry of up to four pages, and * maintains tracking information regarding the status of requests. **References:** For more information on * obtaining VA medical records, see [M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.A.2]() * obtaining records in 1151 claims, see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B.5.f](), and * requesting medical opinions for 1151 claims, see * [M21-1, Part IV, Subpart i, 2.A.7.g](), and * [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B.5.g](). ### VIII.iv.6.A.1.d. Quality Assurance Investigative Reports Request quality assurance investigative reports **_only_** if the claimant * identifies these records as evidence necessary to substantiate the claim * identifies quality assurance records consistent with [38 U.S.C. 5103A(b)(1)](), and * furnishes sufficient information to locate the records consistent with [38 U.S.C. 5103A(c)(2)](). **Notes:** * If the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) denies access to these records, request an Office of General Counsel (OGC) review. * An OGC review is not appropriate when VHA denies access to these records because they are no longer available. **References:** For more information on * the documents that qualify as quality assurance reports, see * [38 CFR 17.501](), and * [VAOPGCPREC 1-2011](), and * when and how to contact OGC, see [M21-5, Chapter 7, Section G, 1.j]().