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Part II, Subpart ii, Chapter 3

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Revised June 23, 2026

II.ii.3.1.aGeneral Policy for Jurisdiction of Claims

A claim is generally assigned by the National Work Queue (NWQ) to the geographical area where the Veteran or survivor maintains a permanent address and is generally under the jurisdiction of an office/station known as a regional office (RO). At times the jurisdiction will specifically fall under a pension management center (PMC).Notes:

  • Jurisdiction of a claim includes jurisdiction of the paper claims folder if one exists, unless instructions state otherwise.
  • An RO or PMC maintains jurisdiction for folders stored at the Federal Archives and Records Center.
  • Generally, a PMC will handle claims involving
    • pension benefits
    • claims for survivors benefits, and
    • accrued benefits.

References: For more information on,

II.ii.3.1.bJurisdiction of Claims Involving a Special Mission or Circumstance

NWQ will distribute claims involving a special mission or circumstance according to jurisdiction and ranking rules determined by the Office of Field Operations (OFO). Proper routing may require the use of special issue indicators and corporate flashes. If a station receives a claim that does not fall under their jurisdiction, authorized personnel may transfer the claim to the correct station in accordance with OFO guidelines.The table below indicates what station has jurisdiction of a claim that involves a special mission or circumstance.

Special Mission or CircumstanceJurisdiction

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employee-Veteran, relative of employee, or a national service officer

restricted access claims centers (RACCs).Important :

  • The St. Paul RACC has jurisdiction for all claims for
    • Medal of Honor Pension (MOHP), and
    • MOHP for a surviving spouse.
    • Claims processors must ensure the following corporate flashes have been affixed to the record to ensure proper routing:
      • Restricted Access – St. Paul RACC, and
      • Medal of Honor.

Reference : For more information on RACCs, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 2.B.
live compensation claims and legacy appeals involving

  • a foreign residence
  • residence in enemy territory, and
  • cases involving an Army Post Office or a Fleet Post Office address

Pittsburgh RO has jurisdiction of rating and non-rating claims unless otherwise indicated.Notes:

  • Jurisdiction is determined according to the Veteran’s residence, not the residence of a dependent.
    • A transient is not considered to be residing in a foreign country.

Exceptions:

  • When a Veteran files a claim for Chapter 18 benefits and the child lives in a foreign territory, the claim will be worked by the Pittsburgh RO.
  • Manila RO has jurisdiction of rating claims for the Philippines.
  • San Diego Benefit Eligibility Support Team (BEST) has jurisdiction of non-rating claims for the Philippines.

Reference: For more information on foreign residence, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 3.B.

live compensation claims and legacy appeals involving residence in a U.S. Territory

Jurisdiction for U.S. Territory compensation claims and legacy appeals is as follows:

  • Honolulu RO has jurisdiction for American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands (Rota, Saipan and Tinian), and
  • San Juan RO has jurisdiction for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

all in-service death claims

Philadelphia RO Notes :

  • The Philadelphia Veterans Service Center (VSC) has sole jurisdiction over all original in-service death claims, to include in-service death claims received from multiple claimants prior to the adjudication of the original claim.
    • The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction over all non-original in-service death claims received after the adjudication of the original claim.

Reference : For more information on in-service death claims, see M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, 1.C.
pension and survivor claims in which

  • the primary beneficiary or claimant resides in a foreign country, or

  • any payee whose income affects entitlement to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, receives the income in a foreign currency

  • The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction of original Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims, all burial claims, and any claim where service-connected (SC) death is an issue including claims from the Philippines.

  • The St. Paul PMC shares jurisdiction of all other foreign countries with the Milwaukee PMC to include pension and DIC claims where SC death was already granted with the exception of claims from the Philippines.

  • The Milwaukee PMC has jurisdiction of all remaining claims from the Philippines that do not meet the criteria for the Philadelphia PMC.

References: For more information on

higher-level reviews and legacy appeals for pension and survivor claims

decision review operations center

rating action related to Polish and Czechoslovakian Veterans who

  • file a claim for service connection (SC), or
  • apply for health care under 38 U.S.C. 109

Wilmington RO Exception: A claim from a Polish or Czechoslovakian Veteran with no service in the U.S. Armed Forces should be denied for no qualifying service by the RO that receives the claim. Note: VA does not assign a folder or number to these claims. Reference : For more information on Polish and Czechoslovakian Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, see M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 3.G.1.b.

claims involving Public Law (PL) 97-37 , Section 156, Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS)

Jurisdiction is split between

  • the various ROs or PMCs, and
    • a special processing unit at the St. Louis RO.

Note: The office having jurisdiction of the deceased Veteran’s claims folder is responsible for determining basic eligibility and forwarding the claim (but not the deceased Veteran’s claims folder) to the St. Louis RO.Reference: For more information on jurisdiction of claims involving REPS, see M21-1, Part XII, Subpart ii, 3.A.
Philippine cases involving Veterans of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines while such forces were in the

  • Armed Forces of the U.S. (July 26, 1941, through June 30, 1946)
  • Special Philippine Scouts (enlisted between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947), and
  • Alleged or Recognized Guerrilla Service (before July 1, 1946)

Manila RO has exclusive and permanent jurisdiction unless otherwise indicated. Exceptions :

  • The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction of original DIC claims, all burial claims, and claims where SC death is an issue.
    • The Milwaukee PMC has jurisdiction of all remaining PMC claims (to include claims for DIC where SC death was already granted) based on service by Veterans within the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines.
    • The San Diego BEST has jurisdiction of non-rating compensation claims.

Reference: For more information on eligibility for benefits based on Philippine service, M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 4.A.2.

cases involving incompetent Veterans

If a court has appointed a fiduciary for an incompetent Veteran, jurisdiction lies with the RO or PMC for the area in which the appointing court is located.

claims for SC based on radiation exposure where the existence of a radiogenic disease has been verified

Jackson RO References : For more information on

claims and legacy appeals for SC based on exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite

Muskogee RO Reference : For more information on claims for SC based on exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iii, 3.A.2.

claims and legacy appeals for SC based on exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune that meet specific criteria

Louisville RO Reference : For more information on the criteria determining jurisdiction of Camp Lejeune issues, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iii, 8.A.1.c.

forfeiture cases

St. Paul RACC Reference: For more information about forfeiture cases, see

residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Roanoke RO Reference: For more information on claims from residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., see M21-1, Part VI, Subpart iii, 5.

Veterans with any service prior to July 16, 1903

Philadelphia PMC

  • entitlement to compensation under the former general law, the Act of 1862, as amended
  • protection of the general law rate provided by former PL 788, 74th Congress
  • entitlement to Reserve Officer’ Retirement Pay under PL 262, 77th Congress, and
  • entitlement under a special act of Congress authorizing payment to a particular person

Philadelphia PMC References : For more information on

Chapter 31 educational benefits based on service in allied forces

Philadelphia PMC

Chapter 18 benefits for certain children with disabilities born of Vietnam and certain Korean service Veterans

Denver RO Exception: When a Veteran files a claim for Chapter 18 benefits and the child lives in a foreign territory, the claim will be worked by the Pittsburgh RO. Reference: For more information on handling of claims for benefits under Chapter 18, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart i, 3.A-E.

Notes:

  • Do not transfer a paper claims folder to a special mission station unless

    • a special mission claim has been established, or

    • instructions indicate the special mission station must maintain the folder.

  • Claims and/or claimants involving litigated issues may be subject to special review or processing. Special instructions for identification and processing identified cases will be issued by VA Central Office (VACO) and may involve use of special issue indicators, corporate flashes, or other claim attributes.

References: For more information on

II.ii.3.1.cDetermining Jurisdiction of Claims Involving Multiple Special Missions or Circumstances

The table below indicates what station has jurisdiction of a claim that involves multiple special missions or circumstances.

Special Mission(s) or CircumstancesJurisdiction

  • Integrated Disability Evaluation System, along with

  • any other special mission

  • Providence RO, and

  • Seattle RO

Exception : A RACC claim from an employee of the Providence RO would be handled by the Seattle RO and vice versa.

  • Benefits Delivery at Discharge, along with
  • any other special mission

The special mission RO.

  • C-123 aircraft, along with
  • one of the following special missions:
    • mustard gas
    • radiation
    • Camp Lejeune, or
    • VACO Special Issue 2

St. Paul RO

  • Camp Lejeune, along with
  • VACO Special Issue 2

Louisville RO

  • foreign, along with
  • one of the following special missions:
    • C-123 aircraft
    • mustard gas
    • radiation
    • Camp Lejeune, or
    • VACO Special Issue 2

Pittsburgh RO

  • mustard gas, along with
  • one of the following special missions:
    • radiation
    • Camp Lejeune, or
    • VACO Special Issue 2

Muskogee RO

  • radiation, along with
  • one of the following special missions:
    • Camp Lejeune, or
    • VACO Special Issue 2

Jackson RO

  • Manila jurisdiction, along with
  • any other special mission

The special mission RO. If translation or fraud issues need to be addressed, the special mission station will contact NWQ to have the claim transferred.

  • San Juan jurisdiction, along with
  • any other special mission

The special mission RO. If translation is needed, the special mission station will contact NWQ to have the claim transferred.

  • RACC, along with
  • foreign

RACC

  • RACC, along with
  • Camp Lejeune

RACC Exception: A claim from an employee of the St. Paul RACC would be handled by the Louisville RO.

  • RACC, along with
  • one of the following special missions:
    • C-123 aircraft, or
    • VACO Special Issue 2

RACC Exception: A claim from an employee of the St. Paul RACC would be handled by the Milwaukee RO.

  • RACC, along with
  • one of and the following special missions:
    • mustard gas, or
    • radiation

The special mission RO. Exception: A claim from an employee at the special mission RO would be handled by the RACC.

  • In-service death, along with
  • any other special mission

Philadelphia RO Notes :

  • The Philadelphia VSC has sole jurisdiction over all original in-service death claims to include in-service death claims received from multiple claimants prior to the adjudication of the original claim.
  • The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction over all non-original in-service death claims received after the adjudication of the original claim.

Reference: For more information on RACCs, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 2.B.

2Transfer of Paper Claims Folders

This topic contains information about the general policies for the transfer of paper claims folders, including

  • general restriction on transfers of paper claims folders
  • Federal records center (FRC) facility codes for folder requests
  • requesting transfer of paper claims folders from an FRC, and
  • following up on requests from an FRC.

Revised June 23, 2026

II.ii.3.2.aGeneral Restriction on Transfers of Paper Claims Folders

VA has transitioned to an electronic claims processing environment and with the exception of some restricted access records, no longer maintains paper claims folders. When an RO requests a paper claims folders that is stored at a Federal records center (FRC), the claims folder will be sent to the scanning facility for digitization. Paper claims folders should not be sent to any location other than an authorized scanning facility, unless otherwise directed by OFO. Exception: RACCs are authorized to receive and maintain paper claims folders from an FRC if the file

  • has been designated as a restricted record, and
  • is not eligible for digitization.

Note : All paper claims folders previously stored at the VA Record Center and Vault have been digitized and are available in VBMS.References: For more information on historical rules for the

  • permanent transfer of paper claims folders, see the attachments
    • Historical_M21-1III_ii_5_SecD_2-19-19.docx , and
    • Historical_M21-1III_ii_5_SecE_2-19-19.docx , and
  • temporary transfer of paper claims folders, see the attachment Historical_M21-1III_ii_5_SecF_1-14-18.docx.

II.ii.3.2.bFRC Facility Codes for Folder Requests

The FRC station code is shown on the BIRLS FOLDER LOCATION tab in Share. The table below contains FRC location codes and which specific location to send the folder request to.

FRC Station CodeLocationTransfer DateFolder Request Location
010

Boston

not applicable (N/A)

010 Boston

011

Pittsfield

N/A

011 Pittsfield

020

Bayonne

ALL

059 Lee's Summit

021

Philadelphia

1954 – 1985

059 Lee's Summit

030

Washington National Records Center

1952

These records are no longer owned by VA. To request a copy of a record at this location, contact William Seibert(314) 801-0909william.siebert@nara.gov.

030

Washington National Records Center

February - July 1955

030

Washington National Records Center

1962 – 1978

060 Lenexa

040

Atlanta

1973 & Prior

060 Lenexa

040

Atlanta

1974 - 1994 (from ROs 317, 318, 322)

011 Pittsfield

040

Atlanta

1974 - 1994 (from ROs 316, 319, 320, 323, 327)

060 Lenexa (exceptions noted in next two rows)

040

Atlanta

1986 from RO 316

011 Pittsfield

040

Atlanta

1993 from RO 323

011 Pittsfield

050

Chicago

Prior to 1973

011 Pittsfield

051

Dayton

N/A

051 Dayton

052

Kingsridge

N/A

052 Kingsridge

059

Lee’s Summit

N/A

059 Lee’s Summit

060

Lenexa (previously Kansas City)

Prior to 1973

011 Pittsfield

061

St. Louis National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)

1956 - 1959 (from ROs 335, 339)

011 Pittsfield

061

St. Louis NPRC

1959 - 1966 (from RO 376)

011 Pittsfield

061

St. Louis NPRC

1960 - 1969 (from ROs 335, 339, 340, 341, 345, 442)

011 Pittsfield

061

St. Louis NPRC

1967 - 1973 (from RO 331)

011 Pittsfield

061

St. Louis NPRC

1970 - 1974 (from ROs 339, 340, 341, 345, 436, 437, 438, 442)

011 Pittsfield

070

Ft. Worth

Prior to 1977

011 Pittsfield

070

Ft. Worth

1977 - 1993

059 Lee's Summit

080

Denver

ALL

059 Lee's Summit

090

San Francisco/San Bruno

N/A

090 San Francisco/San Bruno

091

Laguna Niguel (previously Perris)

Prior to 1967

011 Pittsfield

091

Laguna Niguel

1968 – 1992

059 Lee’s Summit

100

Seattle

N/A

100 Seattle

Note : FRCs 020, 070, and 080 are no longer active repositories.

Reference: For more information about FRCs, see Federal Records Center Locations.

II.ii.3.2.cRequesting Transfer of Paper Claims Folders From an FRC

Requests for transfer of a paper claims folder from an FRC are submitted through the National Archives and Records Administration’s Archives and Records Centers Information System (ARCIS). ARCIS key users must follow the steps below to request the transfer of a paper claims folder:

  • navigate to the Folder Location screen in VBMS and click on the claims folder to display the FARC Accession number
  • log into ARCIS and initiate a request for the claims folder
  • create the Physical Claims File Requested tracked item, and
  • upload a copy of the request into the corresponding electronic claims folder (eFolder).

Notes :

  • The FRC usually delivers the claims folder to the scanning vendor within 10 business days.
  • ARCIS access is limited to key users who have been trained by the Office of Mission Support through mandatory and refresher training.

Reference: For information on how to use ARCIS, to include log-in and passwords, see the ARCIS website.

II.ii.3.2.dFollowing up on Requests From an FRC

If the folder is not received within 10 business days of the original ARCIS request, key users must follow up on the request via email to the ARCIS mailbox and take the following actions

  • in the email include
    • the VBA district (e.g., Northeast District) in the SUBJECT line, and
    • the Veteran’s name and file number in the body, and
  • document the action by uploading a copy of the sent mail to the eFolder.

Important: Remember to update the Physical Claims File Requested tracked item to reflect the follow-up. Reference: For contact information, see Federal Records Center Locations.

End of Part II, Subpart ii, Chapter 3

This text is a rendering of Part II, Subpart ii, Chapter 3. The official version is the one that governs your claim.

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