Part X, Subpart i, Chapter 6, Section EIntegrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), Referrals, and Initial Processing

Revised April 10, 2025

X.i.6.E.1.a#Purpose of IDES

The purpose of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) is to save time and resources by combining multiple aspects of the disability evaluation process individuals go through when

• the service department calls into question the service member's fitness for duty, and
• the service member files a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

IDES participants undergo only one examination (or one set of examinations) that meet the needs of both VA and the service department. If, based on the results of the examination(s), a physical evaluation board (PEB) decides a participant is unfit for duty, VA prepares a rating decision to determine the amount of VA benefits to which the participant is entitled. The service department uses this same decision to determine the amount of military benefits to which the participant is entitled.

X.i.6.E.1.b#MEBs

Medical evaluation boards (MEBs) are entities of the service department responsible for evaluating the disabilities of IDES participants for the purpose of

• documenting medical status and duty limitations
• determining whether the IDES participants meet medical retention standards, and
• referring IDES participants to a PEB.

X.i.6.E.1.c#PEBs

PEBs are entities of the service department responsible for evaluating an IDES participant’s fitness for duty for the purpose of determining whether the

• participant should remain in service, or
• service department should
  • medically retire the participant, or
  • separate the participant from service (with or without benefits).

Department of Homeland Security operates the Coast Guard PEB, Washington, D.C.Department of War operates the following PEBs:

• Joint Base San Antonio at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas (Army)
• Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. (Navy and Marine Corps), and
• Joint Base San Antonio at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas (Air Force and Space Force).

X.i.6.E.1.d#PEBLOs

A Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) is an employee of the service department who is the

• non-clinical case manager assigned to individuals after a treating physician refers them to IDES
• MEB’s primary point of contact in the IDES process
• liaison between the service department and VA’s Military Services Coordinators (MSCs)
• representative that first meets with each IDES participant to provide assistance in
  • understanding the IDES process, and
  • scheduling required medical examinations (in coordination with an MSC)
• resource throughout the IDES process for IDES participants and their families with regard to information about IDES, and
• focal point for consolidation of all pertinent medical information.

X.i.6.E.1.e#MSCs

MSCs are VA representatives that work at IDES intake sites. They

• are typically an employee of the regional office (RO) with geographical jurisdiction over the intake site
• serve as a resource for IDES participants and their families with regard to information about VA benefits
• serve as the MEBs’ primary point of contact with VA
• accept referrals of individuals into IDES from PEBLOs
• meet with each IDES participant when the participant first enters the program and assist in
  • filing a claim for VA benefits, and
  • understanding the claims process
• undertake development to obtain evidence relevant to participants’ claims, to include requesting necessary VA examinations
• provide examination reports to PEBLOs once they become available, and
• offer an exit interview with each IDES participant.

Important: MSCs must have access to all relevant VA systems and applications that are necessary to process VA claims for disability benefits, to include Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). Further, to execute their IDES responsibilities, MSCs must be assigned the following VBMS user roles:

• Claims Assistant
• Intake Analyst, and
• Development Veterans Service Representative.

X.i.6.E.1.f#RO Points of Contact

Each RO must have an IDES point of contact. This employee’s responsibilities include

• serving as a subject-matter expert on IDES, and
• overseeing the handling of IDES-related activities in the RO.

X.i.6.E.1.g#DRASs

Disability Rating Activity Sites (DRASs) serve as the PEBs’ primary point of contact with VA. When a PEB informally decides that an IDES participant is unfit for duty, it sends a request to the DRAS of jurisdiction for a proposed rating decision. If the participant is ultimately discharged because they are unfit for duty, the DRAS

• prepares and promulgates a final rating decision, and
• sends a decision notice to the participant.

VA has two DRASs. The table below shows

• the RO at which the DRASs are located
• their contact information, and
• the IDES cases over which each DRAS has jurisdiction.

Seattle RO — Providence ROMailing Address — SeaTac Processing Center17930 International Blvd.Suite 100SeaTac, WA 98188 — Providence VA Regional Office380 Westminster StreetAttn: IDESProvidence, RI 02903 E-Mail Address

• General inquiries:
  • VAVBASEA/RO/DRAS, or
  • dras.vbasea@va.gov.
• For complex medical opinion requests:
  • VAVBASEA/RO/DES, or
  • des.vbasea@va.gov.

For all inquiries:

• VAVBAPRO/RO/DRAS, or
• dras.vavbapro.ro.dras@va.gov.

Reference : For more information on IDES cases involving multiple special missions or circumstances, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 3.1.c.

X.i.6.E.1.h#VTA

The Veterans Tracking Application (VTA) is a web-based application PEBLOs, MSCs, DRASs, and PEBs use to track IDES participants as they proceed through the program. VA employees access VTA through the Veterans Information Portal (VIP). They must have access to VIP before they can request access to VTA. Requests for access to VTA require supervisory approval. Individual “tabs” for MSCs, DRASs, PEBLOs, and PEBs in VTA contain a field where users may leave notes for a variety of reasons. (There is also a field on the PEBLO tab where staff from the Office of Warrior Care Policy may leave comments.) In certain situations that are described in this section, users are required to leave a note in VTA. Example:Scenario: An MSC enters into VTA the dates for specific actions taken while processing an IDES case. The dates appear to be out of sequence but are, in fact, correct. Result: To avoid confusion, the MSC should add a note in VTA that explains why the dates are out of sequence. Reference: For more information about VTA, see the

• VTA Home Page (registration is required), and
• VTA User Guide.

X.i.6.E.1.i#IDES Stages of Responsibility

The table below describes the stages in IDES claims processing over which VA has responsibility, defines the starting and ending point of each stage, and lists the VTA indicators for each stage.

X.i.6.E.1.j#Timeliness Goals of the IDES Program

VA and service departments have a shared goal to process 80 percent of all IDES claims in 180 calendar days or less measured from the date a participant is referred to IDES through separation, retirement, or return to duty. In cases involving participants who are referred to IDES while serving on active duty, VA has a goal to award benefits within 30 days of discharge. The table below lists the processing time goal for each IDES stage, over which VA has responsibility, for active duty and non-active duty IDES participants.

Notes:

• All listed periods refer to calendar days.

• Individuals who are referred to IDES as members of the National Guard or Reserve but are not on active duty are considered non-active duty IDES participants.

• There is no VA Benefits stage or goal for non-active duty IDES participants because they receive final VA ratings during the Proposed Rating stage.

1. Referral of Individuals Into IDES

This topic contains information about referring individuals into IDES, including the service department

• process for referring individuals into IDES, and
• statement of complete and current service treatment records (STRs).

Revised April 3, 2023

X.i.6.E.2.a#Service Department Process for Referring Individuals Into IDES

The table below describes the service department’s process for referring individuals into IDES.

Notes:

• PEBLOs should not refer an individual to an MSC if the individual is
  • unavailable to meet with the MSC within 5 days of the date the referral was made, or
  • if the individual is unable to report for a VA examination within 30 days.
• If there are special circumstances surrounding the referral of an individual to an MSC, PEBLOs are responsible for communicating them to the MSC, preferably by describing them in the NOTES field on the PEBLO tab in VTA. Examples of such special circumstances include the following:
  • STRs for prior periods of service are already in VA’s possession
  • an individual has special needs and/or requires an escort due to cognitive disorders, or
  • an individual has been uncooperative.

X.i.6.E.2.b#Service Department Statement of Complete and Current STRs

Section III of a completed VA Form 21-0819 contains the PEBLO’s statement of complete and current STRs provided as part of the IDES referral. The statement will:

• indicate that all known STRs have been provided, or
• specify any exceptions to the provided STRs completeness, and indicate all PEBLO actions that were taken to obtain the record.

Important:

• It is generally not necessary for an MSC to develop for specific elements of the STRs (such as the entrance physical) that have been deemed unavailable by the PEBLO and indicated as such on the VA Form 21-0819. However, when STRs for an entire or extended period are missing, make all appropriate attempts to obtain the records. If the records cannot be obtained, prepare a final notification letter according to the instructions in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.A.1.g, detailing the efforts the MSC and PEBLO took to obtain the missing records, as well as the outcome of those efforts.
• The SHA, Part A with a response of either Separation from military service or Retirement (as appropriate) selected as the PURPOSE OF EXAM must be part of the IDES referral.

References: For more information on

• STRs considered to be complete for development purposes, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.A.1.f, and
• requesting Federal records, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.A.1.

3Initial Steps in Processing an IDES Referral

This topic describes the initial steps in processing an IDES referral, including

• use of the IDES Development Checklist
• identifying new IDES referrals
• IDES claims establishment
• automated transfer of IDES referral documents
• obtaining IDES referral documents when automated transfer fails
• acceptable alternative means of document transfer
• expeditious assessment of the referral package for completeness
• returning referrals
• scheduling and preparing for the initial meeting, and
• relevance of the duty status of members of the Reserve or National Guard.

Revised March 21, 2024

X.i.6.E.3.a#Use of the IDES Development Checklist

MSCs must complete an IDES Development Checklist for each IDES case.MSCs may select to either

• initiate the checklist at the onset of the claim to help guide development actions, or
• complete the checklist prior to transferring the case to the DRAS to certify that all appropriate development actions have been taken.

The checklist may be completed electronically or printed for completion in hard copy, but in all cases, it must be incorporated into the participant’s electronic claims folder (eFolder) upon completion of development action, as is discussed in Step 9 of M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.F.3.d.

X.i.6.E.3.b#Identifying New IDES Referrals

Each IDES intake site must identify new IDES referrals that require MSC action including claims establishment by running the report Pending CEST in VTA. Important: To the extent possible, the Pending CEST report __ must be run daily, or more frequently depending on site-specific requirements, to ensure timely action on new IDES referrals. Notes:

• The Pending CEST report displays cases in which the PEBLO has entered a date in the PREPARE CLAIM START DATE field in VTA, but the MSC has not yet entered a date in the CLAIMS ESTABLISHMENT (CEST) field.
• The report is available under VTA Operational Reports; MSC Pending Reports.
• Cases associated with a specific intake site are displayed via use of the filter, MEB MTF.

X.i.6.E.3.c#IDES Claims Establishment

For each record that appears on the VTA Pending CEST report, the MSC must establish an end product (EP) in VBMS, following the instructions in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 3.A and the table below.

References: For more information on using

• VTA, see the VTA User Guide

• Share, see the Share Users Guide, and

• VBMS, see the VBMS Core User Guide.

X.i.6.E.3.d#Automated Transfer of IDES Referral Documents

Establishment of the EP 689 in VBMS will initiate an automated transfer of the IDES referral documents uploaded by the PEBLO into HAIMs into the participant’s eFolder. Notes:

• The automated transfer typically takes less than 60 minutes but could take several hours.
• If the referral documents have not transferred within 24 hours after claims establishment, the MSC must take the actions outlined in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.3.e.

X.i.6.E.3.e#Obtaining IDES Referral Documents When Automated Transfer Fails

If referral documents do not automatically transfer from HAIMS to the eFolder within 24 hours of establishing EP 689, the MSC must take the actions in the table below. — Step — Action

• upload all referral documents into the eFolder according to the specifications outlined in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.F.1.h, and
• ensure the entry in the PREPARE CLAIM START DATE field in VTA reflects the date that a proper referral was made to VA.

X.i.6.E.3.f#Acceptable Alternative Means of Document Transfer

IDES referral packages and IDES examination results will primarily be transmitted between MSCs and PEBLOs via automated processes. However, if those processes fail, or further documentation must be transferred, the following methods are acceptable:

• encrypted e-mail
• Department of Defense Safe Access File Exchange (DoD SAFE) transfer, or
• shared local drives.

X.i.6.E.3.g#Expeditious Assessment of the Referral Package for Completeness

MSCs must review the contents of the referral package within one day of the date it became available to determine whether the referral is complete. A complete referral package must include

• a completed VA Form 21-0819
• a completed SHA, Part A with a response of either Separation from military service or Retirement (as appropriate) selected as the PURPOSE OF EXAM, and
• all available STRs (any missing STRs are documented in Section III of the VA Form 21-0819).

If the referral package is incomplete, the MSC must coordinate with the PEBLO to resolve the deficiency. If the deficiency cannot be promptly resolved, the MSC may return the referral to the PEBLO in accordance with M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.3.h. Notes:

• Complete STRs must include all items listed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.2.a, Step 4.
• Accept an unsigned SHA, Part A as complete. Examiners will evaluate the service member and review the SHA, Part A without a signature.
• When STRs have been deemed unavailable by the service department, the missing records must be indicated in Section III of the VA Form 21-0819 in Blocks 21 and 22 (as discussed M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.2.b).
• If the service department requires access to the SHA, Part A, direct them to download the form from the VA Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) webpage.

X.i.6.E.3.h#Returning Referrals

A referral can be returned if the

• referral package is incomplete, or
• participant is not available for either the initial meeting (within 5 days of referral) or VA examinations (within 30 days of referral).

Exceptions: Do not return the referral when

• there is a failure of automated transfer of referral documents to the eFolder due to technical issues. Instead, handle these cases in accordance with M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.3.e, or
• the referral package does not contain a completed SHA, Part A. Instead, contact the service member to inform them that VA examinations will not be requested until a completed SHA, Part A is received.

Follow the steps in the table below to return a referral. — Step — Action

Important:

• When referrals are returned as improper, the EP 689 must remain pending as long as the case remains enrolled in VTA. Do not change the DOC.

• If the service department determines that the participant will be removed from IDES and disenrolls the case from VTA, the MSC will either

  • take the actions outlined in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.I.2.a if the participant has submitted an application for VA benefits, or
  • clear the EP 689 if the participant has not yet submitted an application for VA benefits.

X.i.6.E.3.i#Scheduling and Preparing for the Initial Meeting

MSCs must

• make all possible attempts to schedule and complete the initial meeting within five days of the date a proper referral was made
• review the contents of the participant’s referral package and eFolder before the meeting in an effort to better advise the participant during the meeting about additional disabilities manifest in service, and
• contact the participant (if possible) beforehand to
  • explain the purpose of the meeting
  • invite the participant to bring members of their family to the meeting, if applicable
  • advise that VA examinations cannot be requested until VA receives a completed SHA, Part A, if not already of record
  • arrange to provide the participant with VA Form 21-686c, Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents , and VA Form 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance , via e-mail as applicable, and
  • request that the participant bring the completed dependency forms, SHA, Part A, if applicable, as well as direct deposit information, Standard Form (SF) 1199A, Direct Deposit Sign Up Form , to the initial meeting.

Reference : For more information on providing the SHA, Part A to participants, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.e.

X.i.6.E.3.j#Relevance of the Duty Status of Members of the Reserve or National Guard

When a PEBLO submits a referral for a member of the Reserve or National Guard, MSCs should attempt to obtain a copy of the member’s current orders from the PEBLO. If the PEBLO fails to provide the orders

• accept the referral (if otherwise proper), and
• ask the member to provide a copy of the orders at the initial meeting.

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, accept the statements of members of the Reserve or National Guard regarding their duty status as credible. If the participant is receiving VA compensation payments while serving on active duty, establish EP 290 with the claim label, IDES Return to Active Duty. The EP 290 will be routed by National Work Queue for appropriate action under M21-1, Part X, Subpart v, 2.B. Important:

• Ensure that orders provided by the PEBLO and/or the participant are available in the eFolder.
• M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.K.2 and M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.H.2.a contain instructions that are unique to the handling of IDES cases involving members of the Reserve or National Guard that are not on active duty.
• M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.G.1 discusses supplemental claims filed by Veterans who are currently not on active duty.
• Before treating a member of the Reserve or National Guard as an individual who is on active duty, MSCs must ensure the individual is actually performing full-time, active duty service. The fact that a member is “on orders” or in uniform is not a reliable indicator that they are on active duty.

4Initial Meeting Between MSCs and an IDES Participant

This topic contains information about the initial meeting between MSCs and an IDES participant, including

• steps of the initial meeting
• circumstances that may require additional MSC actions
• determining whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stressor development is required
• completing initial meetings by telephone or video conference
• providing forms to the participant when the meeting is conducted by telephone
• advising participants of how to return forms
• signatures by IDES participants that are incompetent or physically incapacitated, and
• handling
  • an unsigned VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits
  • cases where a participant does not immediately return a completed VA Form 21-526EZ
  • VA Form 21-526EZ received after the five-day deadline, and
  • failure to return VA Form 21-526EZ.

Revised June 28, 2024

X.i.6.E.4.a#Steps of the Initial Meeting

The table below describes the steps of the initial meeting between MSCs and an IDES participant.

The documentation should include a summary of the meeting, including the reason for it, and any noteworthy information exchanged. Important: If the meeting is held via telephone or video conference, it must be documented on a VA Form 27-0820, as discussed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.d.
Note: If the participant returns _VA Form 21-526EZ _(or expressly declines to file a claim) during the initial meeting, treat the meeting as concluded on that date. Otherwise, consider the meeting concluded on the earlier of the following

• the date that the participant returns VA-Form 21-526EZ , or

• expiration of the suspense period discussed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.i.

X.i.6.E.4.b#Circumstances That May Require Additional MSC Actions

The table below describes circumstances that arise or that become apparent during the initial meeting that will require additional MSC actions.

X.i.6.E.4.c#Determining Whether PTSD Stressor Development Is Required

When there is a claim for SC for PTSD, the MSC’s duty to provide a participant with the VA Form 21-0781, Statement in Support of Claimed Mental Health Disorder(s) Due to an In-Service Traumatic Event(s) , and assist in completing it at the initial meeting will depend upon whether there is a need to obtain credible supporting evidence of a claimed in-service stressor. Whether a PTSD claim requires stressor development or whether a stressor can be established by the claimant’s lay testimony is covered in detail in M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 1.Important : For active duty IDES participants, the fact that a VA examination will be conducted while the individual is still in service will typically make completion of the VA Form 21-0781 at the initial meeting unnecessary. This is because a diagnosis of PTSD in-service would typically be sufficient to support a grant on a direct basis without stressor verification. When PTSD is diagnosed in service, the participant’s testimony alone may establish that the claimed in-service stressor occurred as provided in 38 CFR 3.304(f)(1), and if late onset or delayed PTSD is diagnosed related to a pre-service stressor, there is no statutory or regulatory requirement for credible supporting evidence. Conversely, VA examination results showing no PTSD diagnosis would also make stressor development unnecessary. In cases involving IDES participants who are not on active duty, in which stressor development is required, the MSC must:

• provide and assist the participant with completing the VA Form 21-0781 , and
• process the claim in accordance with M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 1.A.

Note: If further stressor development is required in cases involving MST, the MSC must notify the DRAS. The MST Outreach Coordinator at the DRAS is responsible for taking the actions outlined in M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 1.A.Reference : For more information on an in-service diagnosis of PTSD based on a in-service stressor or a pre-service stressor, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 1.

X.i.6.E.4.d#Completing Initial Meetings by Telephone or Video Conference

Whenever possible, the initial meeting between MSCs and IDES participants should be face-to-face. If such a meeting is not feasible, MSCs may hold the meeting by video conference or, as a last resort, by telephone.When conducting an initial meeting by telephone or video conference, MSCs must

• complete all initial meeting actions described in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.a
• provide all required forms to the participant per M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.e
• advise the participant of
  • the means to return completed forms to the MSC, per M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.f, and
  • the requirement for timely return of VA Form 21-526EZ, per M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.i, and
• document the meeting on VA Form 27-0820 and upload the VA Form 27-0820 into the participant’s eFolder.

X.i.6.E.4.e#Providing Forms to the Participant When the Meeting Is Conducted by Telephone

When conducting the initial meeting by telephone or video conference, the MSC must provide all forms indicated in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.a, (Steps 6 and 8) and M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.c, if applicable, to the participant via e-mail. The e-mail must include the current portable document format (PDF) versions of all required forms or include hyperlinks to the forms. If hyperlinks are provided, they must be obtained from VA’s public-facing forms page and link to the specific form(s). Examples:

• http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-526EZ-ARE.pdf
• http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-686c-ARE.pdf

Exceptions:

• If extenuating circumstances exist, these forms can be physically mailed to the participant, at the participant’s request.
• The SHA, Part A, can be downloaded from the VA Public DBQ webpage.

X.i.6.E.4.f#Advising Participants of How to Return Forms

The MSC should encourage the participant to return the required forms to the MSC in-person. When a participant is unable to return the required forms to the MSC in-person, the MSC must advise the participant to return all required forms to the MSC, via one of the following means:

• encrypted e-mail
• DoD SAFE, or
• VA claims submission service website.

If the participant is unable or unwilling to submit the forms electronically, the claimant may return them to the MSC by mail; however, returning paper documents by mail is not recommended. Important: If the participant wishes to file a VA claim, but does not complete the VA Form 21-526EZ during the initial meeting, the MSC must take action according to M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.i. Reference: For information on using DoD SAFE to send sensitive records, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.K.9.a.

X.i.6.E.4.g#Signatures by IDES Participants That Are Incompetent or Physically Incapacitated

If an IDES participant is filing a VA claim, but is unable to sign the VA Form 21-526EZ because they are incompetent or physically incapacitated, MSCs must attempt to obtain an acceptable alternative. Acceptable alternatives include:

• the claimant’s X mark or thumbprint, if it was marked and witnessed in accordance with M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.B.2.a, or
• the signature of an individual authorized to sign for a claimant as indicated in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.B.3.a.

X.i.6.E.4.h#Handling an Unsigned VA Form 21-526EZ

If an IDES participant returns a VA Form 21-526EZ without a signature, the MSC must concurrently

• process the claim according to standard IDES procedure, and
• attempt to obtain the participant’s signature.

If the signed application is not returned by the time of the proposed rating decision, the DRAS must

• prepare a proposed rating and benefits estimate letter (BEL) according to standard IDES rating procedure
• modify the BEL to indicate that the participant’s signature was missing from the VA Form 21-526EZ , and that this form must be signed before VA benefits can be formally awarded, and
• develop directly to the participant for their signature on the application.

If the participant has not signed the form by the time they exit IDES, the DRAS of jurisdiction must

• take the actions described in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 1.C for handling a claim that is not substantially complete
• enter the date of notification of the participant in the VA BENEFITS DATE field on the RO/RATING ACTIVITY tab in VTA
• add a note on the same tab that explains the date the DRAS entered in the VA BENEFITS DATE field, and
• clear the pending EP 689.

X.i.6.E.4.i#Handling Cases Where a Participant Does Not Immediately Return a Completed VA Form 21-526EZ

If a participant indicates the intention to file a VA claim as part of the IDES process, but is unable, or chooses not to, return the VA Form 21-526EZimmediately, then the MSC must notify the participant that

• the MSC can wait up to five calendar days for return of the VA Form 21-526EZ
• if the application is not received within five days, examinations will be ordered only for the conditions identified by the service department on the VA Form 21-0819
• if the VA Form 21-526EZ is received after five days, any claimed issues may be deferred until after the participant exits IDES, and
• unless VA receives a completed application, VA will be unable to pay benefits.

MSCs must wait until the completed VA Form 21-526EZ is received or until the five-day deadline passes (whichever is earlier) before requesting examinations. If extenuating circumstances exist that impact the participant’s ability to return the form, the MSC may defer requesting exams beyond the five-day deadline. Notes:

• If a participant returns a completed VA Form 21-526EZ within five days, then the form should be handled as if it were provided during the initial meeting.
• If the VA Form 21-526EZ is received after five days, it should be handled in accordance with M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.j.

X.i.6.E.4.j#Handling a VA Form 21-526EZ Received After the Five-Day Deadline

If a participant returns the signed VA Form 21-526EZ after the five-day deadline following the initial meeting and has added new contentions, VA is not obligated to request additional examinations. MSCs must add a note in VBMS and VTA

• stating that the additional issues were not received until after five days of the initial meeting, and
• specifying if examinations will be ordered/conducted for the new issues as part of the IDES claim.

Reference: For more information regarding additional disabilities that IDES participants claim after the initial meeting, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.K.1.c and d.

X.i.6.E.4.k#Handling Failure to Return VA Form 21-526EZ

If an IDES participant does not specifically decline to file a VA claim during the initial meeting, but fails to return a VA Form 21-526EZ within the timeframe specified in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.i, the MSC must proceed to order examinations for the referred conditions.If a completed VA Form 21-526EZ is not returned by the time of the proposed rating decision, the DRAS must

• prepare a proposed rating and BEL according to standard IDES rating procedure
• modify the BEL to indicate no application for VA benefits has been received to date and that a completed application must be received for VA benefits to be formally awarded, and
• develop directly to the participant for a completed VA Form 21-526EZ.

Exception: If the participant declined to file a VA claim during the initial interview with the MSC, and this was properly documented as required by M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.E.4.a, Step 5, no further development for the VA Form 21-526EZ _ _ should be undertaken. These situations must be handled in accordance with M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.K.10.a.If the participant has not returned the application (or expressly declined to file a VA claim) by the time the participant exits IDES, the DRAS must

• take the actions described in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G for handling a request for application
• enter the date of the notification letter to the participant in the VA BENEFITS DATE field on the RO/RATING ACTIVITY tab in VTA
• add a note on the same tab that explains the date the DRAS entered in the VA BENEFITS DATE field, and
• clear the pending EP 689.