A

Aggravation

A pre-existing injury or disease will be considered to have been aggravated by active military, naval, or air service, where there is an increase in disability during such service, unless there is a specific finding that the increase in disability is due to the natural progress of the disease.

B

Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)

Members of the Board review benefit claims determinations made by local VA offices and issue decisions on appeals. These Veterans Law Judges are attorneys experienced in veterans law and in reviewing benefit claims, and they are the only ones who can issue Board decisions. Staff attorneys, also trained in veterans law, review the facts of each appeal, and assist the Board members.

C

Claims File (C-file)

The C-file is the folder that contains the Veteran's or Servicemember's service treatment records, claims correspondence, evidence including medical records, and documentation of all benefit awards. The C-file is confidential and the Veteran or Servicemember may not have access to the C-file without the presence of an authorized VBA representative. C-files should not be given to Veterans or Servicemembers to carry from one clinic to another or from the Medical Center to the VA Regional Office.

D

Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)

The DBQ is a form designed to provide pertinent and easily accessible medical information to document the disability examination. DBQs are concise, straightforward documentation tools tailored to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule). DBQs streamline the disability examination documentation process.

Disability Examination

A disability examination has the purpose of providing diagnostic and other clinical evidence concerning the severity of a disability needed by VBA to determine entitlement to benefits for the party you examine.

E

Examination Request (VA Form 2507)

An electronic request for a disability examination is initiated by the VA Regional Office (VARO or RO). Examinations are requested after the Veteran or Servicemember has made a substantially complete application for disability benefits. The Examination Request should be reviewed in detail by the disability examiner prior to conducting the requested examination.

F

Fear of Hostile Military or Terrorist Activity

Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations loosely defines fear of hostile military or terrorist activity to mean that a Veteran or Servicemember ... "experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or circumstance that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of the veteran or others, such as from an actual or potential improvised explosive device; vehicle-imbedded explosive device; incoming artillery, rocket, or mortar fire; grenade; small arms fire, including suspected sniper fire; or attack upon friendly military aircraft, and the veteran's response to the event or circumstance involved a psychological or psycho-physiological state of fear, helplessness, or horror." – 38 CFR 3.304(f)(3)

G

H

I

J

K

L

Lay Testimony

"Lay testimony" or "lay evidence," is evidence from someone who does not have expertise in a relevant profession, such as medical or legal training, or other specialized training or expertise. Lay testimony or lay evidence can take the form of a written or verbal statement from the Veteran or Servicemember or others.

M

Medical Nexus

The term "medical nexus" for VA disability compensation purposes refers to evidence that establishes a link or connection between a current condition and a relevant event, injury or disease that was incurred during service or, if such condition preexisted service, evidence which shows that the preexisting condition was aggravated beyond its normal course during service. While a medical opinion is one way of providing "medical nexus" evidence, such evidence may, in appropriate circumstances, also be provided by medical treatment records, medical treatises, or lay evidence (Veteran's or Servicemember's statements, buddy statements, etc.).

Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Military Sexual Trauma is the term used by the VA to refer to experiences of sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred during a Veteran's or Servicemember's military service.

N

Nexus Opinion

An opinion for disability purposes that is based on all available evidence, supported by a logical, clearly stated rationale concerning a Veteran's or Servicemember's relationship between a current condition and a relevant event, injury or disease that was incurred during service or, if such condition preexisted service, evidence which shows that the preexisting condition was aggravated beyond its normal course during service. Nexus opinions are requested by VBA or a Veterans Law Judge from the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

O

Other Documentation Protocol

A documentation protocol is used to gather information for adjudication purposes. There will be occasions when the DBQ is not requested on the Examination Request (2507) and another documentation protocol such as a worksheet is used.

P

Q

R

S

Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Part 4 of title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR))

VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (the rating schedule) is a guide in the evaluation of disability resulting from all types of diseases and injuries encountered as a result of or incident to military service. The ratings represent the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such diseases and injuries and their residual conditions in civil occupations. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are considered adequate to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses proportionate to the severity of the several grades of disability. For the application of this schedule, accurate and fully descriptive medical examinations are required, with emphasis upon the limitation of activity imposed by the disabling condition.

Sentinel Event

Any significant life event the examiner deems important enough to highlight even if reported in other sections of the Mental Disorders DBQ or other documentation protocol.

T

U

V

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)

VBA is the administration responsible for a wide variety of benefit programs authorized by Congress, including disability compensation, disability pension, burial assistance, rehabilitation assistance, education and training assistance, home loan guarantees, and life insurance coverage.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Veterans Health Administration governs the medical treatment facilities within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

W

X

Y

Z