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M21-1 · Section IV.i.2.D

Exam Liaisons

M21-1 section IV.i.2.D. Official source text with a separately reviewed Claim Raven explanation when available.

Claim Raven wrote the explanation that follows. The original VA text appears below it, unchanged.

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What this means

m21-1:IV.i.2.D explains exam liaisons. In plain terms, the official guidance says each regional office (RO) must designate at least two employees to serve in the ancillary role of exam liaison. At least one designated exam liaison must be a non-bargaining unit employee. It also addresses RO leadership or an appointed designee must notify the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) of any changes to the employee(s) assigned to the role of exam liaison by sending an e-mail to VAVBAWAS/CO/Contract Examination Inquiries.

How this may help with a claim

Use m21-1:IV.i.2.D as an internal VA audit trail for exam liaisons, not as a promise of a particular result. Compare the actions recorded in your claim file or decision notice with this source-specific detail: Each regional office (RO) must designate at least two employees to serve in the ancillary role of exam liaison. RO leadership or an appointed designee must notify the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) of any changes to the employee(s) assigned to the role of exam liaison by sending an e-mail to VAVBAWAS/CO/Contract Examination Inquiries. If the record does not show the expected action, identify the missing step precisely when asking VA or an accredited representative to review the file.

What to review in your file

  • Check the file against this official condition: Each regional office (RO) must designate at least two employees to serve in the ancillary role of exam liaison. At least one designated exam liaison must be a non-bargaining unit employee.
  • Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: RO leadership or an appointed designee must notify the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) of any changes to the employee(s) assigned to the role of exam liaison by sending an e-mail to VAVBAWAS/CO/Contract Examination Inquiries.
  • Document how this stated step or exception applies: Additional duties and responsibilities for this ancillary role are at the discretion of each station.

Important limits

m21-1:IV.i.2.D is primarily internal workflow guidance about exam liaisons. It can help identify what VA was expected to document, but it does not by itself create a claimant deadline, a freestanding entitlement, or a guaranteed remedy. The source also states: Each regional office (RO) must designate at least two employees to serve in the ancillary role of exam liaison. Additional duties and responsibilities for this ancillary role are at the discretion of each station.

Search terms when useful

Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.

  • Exam Liaisons
  • m21-1:IV.i.2.D
  • selection
  • responsibilities.
  • IV.i.2.D.1.a. Exam Liaison Selection
  • Each regional office must
  • Note leadership appointed designee
  • longer serving exam liaison

Original VA guidance

The official VA text of this section

Overview

In This Section

This section contains the topic “ Exam Liaisons.”

1. Exam Liaisons

Introduction

This topic contains information about the ancillary role of exam liaison, including exam liaison

  • selection, and
  • responsibilities.

Change Date

May 8, 2025

IV.i.2.D.1.a. Exam Liaison Selection

Each regional office (RO) must designate at least two employees to serve in the ancillary role of exam liaison. At least one designated exam liaison must be a non-bargaining unit employee.

Note: RO leadership or an appointed designee must notify the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) of any changes to the employee(s) assigned to the role of exam liaison by sending an e-mail to VAVBAWAS/CO/Contract Examination Inquiries. This includes instances in which an employee is

  • no longer serving as an exam liaison, or
  • newly assigned as an exam liaison.

Reference: For more information on currently designated exam liaisons, see the Exam Liaison Directory on the MDEO Exam Liaison Resource page.

IV.i.2.D.1.b. Exam Liaison Responsibilities

Employees designated as exam liaisons are responsible for

  • attending exam liaison calls held by MDEO
  • sharing information from the exam liaison calls with other station employees as appropriate
  • acting as a liaison between MDEO and claims processors for questions and concerns related to contract vendor examinations
  • assisting MDEO with
  • case reviews
  • examination requests
  • cancellations of examination requests
  • clarification responses, and
  • other examination-related issues on an emergent or as-needed basis, and
  • answering questions on contract vendor examinations that are outside the purview of other claims processors at their respective stations.

Note: Additional duties and responsibilities for this ancillary role are at the discretion of each station.

Reference: For more information on the role of exam liaisons, see the MDEO Exam Liaison Resource page.

Not legal or medical advice: The M21 manuals are VA operational guidance for staff. They do not override laws, regulations, or court decisions. Claim Raven is not an official VA application and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.