Disappearance and Reappearance of a Veteran

Overview

In This Chapter

This chapter contains the following topics:

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1. Disappearance of a Veteran

Change Date

June 10, 2026

VI.iii.4.1.a. Suspension of Payments Due to a Veteran’s Disappearance

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is generally notified of a Veteran’s disappearance when a benefit payment and/or mail is returned undeliverable.

The Veteran’s benefit payments are suspended during the processing of the returned payment, creating a proceed balance that requires review in accordance with the instructions in M21-1, Part X, Subpart v, 2.D.

When there is evidence showing that the Veteran has disappeared, but no proceed balance exists, attempt to obtain a current address from the Veteran by telephone. If such attempts are

• successful, follow the instructions in the first row of the table below, or
• unsuccessful, follow the instructions in
• Steps 1 through 6 of the procedure described in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.C.6.d, and
• the table below.

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References: For more information on

• updating a Veteran’s address, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 3.B.1.b or c
• resuming payments when an award is discontinued because the Veteran’s address is unknown, see 38 CFR 3.158(c), and
• discontinuing or resuming an award due to a Veteran’s disappearance or reappearance, see the VBMS Awards User Guide.

2. Payments to Dependents Upon the Disappearance of a Veteran

Introduction

This topic contains information on making payments to dependents upon the disappearance of a Veteran, including

• paying a Veteran’s benefits to a dependent(s)
• developing for the dependent’s entitlement
• how to prepare an award of a Veteran’s benefits to a dependent(s)
• paying
• disability compensation to dependents
• the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rate to a parent(s), and
• pension to dependents
• example 1: determining payment rates
• example 2: determining payment rates, and
• example 3: determining payment rates.

Change Date

October 30, 2019

VI.iii.4.2.a. Paying a Veteran’s Benefits to a Dependent(s)

Under 38 CFR 3.656, if a Veteran was receiving, or was entitled to receive, disability compensation, current-law pension, or Section 306 Pension, and the Veteran's whereabouts remain unknown for a period of 90 days or more, those benefits may be paid to or for

• a spouse
• children, or
• parents (in disability compensation cases).

Note: Do not pay dependents Old-Law Pension and special monthly pension for the Medal of Honor.

VI.iii.4.2.b. Developing for the Dependent’s Entitlement

Before VA undertakes development to determine a dependent’s potential entitlement to benefits under 38 CFR 3.656, the dependent, or someone on the dependent's behalf, must make a specific request using VA Form 21-0788, Information Regarding Apportionment of Beneficiary’s Award.

Notes:

• To establish relationship, use VA Form 21-686c, Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents.
• Although VA Form 21-0788 is a form VA uses to determine a claimant’s entitlement to an apportionment, the instructions in M21-1, Part VI, Subpart iv, 2.A, are not for application in determining entitlement to the payment of a Veteran’s benefits to a dependent(s) under 38 CFR 3.656.

VI.iii.4.2.c. How to Prepare an Award of a Veteran’s Benefits to a Dependent(s)

Follow the steps in the table below to prepare an award of a Veteran’s benefits to a dependent(s) under 38 CFR 3.656.

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Note: If the Veteran’s award was previously discontinued because of whereabouts unknown (as discussed in M21-1, Part VI, Subpart iii, 4.1.a), and payment of the benefits to a dependent(s) is now in order,

• resume the Veteran’s award
• generate the award to the dependent(s) in accordance with instructions in the table above, and
• suppress direct payment to the Veteran by withholding the difference, if any, between the following amounts on the appropriate claims-processing system’s OTHER ADJUSTMENTS screen (as an Other Withholding Reason):
• gross amount of the Veteran’s entitlement, and
• amount being paid to dependents, as determined by the provisions of M21-1, Part VI, Subpart iii, 4.2.d - i.

Reference: For more information on preparing an apportionment award, see the VBMS Awards User Guide.

VI.iii.4.2.d. Paying Disability Compensation to Dependents

In compensation cases, pay either the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rate or the rate of compensation payable to the Veteran, whichever is less.

Note: The rate determined is subject to any authorized insurance deductions.

VI.iii.4.2.e. Paying the DIC Rate to a Parent(s)

If the DIC rate is authorized to a parent(s),

• use the income of the parent(s) to determine the rate payable, and
• leave a remark on the award document that provides the income data used to justify the rate paid.

Note: Do not enter income data when generating the award.

VI.iii.4.2.f. Paying Pension to Dependents

Use the table below to determine the rate payable to dependents in pension cases.

Note: Unlike with disability compensation cases, disregard authorized insurance deductions in effect at the time of the Veteran’s disappearance.

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VI.iii.4.2.g. Example 1: Determining Payment Rates

Situation: The Veteran was receiving compensation in the amount of $774, including an additional amount for a spouse, for a static disability evaluated as 70-percent disabling, subject to an insurance deduction in the amount of $15. The DIC rate available to the spouse is $564, based on the pay grade E-1 from 04/01/1990.

Result: Since the DIC rate is less than the rate of compensation payable to the Veteran, the full DIC rate is payable to the spouse.

VI.iii.4.2.h. Example 2: Determining Payment Rates

Situation: The Veteran was receiving compensation in the amount of $617, including an additional amount for a spouse, for a static disability evaluated as 60-percent disabling, subject to an insurance deduction of $22. The DIC rate available to the spouse is $597, based on pay grade E-3 from 04/01/1990.

Result: Since the amount payable to the spouse, plus the insurance deduction, may not exceed the amount of compensation the Veteran was receiving, only $595, and not the full DIC rate, is payable to the spouse.

VI.iii.4.2.i. Example 3: Determining Payment Rates

Situation: The Veteran was receiving pension in the amount of $628, including additional pension for a spouse, subject to an insurance deduction of $15. On the basis of the spouse’s income, the Survivors Pension rate would be $323.

Result: Since the amount of Survivors Pension based on the income of the spouse is less than the Veteran’s rate of pension, the Survivors Pension rate of $323 is payable to the spouse. The Veteran’s award makes no provision for continuation of the insurance deduction, and the Veteran’s gross entitlement is carried as a withholding.

3. Continuation of Awards and Controls Upon the Disappearance of a Veteran

Introduction

This topic contains information on the continuation of awards and controls upon the disappearance of a Veteran, including

• establishing control for a decision on presumption of death
• handling controls in
• pension cases, and
• compensation cases, and
• effective date for adjustment of compensation awards.

Change Date

June 10, 2026

VI.iii.4.3.a. Establishing Control for a Decision on Presumption of Death

For a decision on presumption of death, establish a Disappearance 7-Year Review diary.

Reference: For more information on presumption of death, see 38 CFR 3.656(c).

VI.iii.4.3.b. Handling Controls in Pension Cases

In pension cases

• cancel any controls established for a future examination, and
• consider the Veteran’s disability, income, and net worth status as static while the Veteran's whereabouts are unknown.

VI.iii.4.3.c. Handling Controls in Compensation Cases

Do not cancel any control previously established for a future examination in a compensation case solely because a Veteran disappeared.

Use the table below to decide how to handle controls in compensation cases involving a Veteran who has disappeared.

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Reference: For more information on how to handle a Veteran’s failure to report for examination, see

• M21-1, Part IV, Subpart i, 2.F, and
• M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, 2.B.

VI.iii.4.3.d. Effective Date for Adjustment of Compensation Awards

The effective date for adjustment or discontinuance of compensation awards is the date in the LAST PAID DATE field on the CURRENT AND HISTORICAL AWARD INFORMATION page in VBMS.

4. Action Upon the Reappearance of a Veteran

Change Date

June 10, 2026

VI.iii.4.4.a. Actions Upon Reappearance of a Veteran

Follow the steps in the table below when a Veteran's whereabouts become known.

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References: For more information on

• resumption of payments, see 38 CFR 3.158(c), and
• payments to dependents upon the disappearance of the Veteran, see M21-1, Part VI, Subpart iii, 4.2.