General Information About the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program

Overview

In This Section

This section contains the following topics:

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1. Overview of the FDC Program

Introduction

This topic contains an overview of the FDC Program, including the

• purpose of the FDC Program, and
• benefits of and criteria for participation in the FDC Program.

Change Date

September 12, 2017

X.i.2.A.1.a. Purpose of the FDC Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) designed the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program for the purpose of

• reducing its backlog of pending claims, and
• improving claims-processing timeliness.

X.i.2.A.1.b. Benefits of and Criteria for Participation in the FDC Program

In order to streamline the claims process, t he FDC Program requires claimants that choose to participate in this program to

• submit their claim on a specific form that contains language which satisfies the general notice requirements of 38 U.S.C. 5103
• simultaneously submit all private medical treatment records with their claim
• identify any relevant treatment records at a Federal facility, and
• submit any additional forms or treatment records required under special circumstances that support their specific claim.

In addition to reduced claims processing time, FDC claimants who filed an original compensation claim between August 6, 2013, through August 5, 2015, potentially benefit from the retroactive effective date temporarily established by Section 506 of Public Law 112-154.

Note: Service members who do not meet the requirements for pre-separation claim processing through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program may file an FDC claim from one to 180 days prior to discharge.

References: For information on

• the forms claimants must use when submitting an FDC, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.a
• exclusions from the FDC Program, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.2
• special issue FDCs that require development letters, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.3.b
• determining an effective date for a grant of benefits under the FDC Program, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.4, and
• the requirements for processing of pre-separation claims through the BDD program, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 6.B.

2. Forms Claimants Must Use When Submitting an FDC

Introduction

This topic contains information on the forms claimants must use when submitting an FDC, including

• list of forms claimants must use to participate in the FDC Program
• use of EZ forms by claimants who do not want to participate in the FDC Program
• unique characteristics of the EZ forms
• notice claimants receive in
• VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits
• VA Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Pension
• VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and /or Accrued Benefits, and
• VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits (Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23)
• handling an incomplete EZ form, and
• handling an unsigned EZ form.

Change Date

August 20, 2025

X.i.2.A.2.a. List of Forms Claimants Must Use to Participate in the FDC Program

The table below lists the forms claimants must use in order to participate in the FDC Program.

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Notes:

• Follow the instructions in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.2.d, for excluding a claim from the FDC Program if a claimant
• requests processing of the claim under the FDC Program, using a form other than those listed in the table above, or
• uses an outdated version of an EZ form, as defined in M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.B.4, to apply for benefits.
• A Veteran who simultaneously claims entitlement to both compensation and pension under the FDC Program must submit both
• VA Form 21-526EZ, and
• VA Form 21P-527EZ.
• The EZ forms identified in this block
• are considered valid forms for submission of an original claim, as defined by 38 CFR 3.160(b), but
• must be submitted by claimants each time they file a claim for respective benefits under the FDC Program.

X.i.2.A.2.b. Use of EZ Forms by Claimants Who Do Not Want to Participate in the FDC Program

Claimants who do not want VA to process their claim under the FDC Program may also use the EZ forms listed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.a, to apply for benefits. Depending upon the benefit sought and/or form submitted, claimants notify VA of this intent by

• selecting STANDARD CLAIM PROCESS as the claim program/process desired, or
• checking the box next to the form’s statement that reads: I DO NOT want my claim considered for rapid processing under the FDC Program because I plan to submit further evidence in support of my claim.

If the VA Form 21-526EZ contains selections for both the FDC Program and the standard claim process, or neither, default to processing the claim through the FDC Program, and follow procedures found in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.2.d if exclusion from the FDC Program is or becomes necessary.

X.i.2.A.2.c. Unique Characteristics of the EZ Forms

38 U.S.C. 5103 requires VA to notify claimants of the evidence they must submit in order to establish entitlement to the benefit(s) they are seeking. The forms listed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.a, are unique in that they provide this notice along with the application for benefits, thereby eliminating the need for VA to

• provide the notice after receiving the application, and/or
• allow time for claimants to respond to the notice.

The forms listed in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.a, also contain an explanation of the general differences between the FDC process and the standard claim process, to include what the claimant needs to do and when the claimant should submit information and evidence.

References: For more information on the notice VA provides to claimants in

• VA Form 21-526EZ, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.d
• VA Form 21P-527EZ, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.e
• VA Form 21P-534EZ, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.f, and
• VA Form 21P-530EZ, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.A.2.g.

X.i.2.A.2.d. Notice Claimants Receive in VA Form 21-526EZ

VA Form 21-526EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for the following types of disability compensation claims:

• service connection (SC) for disabilities related to the following types of service:
• active duty
• active duty for training, or
• inactive duty training
• secondary SC
• increased disability compensation
• compensation claims submitted prior to discharge
• individual unemployability
• temporary total disability rating due to
• hospitalization, or
• surgical or other treatment
• compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151
• special monthly compensation based on the
• need for aid and attendance (A&A), or
• status of being housebound
• additional benefits for a spouse who needs A&A
• specially adapted housing or special home adaptation
• automobile allowance or adaptive equipment, and
• additional compensation for a Veteran with a child incapable of self-support.

Exception: Certain special issue claims require additional notification as outlined in M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.B.1.e. In these cases, follow the procedures outlined in M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 2.B.3, for providing a subsequent development letter.

X.i.2.A.2.e. Notice Claimants Receive in VA Form 21P-527EZ

VA Form 21P-527EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for the following types of Veterans Pension claims:

• Veterans Pension
• special monthly pension based on the
• need for A&A, or
• status of being housebound, and
• additional Veterans Pension benefits for a Veteran with a child incapable of self-support.

Note: VA accepts electronically filed versions of VA Form 21P-527EZ submitted through on-line applications.

Reference: For more information on processing on-line applications without a signature, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.A.2.d.

X.i.2.A.2.f. Notice Claimants Receive in VA Form 21P-534EZ

VA Form 21P-534EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for claims for the following types of survivors benefits:

• accrued benefits
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for death related to the following types of service:
• active duty
• active duty for training, or
• inactive duty training
• DIC under 38 U.S.C. 1318
• DIC under 38 U.S.C. 1151
• Survivors Pension and Parents’ DIC
• additional survivors benefits based on the
• need for A&A, or
• status of being housebound, and
• benefits for a deceased Veteran’s child incapable of self-support.

X.i.2.A.2.g. Notice Claimants Receive in VA Form 21P-530EZ

VA Form 21P-530EZ provides claimants with the notice 38 U.S.C. 5103 requires for claims for the following types of burial benefits:

• non-service connected burial allowance
• service-connected burial allowance
• plot or interment allowance
• transportation benefit, and
• burial benefits for the unclaimed remains of a Veteran.

X.i.2.A.2.h. Handling an Incomplete EZ Form

Follow the instructions in the table below if a claimant who requests processing of the claim under the FDC Program submits an EZ form that is incomplete.

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Reference: For more information on identifying and handling incomplete FDCs filed prior to March 24, 2015, see the attachment, Historical_M21-1III_i_3_SecA_2-27-19.docx.

X.i.2.A.2.i. Handling an Unsigned EZ Form

Follow the instructions found in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 1.C.2.b, to treat as an incomplete application any EZ form that constitutes a(n)

• original claim for benefits, unsigned by the claimant, or
• non-original claim for benefits, signed by neither the claimant nor authorized representative.

Important:

• If an EZ form constituting a non-original claim for benefits is signed by the authorized representative only, send the claimant a Section 5103 notice, and continue processing the claim under the FDC Program.
• VA does not require a signature on forms claimants submit through VONAPP, VDC, or Vets.gov.

References: For more information on

• the notice requirements of 38 U.S.C. 5103, see
• M21-1, Part I, Subpart i, 1.A, and
• M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.B
• processing on-line applications without a signature, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.A.2.d, and
• handling unsigned EZ forms constituting non-original claims prior to March 24, 2015, see the attachment, Historical_M21-1III_i_3_SecA_2-27-19.docx.