What this means
m21-1:XIII.ii.5.A explains certification for service academy appointment. In plain terms, the official guidance says the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) determination as to service connection (SC) for the cause of death or disability, as well as the degree of disability, is binding on the Secretary of War under 10 U.S.C. 7442, 10 U.S.C. 8454, and 10 U.S.C. 9342. It also addresses a Senior Veterans Service Representative or other designee may sign the certificate in the name of the Veterans Service Center Manager or Pension Management Center Manager.
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-1:XIII.ii.5.A when organizing evidence or checking VA's handling of certification for service academy appointment. Compare your application, supporting records, and notice with this source-specific point: The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) determination as to service connection (SC) for the cause of death or disability, as well as the degree of disability, is binding on the Secretary of War under 10 U.S.C. A Senior Veterans Service Representative or other designee may sign the certificate in the name of the Veterans Service Center Manager or Pension Management Center Manager. Save proof of submission and identify the exact condition, exception, or missing development step before requesting correction or choosing a review option.
What to review in your file
- Check the file against this official condition: when to furnish a certification of the disability rating of record, and
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: wording on certification of disability rating of record.
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: Use the table below to determine what action to take when VA receives an inquiry regarding eligibility for an appointment to a service academy.
Important limits
m21-1:XIII.ii.5.A explains VA guidance for certification for service academy appointment; it does not guarantee an award or replace the statutes, regulations, binding decisions, and review instructions that control an individual claim. Conditions and exceptions still matter, including this source point: The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) determination as to service connection (SC) for the cause of death or disability, as well as the degree of disability, is binding on the Secretary of War under 10 U.S.C. Use the following wording on the certificate when responding to inquiries:
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- Certification for Service Academy Appointment
- m21-1:XIII.ii.5.A
- Certification Service Academy
- Appointment
- Certificate Appointment Service Academy
- eligibility appointment service academy
- inquiries regarding eligibility appointment
- sign certificate appointment service
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
Overview
In This Section
This section contains the topic “ Certificate for an Appointment to a Service Academy.”
1. Certificate for an Appointment to a Service Academy
Introduction
This topic contains information on a certificate for an appointment to a service academy, including
- eligibility for an appointment to a service academy
- inquiries regarding eligibility for an appointment to a service academy
- who may sign the certificate for an appointment to a service academy
- when to furnish a certification of the disability rating of record, and
- wording on certification of disability rating of record.
Change Date
February 3, 2011
XIII.ii.5.A.1.a. Eligibility for an Appointment to a Service Academy
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) determination as to service connection (SC) for the cause of death or disability, as well as the degree of disability, is binding on the Secretary of War under 10 U.S.C. 7442, 10 U.S.C. 8454, and 10 U.S.C. 9342.
Appointments to the U.S. Military, Air Force, and Naval Academies may be obtained by sons or daughters of a Veteran who
- died as the result of service-connected (SC) disabilities, or
- has SC disabilities that are rated at not less than 100 percent.
XIII.ii.5.A.1.b. Inquiries Regarding Eligibility for an Appointment to a Service Academy
Use the table below to determine what action to take when VA receives an inquiry regarding eligibility for an appointment to a service academy.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| If VA receives an inquiry regarding eligibility for an appointment to a service academy, and … | Then … |
|---|---|
| VA has already received a claim for benefits, and a rating decision of record exists | a rating decision of record allowing or denying SC for the cause of death or disability must be accepted for that purpose. Note: VA provides the rating decision of record to the person inquiring only if requested. Otherwise, VA sends only the certificates as shown in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart ii, 5.A.1.e. |
| a claim for benefits ha s not been filed, and no determination of SC for disability or death has been made | furnish a statement to that effect, explaining that in the absence of a claim, VA cannot furnish a certificate. |
| a rating decision is deferred pending further development | inform the correspondent. |
XIII.ii.5.A.1.c. Who May Sign the Certificate for an Appointment to a Service Academy
A Senior Veterans Service Representative or other designee may sign the certificate in the name of the Veterans Service Center Manager or Pension Management Center Manager.
XIII.ii.5.A.1.d. When to Furnish Certification of the Disability Rating of Record
On request, furnish a certification of the disability rating of record, even if it is a temporary rating.
If the 100-percent evaluation is assigned under 38 CFR 4.28, 38 CFR 4.29, or 38 CFR 4.30 of the rating schedule
- include a statement that the evaluation is temporary, and
- show the basis for the evaluation, such as hospitalization or convalescence.
XIII.ii.5.A.1.e. Wording on Certification of Disability Rating of Record
Use the following wording on the certificate when responding to inquiries:
Death Cases:
“The Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that for the purpose of Public Law 586, 81st Congress, as amended, the death of [name] from [cause] on [date] was (not) caused by wounds or injuries received or disease contracted or aggravated in active service.
Disability Cases:
“ The Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that for the purpose of Public Law 586, 81st Congress, as amended, [name] has (does not have) disability evaluated at 100 percent caused by wounds or injuries received or disease contracted or aggravated in active service.”