What this means
m21-1:XIII.ii.5.C explains information requests for research purposes. In plain terms, the official guidance says VA is assisting the U.S. Air Force, Special Projects Branch, Epidemiology Division, in conducting an ongoing study of the possible health effects of occupational exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange by former Air Force personnel. It also addresses mail all photocopies and completed VA Forms 23-6547 directly to the following address:
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-1:XIII.ii.5.C as an internal VA audit trail for information requests for research purposes, not as a promise of a particular result. Compare the actions recorded in your claim file or decision notice with this source-specific detail: VA is assisting the U.S. Air Force, Special Projects Branch, Epidemiology Division, in conducting an ongoing study of the possible health effects of occupational exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange by former Air Force personnel. Mail all photocopies and completed VA Forms 23-6547 directly to the following address: 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: generating listings of Veterans for whom data is required
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: XIII.ii.5.C.1.b. Generating Listings of Veterans for Whom Data Is Required
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: The Austin Systems Development Center generates listings entitled DECEASED VETERAN LISTING FOR STATION XXX, grouped by regional office (RO), of cases required by the Air Force in connection with the study.
Important limits
m21-1:XIII.ii.5.C is primarily internal workflow guidance about information requests for research purposes. 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: VA is assisting the U.S. Air Force, Special Projects Branch, Epidemiology Division, in conducting an ongoing study of the possible health effects of occupational exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange by former Air Force personnel. The nature of the requested information and identification of the claimants’ claim number may be received in various formats.
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- Information Requests for Research Purposes
- m21-1:XIII.ii.5.C
- Requests Research Purposes
- Requests U.S. Force Concerning
- background herbicide exposure study
- generating listings whom data
- specific records Department furnishes
- providing requested Force
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
Overview
In This Section
This section contains the following topics:
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| Topic | Topic Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Requests From the U.S. Air Force Concerning Project Ranch Hand II Listings |
| 2 | Release of Records to the Environmental Epidemiology Service (EES) |
1. Requests From the U.S. Air Force Concerning Project Ranch Hand II Listings
Introduction
This topic contains information on requests from the U.S. Air Force concerning Project Ranch Hand II listings, including
- background information on the herbicide exposure study
- generating listings of Veterans for whom data is required
- specific records the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes to the Air Force
- providing the requested information to the Air Force
- where to send the requested records
- clearing an end product (EP) for work credit, and
- disposing of completed listing of requested records.
Change Date
June 1, 2021
XIII.ii.5.C.1.a. Background Information on the Herbicide Exposure Study
VA is assisting the U.S. Air Force, Special Projects Branch, Epidemiology Division, in conducting an ongoing study of the possible health effects of occupational exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange by former Air Force personnel.
XIII.ii.5.C.1.b. Generating Listings of Veterans for Whom Data Is Required
The Austin Systems Development Center generates listings entitled DECEASED VETERAN LISTING FOR STATION XXX, grouped by regional office (RO), of cases required by the Air Force in connection with the study.
The listings are forwarded to the RO that the Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) indicates
- has jurisdiction of the deceased Veteran’s claim folder, or
- retired the deceased Veteran’s claim folder to a Federal records center (FRC).
Note: FRC cases appear on a separate listing entitled FRC LISTING FOR STATION XXX.
XIII.ii.5.C.1.c. Specific Records VA Furnishes to the Air Force
Following receipt of the listing referenced in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart ii, 5.C.1.b, review each claims folder and make one legible copy of the following documents:
- the Veteran’s death certificate
- the autopsy protocol, and
- all medical records regarding the Veteran’s death.
XIII.ii.5.C.1.d. Providing the Requested Information to the Air Force
Use the table below to provide the requested information to the Air Force.
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| If... | Then... |
|---|---|
| a death certificate is in the claims folder but cannot be forwarded because, for example, a legible copy cannot be made | complete VA Form 23-6547, Excerpts from Death Certificate. |
| a death certificate is not in the claims folder | make photocopies of any information about the Veteran’s death, even information such as a VA Form 27-0820, Report of General Information, from a friend or relative notifying the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of the Veteran’s death. |
| there is no information in the claims folder concerning the Veteran’s death | annotate the listing to that effect and send a photocopy of the listing to the address shown in M21-1, Part XIII.ii.5.C.1.e. |
| the claims folder needed to furnish the information listed in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart ii, 5.C.1.c is being stored at the scanning vendor. | request scanning of the folder via the Source Material Tracking System Portal. |
| the claims folder needed to furnish the information listed in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart ii, 5.C.1.c is located in an FRC | recall the folder using the procedures described in M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 3.2. |
| BIRLS shows that the claims folder should be at the one of the locations listed above, but it cannot be located | undertake normal search procedures. Reference: For more information on general search procedures, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 1.B.1.a. |
XIII.ii.5.C.1.e. Where to Send the Requested Records
Mail all photocopies and completed VA Forms 23-6547 directly to the following address:
AL/AOEP 2606 Doolittle Rd. Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5250
XIII.ii.5.C.1.f. Clearing an EP for Work Credit
Clear end product (EP) 694 in any case in which photocopies of documents or a completed VA Form 23-6547 is furnished to the Air Force.
Note: No EP credit is due unless photocopies of documents or a completed VA Form 23-6547 are furnished to the Air Force.
XIII.ii.5.C.1.g. Disposing of Completed Listing of Requested Records
After completion of the actions described in this topic, dispose of the listings in accordance with Records Control Schedule, VB-1, Part I, Section 13, 13-005.000.
2. Release of Records to EES
Introduction
This topic contains information on requests for record extracts by EES, including
- information about EES
- identification of records requested by EES
- providing the requested information to EES
- location to send EES information, and
- work credit for processing an EES request.
Change Date
June 11, 2015
XIII.ii.5.C.2.a. Information About EES
The Environmental Epidemiology Service (EES) conducts research studies on behalf of the Veterans Health Administration. From time to time, EES may request extracts of information from claims folders to assist with analysis of disability or demographic data.
XIII.ii.5.C.2.b. Identification of Records Requested by EES
Generally, EES will submit requests for an extract of information from claims folders. EES does not request transfer of the claims folders. The EES request should
- identify the specific type of information that is required from the claims folder, and
- provide a list of names, Social Security numbers, or other information to identify the individual records from which information is requested.
The nature of the requested information and identification of the claimants’ claim number may be received in various formats. Generally, the RO receives a consolidated control document with a listing of EES requested records, but the information requested from an individual claimant’s records will usually be identified on a separate control document or index card for each claimant.
Note: The Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) should establish a control point to coordinate compilation and return of requested information.
XIII.ii.5.C.2.c. Providing the Requested Information to EES
Respond to the EES request in accordance with the table below and return the information to EES or the designated control point.
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| If the... | Then... |
|---|---|
| requested information is found in the claims folder | annotate the individual control document with the requested information. |
| requested information is not in the claims folder | annotate the individual control document to reflect that the requested information is not in the claims folder. |
| claims folder cannot be located | undertake general search procedures, and annotate the individual control document with No Record, if the folder cannot be located. |
| claims folder is under the jurisdiction of another RO | upload a copy of the control document to the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) and e-mail the VSCM of the station of origination regarding the pending request, and annotate the original control document to reflect the location to which the request was forwarded. |
| claims folder is located at an FRC | do not recall the claims folder annotate the control document with the FRC location, date retired, and retiring RO, and upload the document to VBMS. |
XIII.ii.5.C.2.d. Location to Send EES Information
Send the individual control documents with the requested information to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Environmental Epidemiology Service (135) 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420
Contact EES at
- telephone number (202) 266-4695, or
- fax number (202) 495-5973.
XIII.ii.5.C.2.e. Work Credit for Processing an EES Request
Clear an EP 692 for each claims folder from which information is extracted and sent to EES.