What this means
m21-4:7.8 explains primary duties of the QRT. In plain terms, the official guidance says each member of the QRT will perform both IPRs and IQRs on at least a quarterly rotational basis. This promotes consistency in the reviews and ensures each member of the QRT is exposed to both review types on a routine basis. It also addresses the QRT, working with PMC leadership and/or designee, may be involved in different aspects of training. The primary focus of this team is to provide feedback and training on error trends identified during IQRs and IPRs, such as:
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-4:7.8 to audit how VA handled primary duties of the QRT. Start with the decision date, the issue being reviewed, and the evidence VA was allowed to consider, then compare the record with this rule: Each member of the QRT will perform both IPRs and IQRs on at least a quarterly rotational basis. The QRT, working with PMC leadership and/or designee, may be involved in different aspects of training. Cite the exact document and page when raising a factual or procedural error, and use the review rights in the actual notice for any deadline.
What to review in your file
- Check the file against this official condition: IPRs, when applicable
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: track improvements after corrective actions are taken
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: Each member of the QRT will perform both IPRs and IQRs on at least a quarterly rotational basis.
Important limits
m21-4:7.8 explains VA guidance for primary duties of the QRT; 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: Each member of the QRT will perform both IPRs and IQRs on at least a quarterly rotational basis. While the QRT plays a pivotal role in training and reviewing quality reports, reviewing error trends, etc., PMC leadership is ultimately responsible for the PMC quality program.
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- Primary Duties of the QRT
- m21-4:7.8
- Primary Duties QRT
- Duties
- primary duties
- involvement training.
- 7.8.a. Primary Duties
- following list outlines duties
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
8. Duties of the QRT
Introduction
This topic contains information on the duties of the QRT, including
- primary duties of the QRT, and
- QRT involvement in training.
Change Date
September 23, 2025
7.8.a. Primary Duties of the QRT
The following list outlines the duties to be performed by QRTs:
- individual quality reviews (IQRs) for all Veterans Service Representatives (VSRs), Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSRs), Decision Review Officers (DROs), and QRSs
- IPRs, when applicable
- peer reviews of errors
- VBMS deferral mitigations
- provide mentoring, feedback, and training on quality trends, and
- special reviews identified by P&F Service.
Note: Each member of the QRT will perform both IPRs and IQRs on at least a quarterly rotational basis. This promotes consistency in the reviews and ensures each member of the QRT is exposed to both review types on a routine basis.
7.8.b. QRT Involvement in Training
The QRT, working with PMC leadership and/or designee, may be involved in different aspects of training. The primary focus of this team is to provide feedback and training on error trends identified during IQRs and IPRs, such as:
- implementing results of feedback provided from P&F Service national error correction data
- provide specific training recommendations to QRT supervisor for improvement based on results of quality reviews
- work in conjunction with QRT supervisor and local Training Manager or training coordinator to plan, direct, and conduct training
- using QMS data to analyze local trends that are out of compliance and recommend refresher training to QRT supervisors and local Training Manager or training coordinators
- identify any training gaps and provide results of such analysis to QRT supervisor or local Training Manager or training coordinator with recommended refresher training
- provide feedback and training on national quality findings to PMC employees
- inform QRT supervisor about significant changes to an employee’s quality
- track improvements after corrective actions are taken
- discuss error trends, including IPRs, in regular QRT meetings, as well as the results of error correction data used to identify weaknesses
- distribute all error correction data to all PMC employees
- use STAR and local results to identify recurring issues at the individual, team, or PMC level that may require additional training
- conduct quality meetings with PMC leadership as needed, and provide training to PMC Claims Assistants (CAs), VSRs, Veterans Claims Examiners, RVSRs, and DROs as applicable, and
- work with PMC leadership and local Training Manager or training coordinators in establishing a mentoring program for new employees with an emphasis on quality and consistency.
Important: While the QRT plays a pivotal role in training and reviewing quality reports, reviewing error trends, etc., PMC leadership is ultimately responsible for the PMC quality program.