Assignments to VIP Graduates

4. Training Assignments

Introduction

This topic contains information about

• Assignments to VIP Graduates
• Adding Employees to OAR NTC Cohorts in TMS
• Station-Selected Training Assignments
• FY Mandated Training Items
• Training Evaluation and Monitor Controls
• OAR NTC Primary TMS Cohort and Curriculum Assignments
• OAR NTC Specialized TMS Cohorts and Curriculum Assignments
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Processor Training Requirements
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Claims Processor Training Requirements
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Claims Processor Training Requirements
• OAR Mandated Specialized TMS Assignments for QRSs

Change Date

October 1, 2025

2.4.a. Assignments to VIP Graduates

OAR will assign the following items in TMS to VSR and RVSR VIP graduates.

• VIP completion credit
• Compensation Service VAT mandated curricula
• OAR VAT mandated curricula, and
• OAR and Compensation Service FY mandated or directed curricula.

HCS will also centrally add employees to the appropriate primary NTC TMS cohort(s) upon completion of trainee status 12 months after Pre VSR or RVSR VIP graduation or 12 months following hire date for WARTAC graduates.

Note: VSRs completing follow-on national training (i.e., VSR Post/BEST VIP) after initial entry-level training period will continue to have any remaining period of a 12-month trainee status or will remain in the primary NTC TMS cohort if the 12 months have passed.

2.4. b. Adding Employees to OAR NTC Cohorts in TMS

OAR creates TMS cohorts to meet the NTC requirements.

• Primary cohorts in TMS are created by employee position title.
• Specialized cohorts in TMS are created for employees' specialized assignments or skills.

Please refer to the OAR Cohort Assignment Job Aid for instructions on adding employees to cohorts. The cohorts make it possible to assign training and track and report progress toward meeting the OAR NTC and CSNTC requirements. By adding employees to a cohort based upon job position, DROCs will have the ability to easily track employees’ progress toward OAR NTC and CSNTC requirements and create required reports.

Note: For the situations in which DROC Training Managers are responsible for making TMS cohort assignment changes in TMS (e.g., when an experienced VSC employee transfers to the DROC), the DROC must update the employee's TMS cohort assignments within 14 calendar days from the date of the employee's position change.

Reference: For more information on training report requirements, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 6.

2.4. c. Station-Selected Training Assignments

DROCs will assign all station-selected training items or curricula on the employee’s TMS learning plan.

The employee will receive credit for that item upon successful completion of the training and TMS online content (evaluation, comprehension assessment, etc.).

2.4. d. FY Mandated Training Items

OAR and Compensation Service will assign FY mandated training items to the appropriate target audience TMS cohort.

For a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog.

2.4. e. Training Evaluation and Monitor Controls

TMS records completion for training upon completion of all elements contained within the item. OAR requires TMS evaluation and assessment completions for OAR NTC credit.

Notes:

• TMS administrators will not assign completion credit in TMS for learning items that contain evaluations and assessments, unless explicitly directed by OAR. OAR reserves the right to remove training completions erroneously assigned to learners.
• The Training Management and Performance Improvement (TMPI) Staff will monitor, analyze, and complete reporting requirements for evaluations and comprehension assessments in TMS to ensure compliance with the OAR NTC standards.

2.4.f. OAR NTC Primary TMS Cohort and Curriculum Assignments

The table below identifies the TMS cohort IDs and curricula IDs by employee position. Training Managers or designees must add employees to the proper TMS cohort based on position. Adding employees to a cohort automatically assigns the job-specific curriculum in TMS.

Scroll sideways to see the full table.

Notes:

• Compensation Service FY mandated and directed curricula are sub-curricula in TMS to OAR FY mandated curricula. This means that Training Managers or designees only need to add personnel to the appropriate position-specific OAR NTC TMS cohort, and the employees will automatically receive both OAR and Compensation Service FY mandated and directed curricula training assignments.
• Do not add employees still in trainee status to the TMS primary cohorts. As a reminder, add trainees to the OAR New Hire cohorts and then HCS will centrally add employees to the primary cohorts at the end of the trainee status.
• Do not add employees to multiple OAR primary cohorts; only add employees to the position-specific cohort. For example, do not add SVSRs to the Pre/Post VSR and SVSR cohort (only the SVSR cohort), and do not add DROs to the RVSR and DRO cohort (only the DRO cohort).
• It is mandatory for DROCs to add Assistant Coaches and Coaches to one or both management primary cohorts. DROCs may include DROC Managers and Assistant DROC Managers on an optional basis.
• Training Managers are responsible for removing individuals that leave one position and enter a trainee status in a new position from TMS primary cohorts. For example, if a VSR becomes an RVSR trainee, the Training Manager must remove the individual from the VSR primary cohort and register the individual for the next available RVSR VIP session. HCS will centrally add the individual to the RVSR primary cohort upon completion of trainee status 12 months after graduating VIP training.
• Training Managers are responsible for entering experienced employees from another division that have already completed their entry-level, trainee period into the appropriate OAR NTC primary cohort. For example, if a VSC VSR transfers to the DROC, the Training Manager must remove the VSR from the Compensation Service VSR primary cohort and add the VSR to the appropriate DROC VSR primary cohort. Experienced VSRs and RVSRs from other divisions must complete DROC-specific training via the OAR NTC mandated and VAT curricula.

References:

• For a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog.
• For more information on one-time mandated specialized training assignments for AQRSs and RQRSs, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.k.

2.4.g. OAR NTC Specialized TMS Cohorts and Curriculum Assignments

The table below identifies the TMS cohort IDs and curricula based on employees' specialized assignments or skills. Training Managers or designees must add employees responsible for processing specialized claims to the proper TMS cohort, based on position, for automatic specialized training assignment. This includes cohorts for

• military sexual trauma (MST)
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• herbicide exposure (employees that process specialized claims including Blue Water Navy (BWN), BWN- Nehmer, and claims impacted by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA))
• BWN records research specialists (RRS)
• research coordinators (RC)
• pension
• special mission claims which include:
• Manila - Philippine (excluding Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation)
• foreign and U.S. Territory
• Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water (CLCW), and
• radiation, and
• Agent and Attorney Fee Coordinators (AAFC).

The non-rating cohorts in the following table encompass VSRs and/or SVSRs, and the rating cohorts encompass RVSRs and/or DROs.

Scroll sideways to see the full table.

Notes:

• Training Managers must add employees to both the necessary primary and specialized cohort based on position. For example, a Seattle DROC Pre/Post VSR responsible for processing MST cases must be entered in the Pre/Post VSR primary cohort (VBA-640), and the OAR MST Non-Rating specialized cohort (VBA-677).
• Training Managers must not assign QRSs directly to the specialized cohorts; OAR will assign the items automatically via sub-curricula to the OAR NTC FY mandated curricula. Exceptions include:
• Seattle DROC and DROC DC must add AQRSs and RQRSs responsible for quality reviewing pension cases directly to the pension non-rating (VBA-768) and pension rating (VBA-769) cohorts, and
• Seattle DROC must add AQRSs and RQRSs responsible for quality reviewing special mission cases directly to the special mission non-rating (VBA-993) and special mission rating (VBA-994) cohorts.
• * Pension: The Core Pension Training (CPT), VBA-850, curriculum is one-time mandated training required for all VSRs, SVSRs, and AQRSs that DROCs newly designate to process pension claims. DROCs should follow guidance on locally assigning and administering this curriculum in M21-3, Part II, Section B, Topic 5.b, and must provide all instruction within four months of assignment to the pension specialized cohort.
• *AAFC: Training Managers must add all individuals involved in any stage of agent and attorney fee processing to the AAFC cohort, even if those employees are not Agent and Attorney Fee Coordinators.
• Training hours assigned to the specialized curricula count toward station-selected hours.
• DROCs must designate specialized claims processors in the WIT, and Training Managers must ensure that cohort and training assignments match accordingly. For MST, ALS, and TBI processors, DROCs must not designate employees in the WIT until all training requirements are met (see following note).
• DROCs must follow additional training guidance in M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.h for MST processors, M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.i for ALS processors, and M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.j for TBI processors.
• Personnel newly designated as specialized claims processors must complete VIP training, VAT, and all specialized training prior to working specialized claims.
• Training Managers must email OAR with updates (additions and/or removals) to the BWN RRS cohort (VBA-969) as HCS centrally manages this cohort; stations cannot locally edit it. OAR ensures that RRSs receive both specialized RRS training and Exposure Non-Rating training.

References: For more information on

• VIP training offerings, see the FY26 VSR and RVSR Training Schedule
• a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated and specialized training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog
• responsibilities for updating the WIT, see M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A, 2.b, and
• designating specialized claims processors in the WIT, see M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A, 3.f.

2.4.h. MST Claims Processor Training Requirements

There are annually mandated curricula requirements for MST processors. OAR assigns the appropriate curriculum to those employees once added by Training Managers to the respective OAR Non-Rating MST (VBA-677) and OAR Rating MST (VBA-678) cohorts, and annually thereafter. DROCs can find items within the VBA Learning Catalog.

The specialized MST Claims Processor Curricula contain required mandated courses for the rating and non-rating activity that designated processors must complete annually to continue processing MST claims. Employees must not process MST claims until all training requirements are successfully completed.

Members of the rating activity must complete:

• Trauma-Informed Interactions and Communications with Veterans who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma (TMS 4675436)
• Rating Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims (VA 4679765)
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Exams and Medical Opinions (VA 4679764)
• Military Trauma Refresher Training (VA 4674373)

Members of the non-rating activity must complete:

• Trauma-Informed Interactions and Communications with Veterans who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma (TMS 4675436)
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) — Claims Development (VA 4679421)
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Exams and Medical Opinions (VA 4679764)
• Military Trauma Refresher Training (VA 4674373)

Notes:

• OAR may add additional training requirements, such as annual refresher training, based on error trends and analysis.
• There may be occasions where updates to the content of these courses will require users to retake the assigned courses or take a replacement course within 365 days since the date of a last completed course.
• Training must be completed within 30 days of initial curriculum assignment and each year thereafter. TMS will automatically set subsequent due dates 365 days from the previous completion date.

Reference: For more information on training and signature requirements for MST decisions, see M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A, 3.g.

2.4.i. ALS Claims Processor Training Requirements

OAR requires all personnel who decide ALS claims to complete the following mandated specialized training prior to completing ALS decisions, and annually thereafter to continue making decisions on ALS claims. This training assigns to rating individuals in the VBA-704 cohort via the OAR ALS Rating curriculum VBA-1083, and to non-rating individuals in the VBA-1255 cohort via the OAR ALS Non-Rating curriculum VBA-1929. Upon initial assignment, these courses are due within 30 days. Subsequent due dates will be 365 days from the user’s last completion of the item.

Rating Required Training:

• Evaluating Progressive Neurological Disorders (VA 4639453)
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fiscal Year Review Training (VA 4640344)

Non-Rating Required Training:

• Claims that Require Priority Processing (VA 4500942)

When substantive changes to the training materials listed above necessitate a new version of either course, OAR may require all ALS processors to complete the new version – even if the previous version was completed in the current fiscal year. When this happens, the corresponding training announcement will provide this information.

Reference: For more information on training and signature requirements for ALS decisions, see M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A, 3.i.

2.4.j. TBI Claims Processor Training Requirements

OAR requires all personnel who develop and decide TBI claims to complete the following mandated specialized training prior to processing TBI claims. This training assigns to rating individuals in the VBA-765 cohort, via the OAR TBI Rating curriculum VBA-976, and to non-rating individuals in the VBA-1258 cohort via the OAR TBI Non-Rating curriculum VBA-1937.

Upon initial assignment, this rating required training is due within 30 days:

• Introduction to Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (VA 4615394)

Upon initial assignment, this non-rating required training is due within 45 days:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Claims Development (TMS ID 68864)

When substantive changes to the training materials listed above necessitate a new version, OAR may require all TBI processors to complete the new version - even if the previous version was completed in the current fiscal year. When this happens, the corresponding training announcement will provide this information.

Reference: For more information on training and signature requirements for TBI Decisions, see M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A, 3.h.

2.4.k. OAR Mandated Specialized TMS Assignments for QRS

OAR will automatically assign all specialized training items to AQRSs and RQRSs as a mandated requirement. Training Managers must not assign QRSs to the specialized cohorts, OAR will assign the items via sub-curricula to the OAR NTC FY mandated curricula, and the following mandated specialized curricula.

AQRS

RQRS

VBA-1373

VBA-1374

Note: Training hours assigned to items within the OAR specialized curricula count toward the employee’s station-selected hours.

Exceptions include:

• Seattle DROC and DROC DC must add AQRSs and RQRSs responsible for quality reviewing pension cases directly to the pension non-rating (VBA-768) and pension rating (VBA-769) cohorts, and
• Seattle DROC must add AQRSs and RQRSs responsible for quality reviewing special mission cases directly to the special mission non-rating (VBA-993) and special mission rating (VBA-994) cohorts.

References:

• For more information on OAR NTC FY mandated curricula for QRSs, see M21-5, Chapter 2, Topic 4.f-g, and
• For a complete list of all curricula, sub-curricula, and assigned mandated training, see the OAR FY26 Mandated Courses Released spreadsheet available on the VBA Learning Catalog.