Full-time service in the armed forces (other than active duty for training), full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as a commissioned officer of the regular or reserve corps of the Public Health Service, full-time duty as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and service at any time as a cadet at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard academies or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy.
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Veteran's Law Group Glossary of Terms
Term Section: A
Active Duty
Administrative Appeal
An appeal taken by an official of the VA, authorized to resolve conflict of opinion or questions pertaining to a claim involving benefits under laws administered by the VA.
Advance on the Docket
A change in the order in which an appeal is reviewed and decided from the date when it would normally occur to an earlier date.
Affidavit
A written statement that is sworn before a notary public. When the claimant, family, or friends provide such testimony, the VA must accept the statement as evidence and give it proper weight.
Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ)
The office where a claim originates.
Aid and Attendance
A cash payment, over and above other compensation or pension payments that may be due, paid to claimants who are in a state of helplessness or are so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person. For compensation purposes, a claimant determined to be in need of aid and attendance because of his or her service-connected conditions is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation over and above the 100 percent compensation rate. For Improved Pension purposes, a claimant determined to be in need of regular aid and attendance is paid an increased amount over and above the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). To determine whether the pension claimant is need of aid and attendance, all of the claimants conditions, service-connected and non-service-connected, are considered.
Annualization
Twelve-month projection of income (countable income plus pension benefits) from the date of entitlement to pension, or from the effective date of change in income.
Appeal
A request for a review of an Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) determination on a claim.
Appellant
An individual who has appealed an AOJ claim determination.
Armed Forces
U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Term Section: B
Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Board Member
A law judge appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and approved by the president, who decides veterans benefits appeals.
Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)
The part of VA that reviews va disability benefits and claims appeals in order to issue decisions on those appeals.
Burial Allowance
A lump sum benefit paid to the party or parties who assume responsibility for the burial expense of the veteran.
BVA Hearing
A personal hearing, held at the BVA office in Washington, D.C., or at a regional office, that is conducted by a member of the travel Board. A BVA hearing can also be held by video-conference from regional offices.
Term Section: C
Central Office
The Director of the Compensation and Pension Service, VA Central Office, shall approve all VA regional office determinations establishing or denying POW status with the exception of those service departments findings establishing detention or internment was by an enemy government or its agents.
Claim
A request for veterans' benefits.
Claim Number
A number assigned by VA that identifies a person who has filed a claim; often called a "C-number."
Claimant
Same as an appellant.
Claims File/Folder
The file containing all documents concerning a veteran's claim or appeal.
