- Claims go to any RO — unless special handling applies (Camp Lejeune, MST, etc.)
- HLRs go to DROC — Seattle, St. Petersburg, or Washington DC
- Living overseas? — Pittsburgh handles foreign-based Veterans
- Wrong jurisdiction isn't automatic error — but you can still file an HLR
There are several factors that can determine where your claim or appeal is worked.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Disability claims/appeals are NO LONGER assigned purely to whichever RO you live nearest to and are instead dealt out to any RO; Unless any of the below apply!
Appeals (Disability Compensation)
Higher Level Reviews (HLRs) must be handled via Decision Review Operations Center (DROC):
Seattle
St. Petersburg
Washington, DC
DC will generally handle any remands by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Disability and pension claims that require specific jurisdictions listed in the sections below are KEPT in DROC.
Currently due to exceptional circumstances (delays) non-DROC ROs/raters are being allowed to rate HLR returns (when VA obtains new evidence). As the appeal at that point becomes a de facto supplemental claim.
Disability Claims
There are 3 groups that rate disability claims:
Disability Rating Activity Site (DRAS): Providence, Seattle
Handles claims for Servicemembers who are undergoing Medboard
Veterans Service Center (VSC)
Handles everyone else to include Servicemembers who filed a BDD claim.
Restricted Access Claim Centers (RACC)
Handles ‘special’ groups of Veterans: Milwaukee, San Diego, St. Paul
VBA employees and their relatives
Members of Congress/high ranking politicians/judges
Veteran Service Officers (VSOs)
Well known heroic Veterans
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The following jurisdictions for special handling ARE subject to change and the VA has and will continue to change things!
Certain conditions/Issues require special handling by VSC due to their increased complexities:
| Condition/Issue | Regional Office |
|---|---|
| Agent Orange (AO) Blue Water Navy | Central Office (DC) |
| Agent Orange (AO) C-123 | St. Paul |
| Agent Orange (AO) Nautical Service (Non-Vietnam) | Central Office (DC) |
| Agent Orange (AO) Nehmer | Central Office (DC) |
| Camp Lejeune | Louisville |
| Fraud | Manila or St. Paul |
| Military Sexual Trauma (MST) | Specialized MST claims processing site |
| Mustard Gas and Lewisite | Muskogee |
| Radiation (Atomic Veterans) | Jackson |
| Veteran lives in a Armed Forces Retirement Home or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital | Roanoke |
| Veteran lives a in foreign country* | Pittsburgh |
*US Territories are NOT considered foreign countries!
In the event there are multiple conditions/issues that require special handling they will be handled by as indicated in M21 II.ii.2.B.1.b. or M21 II.ii.3.1.c..
Education Claims
Are processed by either Buffalo or Muskoee.
Fiduciary
When a claimant is unable to handle their Financial affairs. Those who do an HLR to appeal a decision will have it handled by the associated sister station.
| Original Decision |
HLRs Done By |
|---|---|
| Columbia | Salt Lake City |
| Indianapolis | Lincoln or Louisville |
| Lincoln | Indianapolis |
| Louisville | Milwaukee |
| Milwaukee | Indianapolis |
| Salt Lake City | Columbia |
Pension/Death Benefits Claims
Pension/Death benefit claims are controlled by Pension Management Centers (PMC):
Milwaukee
Philadelphia
Specifically deals with decision for service-connected (SC) death or burial, to include error corrections.
St. Paul
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Accrued claims are handled by an appropriate Veterans Service Center (VSC).