VA Accreditation Exam Questions and
Answers
Question 1
Disease associate w tropical; former prisoner of war (FPOW); exposure to ionizing
radiation; exposure to certain herbicide agents; exposure to contaminated water at
Camp Lejeune presumptive reg
Correct Answer
38 CFR 3.309(b)-(e)
Question 2
Claims for Increase and Individual Unemployability Considerations
Correct Answer
38 CFR 4.16; If after an increased evaluation has been granted, the Veteran meets
the schedular evaluation for IU, the rating board will review the claim for possible
entitlement to IU. If the Veteran is not working, and his or her service connected
disabilities meet the schedular requirement for entitlement to IU, the rating board
may defer its decision and direct that the claim be developed for additional
evidence to support potential entitlement.
Question 3
Dep Eff Dates
Correct Answer
If the Veteran subsequently provides evidence/information requested about his or
her dependent(s) within one year of being at 30%, VA will grant entitlement to
additional compensation from the later of the following dates:
-Effective date of the evaluation granted in the rating decision
-Date dependency arose
Page 1 of 120
,Question 4
Survivors Pension Vet Eligibility
Correct Answer
-The deceased Veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable
conditions
-served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war
time. However, 38 CFR 3.12(a) requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80
generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was
called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that
period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by
Congress to this day), Veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of
wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for
pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d)
-The claimant's countable income is below a yearly limit set by law
Question 5
Payments for accrued benefits may be authorized...
Correct Answer
-To which a payee was entitled at his/her death under existing ratings or decisions.
Examples: Funds not paid for whereabouts unknown, funds were withheld while a
fiduciary was established, etc.
OR
-Which are based on evidence in the file at the date of death and which are due but
unpaid.
Examples: There was evidence of record that warranted an increase in payment, but
the claimant died before a decision was made.
Page 2 of 120
,Question 6
Offshore Waterways (AO)
Correct Answer
VA will develop for:
-evidence showing the ship
-operated temporarily on the RVN inland waterways
-docked on the shores or piers of the RVN
-sent crew ashore
-evidence placing the Veteran onboard the ship at the time the ship
-operated on inland waterways
-docked to the shore or pier
-sent crew ashore
-the Veteran's statement as to whether he or she went ashore, if the evidence shows
the ship docked to the shore or pier or that crew members were sent ashore
Question 7
Substantially Complete Application
Correct Answer
This is defined in 38 CFR 3.159(a)(3) and includes:
-the claimant's name
-his or her relationship to the Veteran, if applicable
-sufficient service information for VA to verify the claimed service, if applicable
-the benefit claimed and any medical condition(s) on which it is based
-the claimant's signature
-a statement of income in claims for Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension and
Parents' DIC
Question 8
Scope of VA's DTA
Correct Answer
Make no less than 2 attempts to obtain private recs. VA will notify the claimant of its
efforts as well as encourage him or her to submit relevant private medical records if
such submission is not burdensome. In most cases VA will allow for 30 days for
these records to be obtained. If the records do not reach VA within 15 days after the
second attempt to obtain them, VA will decide the claim without them.
Page 3 of 120
, Question 9
Minimum Active Duty Service for Pension Requirement
Correct Answer
Veterans must have completed 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full
period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.
Question 10
A Veteran had 24 continuous months of active duty which ended on August 3, 1990.
Does this Veteran's service qualify for pension?
Correct Answer
Yes. The Veteran served 24 continuous months of active duty that ended during a
wartime period; therefore, the minimum active duty service requirement is met. The
wartime service requirement is also met because the Veteran served at least 90
consecutive days that ended during a wartime period.
Question 11
Personnel Records
Correct Answer
administrative records, containing information about the service member's service
history
Question 12
Reasonably Raised Claims
Correct Answer
a claim that is not explicitly identified by the claimant on a standardized form, but is
identified upon review of the claims folder during the decision-making process for
an expressly claimed issue
Question 13
Plot or Interment Burial Allowance
Correct Answer
NOT payable if the Veteran is buried or interred in a national cemetery or other
cemetery under United States jurisdiction.
Page 4 of 120
Answers
Question 1
Disease associate w tropical; former prisoner of war (FPOW); exposure to ionizing
radiation; exposure to certain herbicide agents; exposure to contaminated water at
Camp Lejeune presumptive reg
Correct Answer
38 CFR 3.309(b)-(e)
Question 2
Claims for Increase and Individual Unemployability Considerations
Correct Answer
38 CFR 4.16; If after an increased evaluation has been granted, the Veteran meets
the schedular evaluation for IU, the rating board will review the claim for possible
entitlement to IU. If the Veteran is not working, and his or her service connected
disabilities meet the schedular requirement for entitlement to IU, the rating board
may defer its decision and direct that the claim be developed for additional
evidence to support potential entitlement.
Question 3
Dep Eff Dates
Correct Answer
If the Veteran subsequently provides evidence/information requested about his or
her dependent(s) within one year of being at 30%, VA will grant entitlement to
additional compensation from the later of the following dates:
-Effective date of the evaluation granted in the rating decision
-Date dependency arose
Page 1 of 120
,Question 4
Survivors Pension Vet Eligibility
Correct Answer
-The deceased Veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable
conditions
-served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war
time. However, 38 CFR 3.12(a) requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80
generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was
called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that
period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by
Congress to this day), Veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of
wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for
pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d)
-The claimant's countable income is below a yearly limit set by law
Question 5
Payments for accrued benefits may be authorized...
Correct Answer
-To which a payee was entitled at his/her death under existing ratings or decisions.
Examples: Funds not paid for whereabouts unknown, funds were withheld while a
fiduciary was established, etc.
OR
-Which are based on evidence in the file at the date of death and which are due but
unpaid.
Examples: There was evidence of record that warranted an increase in payment, but
the claimant died before a decision was made.
Page 2 of 120
,Question 6
Offshore Waterways (AO)
Correct Answer
VA will develop for:
-evidence showing the ship
-operated temporarily on the RVN inland waterways
-docked on the shores or piers of the RVN
-sent crew ashore
-evidence placing the Veteran onboard the ship at the time the ship
-operated on inland waterways
-docked to the shore or pier
-sent crew ashore
-the Veteran's statement as to whether he or she went ashore, if the evidence shows
the ship docked to the shore or pier or that crew members were sent ashore
Question 7
Substantially Complete Application
Correct Answer
This is defined in 38 CFR 3.159(a)(3) and includes:
-the claimant's name
-his or her relationship to the Veteran, if applicable
-sufficient service information for VA to verify the claimed service, if applicable
-the benefit claimed and any medical condition(s) on which it is based
-the claimant's signature
-a statement of income in claims for Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension and
Parents' DIC
Question 8
Scope of VA's DTA
Correct Answer
Make no less than 2 attempts to obtain private recs. VA will notify the claimant of its
efforts as well as encourage him or her to submit relevant private medical records if
such submission is not burdensome. In most cases VA will allow for 30 days for
these records to be obtained. If the records do not reach VA within 15 days after the
second attempt to obtain them, VA will decide the claim without them.
Page 3 of 120
, Question 9
Minimum Active Duty Service for Pension Requirement
Correct Answer
Veterans must have completed 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full
period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.
Question 10
A Veteran had 24 continuous months of active duty which ended on August 3, 1990.
Does this Veteran's service qualify for pension?
Correct Answer
Yes. The Veteran served 24 continuous months of active duty that ended during a
wartime period; therefore, the minimum active duty service requirement is met. The
wartime service requirement is also met because the Veteran served at least 90
consecutive days that ended during a wartime period.
Question 11
Personnel Records
Correct Answer
administrative records, containing information about the service member's service
history
Question 12
Reasonably Raised Claims
Correct Answer
a claim that is not explicitly identified by the claimant on a standardized form, but is
identified upon review of the claims folder during the decision-making process for
an expressly claimed issue
Question 13
Plot or Interment Burial Allowance
Correct Answer
NOT payable if the Veteran is buried or interred in a national cemetery or other
cemetery under United States jurisdiction.
Page 4 of 120
