The A - Z Guide: Veterans VA Disability Benefits
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I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil it does is permanent.
Mohandas K. Gandi
Acronyms and Phrases
A & A Aid and Attendance
ADL Activities of Daily Living
AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction (Also Acute Coronary Syndrome - Heart Attack)
AMIE Automated Medical Information Exchange
AWOL Absent WithOut Leave
ARNP Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
BDN Benefits Delivery Network
BVA Board of Veterans Appeals; An organization outside the RO established to adjudicate cases where veterans have disagreed with the findings of the RO.
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
CAPRI Compensation and Pension Records Interchange
CBOC Community Based Outpatient Clinic; A facility generally providing access to outpatient health care needs.
C-File Claims File or Claims Folder, the materials and evidence gathered about you and your claim
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (VA regulations are contained in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.)
CHAMPVA Civilian Health & Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
CMOP Consolidated Mail Order Pharmacy; A contracted provider and supplier of medicines prescribed to the veteran by various health care providers.
CO Central Office
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
COLA Cost-0f-Living Adjustment
COVERS Control of Veterans Records System
C & P Compensation and Pension (C&P Exam, C&P Division of VBA)
CPRS Computerized Patient Record System
DD 214 A discharge document providing confirmation of military service and many details of service.
DIC Dependency Indemnity Compensation; A monthly Benefit paid to eligible survivors of certain veterans.
DRO Decision Review Officer; The DRO is a senior individual with authority to review and revise adjudications made by others.
DVA Department of Veterans Affairs; The proper term for VA. In common use either term is acceptable.
ED Erectile Dysfunction; The inability to achieve and maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse.
EP end product (claims control)
FUBAR Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition
IU Individual Unemployability
KG Kilograms
KM KiloMeter (Often; Click or Klick)
KM/H KiloMeters per Hour
Knot Aviation and maritime unit of velocity
LT Lieutenant
LTC Lieutenant Colonel
M21-1MR A guide for use by VBA staff to determine outcomes of your claims
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging An advanced medical imaging technique that allows physicians to peer deep into joints, organs and other places within the body that traditional x-rays won't display. It doesn't replace all other tehniques but often supplements a diagnosis
MST Military Sexual Trauma; Sexual assault or rape upon a member of the military by a member of the military whether male or female.
NAS Naval Air Station
Nexus A word meaning connection; In the VA disability claims process a nexus letter is often required to prove that a condition is connected to an event in service and is thus service connected. The nexus letter is usually best if written by a physician who has knowledge of the veteran's history and current condition. The author of the nexus letter must be qualified by training and experience to render the required opinion
NPRC National Personnel Records Center
PCP Primary Care Physician or Practitioner or Provider; The health care professional who is generally responsible for overseeing and coordinating the veterans health care.
PIES Personnel Information Exchange System
PFC Private First Class
P & T Permanent and Total; Referring to a disabling condition as being totally disabling as well as permanent in nature. The P & T designation is required to be eligible for some benefits.
POA power of attorney
RO Regional Office; VA has 57 Regional Offices throughout the US and other territories.
RVSR Ratings Veterans Service Representative, the decision maker to your claim
SGT Sergeant
SMR Service Medical Record
SNAFU Situation Normal, All Fouled Up
TAC Tactical Air Command
USAF United States Air Force
USAFE United States Air Force in Europe
USMC United States Marine Corps
USN United States Navy
WO Warrant Officer
VA Veterans Administration; More proper is the current term: Department of Veterans Affairs
VARO VA Regional Office
VBA Veterans Benefits Administration, one of the business units of the DVA, gatekeeper to benefits
VISTA (VistA) Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture
VSC Veterans Service Center; The more modern and proper term for Regional Office.
VSCM Veterans Service Center Manager; The manager or director of the RO.
VSO Veterans Service Officer
VSO Veterans' Service Organization
VSO Veterans Service Officer
VSR Veterans Service Representative, a VBA employee accountable for early work on your claim
WIPP (WIP)work in progress