Please collect the following information:

• Veteran’s birth certificate
• Veteran’s Social Security card
• Veteran’s original or certified copy of the DD214 or other military discharge records
  • If you do not have the original or a certified copy please request a certified copy online at National Archives.

In addition, please have the Veteran sign the forms and collect a VOIDED check from the account where the Veteran would want his/her VA check deposited.

Although, in our experience, the Veterans Administration does not require supporting documentation for your RESOURCES (assets), collecting the following documents will help you to accurately complete the VA application. (VBA-21-526EZ)

• Current statements for any of the following types of accounts: checking, savings, CD, time deposit, credit union checking, savings, or CDs, IRA, annuity, investment
• Current market values of stocks, bonds, US savings bonds
• Most recent annual policy statements for annuities and life insurance
• Current market values of all property owned (not including home property Veteran or widow resides in)
• Current market values of all vehicles owned (not including the one used for daily activity)

The following items will be used by VA to verify source(s) of income, gross income amounts, and deductions from income. They will also help VA determine which income sources will count in the eligibility determination and which income sources will be excluded from the eligibility determination. (VBA-21-526EZ)

• • Veteran’s Social Security award letter (the one that was received in December that states, “Your new benefit for the current year is …”)
    • If married, spouse’s Social Security award letter (the one that was received in December that states, “Your new benefit for the current year is …”)
  • Veteran’s other types of pension statement(s) for all income sources
    • If married, spouse’s other types of pension statement(s) for all income sources
  • Veteran s other types of income statement(s) for all income sources (earned, tips, interest, dividend)
    • If married, spouse’s other types of income statement(s) for all income sources (earned, tips, interest, dividend)

Provide documentation regarding the past 12 month’s unreimbursed medical or dental expenses the Veteran paid on his/her own behalf, this will also help you complete the Medical Expense Report (VBA-21P-8416) form that can be submitted with the VA application for benefits.

• You can provide receipts, billing statements, invoices, a spreadsheet, a handwritten list, or ANY combination of these items.
  • If you are providing a handwritten list or a spreadsheet, the following information, in our experience, should be included for the expense to be considered (purpose, amount paid by Veteran, date paid, name of provider, and person who incurred the bill).
• You may transfer the data from the (receipts, billing statements, invoices, spreadsheet or handwritten list) onto the Medical Expense Report form. (VBA-21P-8416)
  • NOTE: If married, include the spouse’s unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, too. These would be items that WILL NOT be reimbursed by any health insurance or other third party.

Items, in our experience, that can be included to be considered unreimbursed medical expenses:

• • Medical insurance premiums (Medicare Parts A, B, D, as well as other health insurance premiums paid)
  • Hospital Expenses
  • Co-pays or co-insurance portions for office visits (doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc.)
  • Drugs and medicines, including over-the-counter medicines the doctor recommended for any medical or dental condition
  • Over-the counter lotions or creams and supplies used for medical-related conditions (examples: gloves, incontinence products, etc.)
  • Hearing aids
  • Dentures
  • Nursing facility receipts
  • Assisted living home or center or group home receipts or billing statements
  • Receipts for payments made to licensed home health care agencies
  • Transportation costs (parking, tolls, fares, etc.) plus total miles driven for medical purposes
  • Any other items, products, or services used for a medical-related condition

If the Veteran is married at this time, please provide a copy of the Veteran’s current marriage certificate.

• If applicable:
  • Divorce decrees or death certificates from previous marriage(s) for the Veteran
  • Divorce decrees or death certificates from previous marriage(s) for the Widow(er)
• If divorced from former spouse(s) and you cannot find the divorce decree you can provide the following information on the application: date of the marriage, place married, full name of that spouse, date marriage ended, the reason the marriage ended, and the place the marriage ended.
• If none of this information is available, please discuss with the Representative at the Regional Benefits Office what is needed for a complete application.

If the Veteran resides in an assisted living facility, the following additional documentation will be required for VA to make a determination that he/she needs the assistance of another person.

• Please have the Veteran’s doctor complete Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance and submit the original form with the VA application for benefits (VBA-21-2680)
• Please provide copies of the last 6 months medical records which document the Veteran’s diagnoses and need for assistance with his/her activities of daily living
• Please have the center/home complete the Care Expense Statement (VARO 335 21P) and submit the original form with the VA application for benefits

If the Veteran resides in nursing facility, the following additional documentation will be required for VA to verify the date of admission and his/her level of care, as well as whether the Veteran is privately paying for his/her care (and eligible for a full benefit) or whether Medicaid (ALTCS) is paying for his/her care (and eligible for a reduced benefit).

• Please have the facility complete the NF form (VA-21-0779) and submit the original form with the VA application for benefits

If the Veteran resides at home and is homebound due to disability, the following additional documentation will be required for VA to make a determination that he/she needs the assistance of another person.

• Please have the Veteran’s doctor complete the (VBA-21-2680) Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance and submit the original form with the VA application for benefits
• Please provide copies of the last 6 months medical records which document the Veteran’s diagnoses and need for assistance with his/her activities of daily living