Claim Jurisdictions
Overview
Disability claims and appeals are no longer assigned purely based on residence location. Instead, claims are distributed across Regional Offices (ROs), with exceptions for specific circumstances requiring particular jurisdictions.
Chief's Take: Your claim gets assigned to a regional office based on where you live. Some offices are faster than others, some have better grant rates. It's geographic lottery, but knowing your RO helps set expectations.
Appeals (Disability Compensation)
Higher Level Reviews must be processed through Decision Review Operations Centers (DROC) located in: - Seattle - St. Petersburg - Washington, DC (handles Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims remands)
Note: Disability and pension claims requiring specific jurisdictions remain in DROC. Non-DROC raters may currently rate HLR returns when new evidence is obtained.
Disability Claims
Three groups manage disability claim ratings:
1. Disability Rating Activity Site (DRAS)
- Locations: Providence, Seattle
- Handles claims for Servicemembers undergoing Medical Evaluation Board (Medboard)
2. Veterans Service Center (VSC)
- Processes all other claims, including Beneficiary Delivery Date (BDD) claims
3. Restricted Access Claim Centers (RACC)
- Locations: Milwaukee, San Diego, St. Paul
- Handles special populations: VBA employees, Congressional members, judges, Veteran Service Officers, and heroic Veterans
Special Handling Conditions
Certain complex conditions require VSC processing:
| Condition/Issue | Regional Office |
|---|---|
| Agent Orange (Blue Water Navy) | Central Office (DC) |
| Agent Orange (C-123) | St. Paul |
| Agent Orange (Nautical Service, Non-Vietnam) | Central Office (DC) |
| Agent Orange (Nehmer) | Central Office (DC) |
| Camp Lejeune | Louisville |
| Fraud | Manila or St. Paul |
| Military Sexual Trauma (MST) | Specialized MST processing site |
| Mustard Gas and Lewisite | Muskogee |
| Radiation (Atomic Veterans) | Jackson |
| Armed Forces Retirement Home/St. Elizabeth's Hospital residents | Roanoke |
| Foreign country residents* | Pittsburgh |
*US Territories are NOT considered foreign countries.
Education Claims
Processed by Buffalo or Muskogee.
Fiduciary
When claimants cannot manage finances, fiduciary claims are assigned accordingly. Higher Level Reviews follow this pattern:
| Original Decision | HLR Processing |
|---|---|
| Columbia | Salt Lake City |
| Indianapolis | Lincoln or Louisville |
| Lincoln | Indianapolis |
| Louisville | Milwaukee |
| Milwaukee | Indianapolis |
| Salt Lake City | Columbia |
Pension/Death Benefits Claims
Pension Management Centers (PMCs) control these claims: - Milwaukee - Philadelphia (service-connected death/burial decisions and corrections) - St. Paul
Accrued claims are handled by appropriate VSCs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I identify which jurisdiction rated my claim? Historical rating decisions include RO information, accessible via the VA claim letters portal or VA Claim Tracker App.
What if my claim was rated under wrong jurisdiction? File a Higher Level Review. However, an incorrect location doesn't automatically invalidate the decision.
What does "temporary jurisdiction" mean? Current assignment location where the claim will ultimately be decided.