Comment from Michelle Spickler on VA-2026-VACO-0001-0207
Michelle SpicklerSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter supports the information collection activity but suggests specific improvements to the form's design. They recommend creating a separate, simplified intake form for personal and service information to reduce redundancy and requesting more space for disability explanations and a standardized abbreviation list.
Please separate personal information from the disability form and create a simple intake form for the Veteran to complete on their initial claim with the VA to include military service, dependents, banking information, Hazardous exposures and deployment information. This should be updated by the Veteran as needed via a simple for or by phone with the call center. If it is not relevant to the particular claim it needs to be on the intake form and not completed each time a claim is sent in. Hold the Veteran responsible for verifying thier information annually on the intake forms.
Allow for more room to explain how and why for the disabilities and a check box if is direct service connection, presumptive or secondary to a service-connected condition. Create a standard abbreviation list on the back of the form for conditions and ensure that toxic exposure claims are easily identified so wrong DBQs are not sent out and time and money wasted on wrong exams.