What I mean by this is that it was clear the counselor cut and paste certain text from somewhere else, without citation, and then used that text as the basis for the denial.

That denial did not contain what I would call natural flowing language. Some years ago, when I had to fight for my own Chapter 31 benefits, I received a denial of self-employment services.

This was a process that took a lot of time and focus. I previously created a paginated, searchable PDF version of the M28R for my readers to make it easier to address bad agency decisions. The documents are also useful because it helps identify errors in legal reasoning that can impact decisionmaking.Īs a VA accredited attorney with a practice focus on denied Chapter 31 benefits, I’ve been waiting for the new iteration of the manual for some time. It is important veterans and their representatives are familiar with the documents because they usually broadcast how agency employees will decide various matters. While these manuals do not carry the weight of law, they are generally treated like bibles by agency staff. Policy manuals like this, similar to the M21-1MR for disability compensation, are supposed to interpret ambiguities in regulations to help VA employees make proper decisions. Vocational rehabilitation counselors are mandated to follow the M28C. These manuals are required reading for employees who work in Chapter 31. RELATED: Chapter 31 Voc Rehab Survival Guide Why Does M28C Matter? Instead, readers were required to download each subpart of the manual to review parts of the document. Previous versions of the policy manual, formerly M28, then M28R, now M28C, were not searchable using HTML. The M28C Veteran Readiness and Employment Manual is now online in searchable digital formal for the first time. The release comes after years of preparation and rewriting the internal policies governing decisionmaking and conduct of Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation counselors and related employees. The Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness And Employment program, formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, quietly launched its new online M28C bible on Friday.

Va employee manual