What is substitution?

Details

• A request for substitution generally must be filed within one year of the date of death, or within the time remaining in an existing filing deadline, whichever provides more time — the specific window can vary by claim status.
• Substitution can be requested by a surviving spouse, child, dependent parent, or (in limited circumstances) another person who can show they will bear the deceased's last expenses.
• Substitution differs from accrued benefits: a substituted party can develop the claim further and add new evidence, while an accrued-benefits claim is limited to the evidence in the file at death.
• Form 21P-0847 (Request for Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant) is the VA form generally used to request substitution.