What does VA's Development Process involve when processing claims?

The Development Process of the VA for processing claims is centered around the principle of attempting to gather all relevant evidence. This comprehensive approach ensures that veterans receive fair evaluations based on the full context of their claims. The process entails actively seeking out information from various sources, which may include both federal and non-federal records, as well as personal statements and other pertinent documentation from claimants.

By emphasizing the collection of all relevant evidence, the VA aims to create a complete picture that informs the decision-making process regarding benefits and entitlements. This thoroughness helps to minimize errors and ensures that claims are supported by adequate and substantiated data.

Collecting evidence exclusively from federal sources does not align with the VA's mission of comprehensive assessment, as many claimants may have evidence from private or community resources that could impact their claims significantly. Ignoring provided evidence would be contrary to the goal of an equitable review process, as it would dismiss potentially crucial information. Lastly, deciding claims without gathering further evidence would undermine the integrity of the decision-making process and could lead to unjust outcomes for veterans. Therefore, the focus on gathering all relevant evidence stands as the cornerstone of the VA's Development Process.