---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 C.F.R. § 21.182"
title: "38"
number: "21.182"
heading: "“Applicant” status."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/38/21.182"
---

# §21.182. “Applicant” status.

- (a) **Purpose.** The purposes of applicant status are to:
  - (1) Process a veteran's claim for assistance under Chapter 31 in a timely manner; and
  - (2) Identify service-disabled veterans whom VA should contact individually to increase their awareness and understanding of how they may benefit from services furnished under Chapter 31.
- (b) **Assignment to applicant—** status. VA will assign a veteran's records to applicant status when either:
  - (1) VA receives a formal or informal application from a veteran for services under Chapter 31; or
  - (2) **The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Division—**
    - (i) Advises a veteran in writing of the veteran's potential eligibility for Chapter 31 services, or
    - (ii) Is informed that the veteran has been advised in writing of his or her potential eligibility for Chapter 31 services by other VA elements.
- (c) **Termination of applicant—** status. Applicant status will be terminated when:
  - (1) An appointment for an initial evaluation has been kept by the veteran; or
  - (2) The veteran's service-connected disability is reduced to a noncompensable degree; or
  - (3) The veteran's service-connected disability is severed; or
  - (4) The veteran's application is invalid because of fraud or error; or
  - (5) **The veteran withdraws his or her claim, or otherwise indicates that no further assistance is desired.**
- (d) **Transfer of terminated cases to discontinued—** status. Each instance in which a veteran's case is terminated for reasons described in paragraph [(c)(4)](#c-4) or [(5)](#c-5) of this section shall be placed in discontinued status.

## Notes

### Amendments

[49 FR 40814, Oct. 18, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 2518, Jan. 23, 1987; 87 FR 8743, Feb. 16, 2022]

### Authority

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 18, 31, and as noted in specific sections.

### Source

Source: 49 FR 40814, Oct. 18, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[49 FR 40814, Oct. 18, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 2518, Jan. 23, 1987; 87 FR 8743, Feb. 16, 2022]