# Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program-Duty To Assist
> **US Department of Veterans Affairs** · Final rule. · Published 2009-07-06 · Effective 2009-08-05 · 74 FR 31854
## Document
- **Document number:** E9-15860
- **Category:** va-other
- **Agency:** US Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Federal Register citation:** 74 FR 31854
- **CFR reference:** 38 CFR 21
- **Publication date:** 2009-07-06
- **Effective date:** 2009-08-05
## Abstract

This document amends the vocational rehabilitation and employment regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning VA's responsibility to provide notification regarding information or evidence needed for an individual to substantiate a claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits and services, and regarding applicable time periods. VA's duty to assist claimants in substantiating their claims for benefits was expanded by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. This rulemaking incorporates those provisions in VA's regulations. Specifically, upon receipt of a substantially complete application for benefits, VA will make reasonable efforts to help the claimant obtain the evidence necessary to substantiate the claim. In addition, VA is making changes to improve readability and other clarifying changes that are nonsubstantive.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/07/06/E9-15860/vocational-rehabilitation-and-employment-program-duty-to-assist)
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