Adjudicators may process a fully favorable allowance determination without awaiting
receipt of, or continuing to follow up on, requests for evidence that should not,
in the judgment of the adjudicative team, affect the allowance determination. Curtail
development if the evidence is sufficient to establish that:
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the claimant meets the medical or medical and vocational criteria for disability,
including duration, and
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the Established Onset Date (EOD) is fully favorable.
For an explanation of when EOD is not fully favorable, see DI 25501.280A.
EXCEPTION: Do not curtail development of the claimant’s visual impairment allegation if statutory
blindness is possible and the case requires a statutory blindness finding. For policy
about when the DDS must make a statutory blindness determination, see:
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DI 26005.005 Title XVI Statutory Blindness Evaluation Issues
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REMINDER: This instruction does not change the requirements regarding the initial request for
evidence or the final determination.