The determination must be complete enough to demonstrate the adjudicator's reasoning
process in showing the weight given to various pieces of evidence and to explain why
the evidence is considered sufficient to establish the claimant's DB.
This determination must clearly justify the decision that the evidence in file establishes
the DB. All factors that influenced the adjudicator in the decision must be reflected
in file and might include:
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What efforts were made to get evidence of higher probative value
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•
Statements from the claimant indicating that he/she lacks information needed to obtain
some other record which might be available, and
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•
Other pertinent information relating to the evidence included or not obtained.
Presenting this picture of the evidence development is especially important in those
cases in which the adjudicator would be dissatisfied with basing his/ her decision
on the evidence in file if evidence of higher probative value were available.
If the adjudicator believes the evidence in file is of sufficiently high probative value to establish the DB without pursuing further
evidence which may be available, the determination must show the reason for this decision.