MC/ WW is a claim involving any current or former member of a military service who

• •

  sustained an illness, injury, or wound;

• •

  is alleging a physical or mental impairment, regardless of how the impairment occurred, or where it occurred (i.e., United States or on foreign soil); and

• •

  sustained the impairment while on active duty status on or after October 1, 2001.

There are physical and mental impairments (e.g., post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury) that a military service member can sustain while on active duty status. These impairments may not become disabling until after the claimant leaves the military. Thus, the claimant may not file a disability application until after they leave the military. In this situation, as long as the claimant meets the above definition, adjudicators will flag the claimant as a MC/WW and follow the expedited processing procedures.

The following defines active duty:

• •

  Claimants on full-time duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, including those on active duty for training;

• •

  Students at U.S. Military academies and pre-deployment training facilities;

• •

  Claimants in the National Guard (Army or Air Force) ordered to active federal full-time duty by the President of the United States in times of war or national emergency;

• •

  Claimants in reserve components of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard called to active duty, including those claimants performing full-time training, annual training, or attending school designated as a Military Service School by law or by the applicable Secretary.

If a service member files a claim, follow these procedures:

1. 1. 

   When the claimant’s SSN matches the information in the SSA ICDB, an alert may appear in either one of or all of the following:

   • •

     Visitor Intake Program (VIP)

   • •

     Customer Service Record (CSR)

   • •

     Customer Help and Information Program (CHIP)

2. 2. 

   During case creation, when the SSN is present in the CLIENT military casualty segment, the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) automatically attaches an MC/WW flag.

If the SSN match occurs after initial case creation, the MC/WW flag re-propagates into EDCS during case creation at any adjudicative level.

If the claimant’s SSN does not match the information in the SSA ICDB (i.e., no alert is present in VIP, CSR, or CHIP), but the claimant alleges a disability resulting from an illness, injury, or wound that occurred while on active duty status on or after October 1, 2001:

• •

  Manually establish an MC/WW flag in EDCS.
  
  (For instructions on manually establishing a flag, see DI 81010.080 Alerts, Flags, and Messages in the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS))

• •

  If the case is a paper modular disability folder (MDF), attach a paper MC/WW flag to the MDF.
  
  See an exhibit of the paper flag in DI 11005.006I.

To ensure expeditious handling, be alert to the possibility of disability claims resulting from military service casualties. When a claimant contacts the FO to file a disability claim

1. 1. 

   Identify if the claimant is alleging their disability occurred while on active duty status on or after October 1, 2001.

2. 2. 

   Have the claimant file the application that day, if possible. If the claimant is unable to file an application on the day of initial contact, take the following steps to expedite the appointment process:

   1. a. 

      Schedule an appointment within three business days after contact; and

   2. b. 

      Add the remark “Military Casualty/Wounded Warrior Case” on the Leads and Protective Filing Information (LPF1) screen in the Enhanced Leads and Appointment System (eLAS). For more information on the LPF1 screen in eLAS, see MS 00601.006.

If the claimant contacts the N8NN for an appointment and the agent cannot schedule an appointment with the servicing FO within three business days, the agent transmits a referral to the FO via the LPF1 screen with “Military Casualty/Wounded Warrior Case” in remarks.

Upon receipt of the N8NN referral, contact the claimant within two business days to schedule an appointment.