Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§5108 Supplemental claims

Title 38 › Part PART IV— - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Chapter CHAPTER 51— - CLAIMS, EFFECTIVE DATES, AND PAYMENTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - CLAIMS › § 5108

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If you submit a supplemental claim with evidence that is both new and relevant, the Secretary must decide the claim again and consider all records on file. If you reasonably identify existing records — even ones held by another Federal agency — the Secretary must help get those records under section 5103A, and that help must be provided whether or not the evidence is found to be new and relevant.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §5108

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If new and relevant evidence is presented or secured with respect to a supplemental claim, the Secretary shall readjudicate the claim taking into consideration all of the evidence of record.
(b)(1)If a claimant, in connection with a supplemental claim, reasonably identifies existing records, whether or not in the custody of a Federal department or agency, the Secretary shall assist the claimant in obtaining the records in accordance with section 5103A of this title.
(2)Assistance under paragraph (1) shall not be predicated upon a finding that new and relevant evidence has been presented or secured.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Pub. L. 115–55 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If new and material evidence is presented or secured with respect to a claim which has been disallowed, the Secretary shall reopen the claim and review the former disposition of the claim.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3008 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–55 applicable to all claims for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides notice of a decision under section 5104 of this title on or after the later of 540 days after Aug. 23, 2017, or 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a certification of certain capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the new appeals system established by Pub. L. 115–55 and to address appeals of decisions on legacy claims, with provision for early applicability of the new appeals system to certain claims, see section 2(x) of Pub. L. 115–55, set out as a note under section 101 of this title, and bracketed note thereunder.

Effective Date

Section effective Sept. 1, 1989, see section 401(a) of Pub. L. 100–687, set out as a note under section 7251 of this title.

Construction

of 2017 Amendment Pub. L. 115–55, § 2(i)(2), Aug. 23, 2017, 131 Stat. 1109, provided that: “section 5108 of such title [38 U.S.C. 5108], as amended by paragraph (1), shall not be construed to impose a higher evidentiary threshold than the new and material evidence standard that was in effect pursuant to such section on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 23, 2017].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 5108

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73