In This Section

Introduction

• background on Project SHAD
• identifying a SHAD claim, and
• end product (EP) control of SHAD claims.

Change Date

VIII.iii.6.A.1.a.  Background on Project SHAD

VIII.iii.6.A.1.b. Identifying a SHAD Claim

• Project SHAD was part of a larger effort called Project 112, with tests being both ship- and land-based.  For Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) purposes, all claims resulting from participation in ship-based or land-based chemical or biological testing under these projects are considered SHAD claims.
• A claim in which the Veteran clearly served outside of the dates SHAD was conducted would not be considered a SHAD claim but could be considered a chemical-biological exposure claim that must be clarified with the claimant.

VIII.iii.6.A.1.c.  EP Control of SHAD Claims

Introduction

• researching exposure in the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER)
• regional office (RO) verification of SHAD participation
• referring a claim to Compensation Service for verification of participation in Project SHAD
• processing a response from DoD regarding SHAD participation, and
• requesting medical opinions for SHAD participants.

Change Date

VIII.iii.6.A.2.a.  Researching Exposure in ILER

VIII.iii.6.A.2.b.  RO Verification of SHAD Participation

VIII.iii.6.A.2.c.  Referring a Claim to Compensation Service for Verification of Participation in Project SHAD

• affixing special issue indicators, see
  • M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.F.2
  • M21-4, Appendix E, and
  • the VBMS Core User Guide
• adding a tracked item, see the VBMS Core User Guide, and
• associating an eFolder note, see 
  • M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 2.A.1.c, and
  • the VBMS Core User Guide.

VIII.iii.6.A.2.d.  Processing a Response From DoD Regarding SHAD Participation

VIII.iii.6.A.2.e. Requesting Medical Opinions for SHAD Participants

• a request for a direct SC medical opinion regarding any relationship between the claimant’s current disability and exposure to agents, simulants, tracers, and decontaminants used in the test(s) the Veteran was involved in
• a copy of all applicable DoD fact sheets for the test(s) the Veteran participated in, and
• relevant evidence identified for the examiner’s review, including the ILER Summary.

• If the name of the test(s) is/are known, in the comment section of the examination request, include a list of the agents, simulants, tracers, and decontaminants listed in the DoD fact sheet.
• Many claimants were involved in multiple tests.  Medical examiners need information about all tests in which the Veteran was involved.