3.160—Status of claims.

The following definitions are applicable to claims for pension, compensation, and dependency and indemnity compensation.
(a) Informal claim. See § 3.155.
(b) Original claim. An initial formal application on a form prescribed by the Secretary. (See §§ 3.151, 3.152 ).
(c) Pending claim. An application, formal or informal, which has not been finally adjudicated.
(d) Finally adjudicated claim. An application, formal or informal, which has been allowed or disallowed by the agency of original jurisdiction, the action having become final by the expiration of 1 year after the date of notice of an award or disallowance, or by denial on appellate review, whichever is the earlier. (See §§ 20.1103 and 20.1104 of this chapter.)
(e) Reopened claim. Any application for a benefit received after final disallowance of an earlier claim, or any application based on additional evidence or a request for a personal hearing submitted more than 90 days following notification to the appellant of the certification of an appeal and transfer of applicable records to the Board of Veterans Appeals which was not considered by the Board in its decision and was referred to the agency of original jurisdiction for consideration as provided in § 20.1304(b)(1) of this chapter.
(f) Claim for increase. Any application for an increase in rate of a benefit being paid under a current award, or for resumption of payments previously discontinued.

Code of Federal Regulations

[27 FR 11887, Dec. 1, 1962, as amended at 31 FR 12056, Sept. 15, 1966; 55 FR 20148, May 15, 1990; 58 FR 32445, June 10, 1993]