AI-summarized from official sources and checked against the source text. Each item links to the official page.
In this update: 1 good, 2 potentially negative, 4 procedural, 4 unclear.
The M21-1 is the manual VA claims processors follow. VA lists every update on its KnowVA "Changes by Date" page. These are the February 2026 updates that relate to benefits we cover.
These updates change how VA processes claims. They do not change the benefit amounts or rules on our pages; those come only from the law and official benefit pages.
Feb 6, 2026 · M21-1 VII.ii.1.ALink to “Feb 6, 2026 · M21-1 VII.ii.1.A”
Unclear — check the official pageWho: claimants applying for DEA benefits (school children of veterans and survivors)Why: We couldn't confirm the effect on veterans from the official text.
What changed. M21-1, Part VII, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section A - Benefit Entitlement for School Children Updated to clarify that claims processors should no longer send eligible claimants physical versions of VA Form 22-5490 for DEA benefits.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part VII, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section A - Benefit Entitlement for School Children
Updated to clarify that claims processors should no longer send eligible claimants physical versions of VA Form 22-5490 for DEA benefits.
Official source (external site)
Feb 6, 2026 · M21-1 XIII.i.1.BLink to “Feb 6, 2026 · M21-1 XIII.i.1.B”
Procedural / no direct effectWho: DEA-eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and childrenWhy: VA staff are told to stop mailing paper copies of VA Form 22-5490 to people found eligible for DEA. Decision notices instead direct surviving spouses and other eligible claimants to the online application page, so eligibility and benefits stay the same. Claimants who want a paper form may have to look for it themselves.
What changed. M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section B - Notification and Award Actions for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Updated to clarify that claims processors should no longer send eligible claimants physical versions of VA Form 22-5490 for DEA benefits.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section B - Notification and Award Actions for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)
Updated to clarify that claims processors should no longer send eligible claimants physical versions of VA Form 22-5490 for DEA benefits.
Official source (external site)
Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 IX.iii.1.FLink to “Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 IX.iii.1.F”
Potentially negative for veteransWho: Spouses and dependents of pension recipients seeking apportionment (claims received on or after Feb 9, 2026)Why: For claims received on or after February 9, 2026, VA would apportion pension benefits to a spouse or dependents in fewer circumstances, so family members who live apart from a veteran or survivor could lose a share of the benefit they might previously have received. This manual update implements the final rule's narrower apportionment eligibility.
What changed. M21-1, Part IX, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section F - Dependents for Current-Law Pension Purposes Updated guidance based on the final rule that amends VA’s regulations to limit the circumstances in which benefits will be apportioned for claims received on or after February 9, 2026.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part IX, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section F - Dependents for Current-Law Pension Purposes
Updated guidance based on the final rule that amends VA’s regulations to limit the circumstances in which benefits will be apportioned for claims received on or after February 9, 2026.
Official source (external site)
Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 X.iii.1.DLink to “Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 X.iii.1.D”
Potentially negative for veteransWho: Spouses, children, and dependents of veterans receiving pension, especially those in VA-paid institutional careWhy: For claims received on or after February 9, 2026, VA would apportion benefits in fewer situations, so spouses, children, or other dependents could get less often a share of a veteran's payments. This includes pension withheld during VA-paid institutional care, though the excerpt does not say exactly which cases are cut.
What changed. M21-1, Part X, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section D - Adjusting Pension Under 38 CFR 3.551 and 3.556 Updated guidance based on the final rule that amends VA’s regulations to limit the circumstances in which benefits will be apportioned for claims received on or after February 9, 2026.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part X, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section D - Adjusting Pension Under 38 CFR 3.551 and 3.556
Updated guidance based on the final rule that amends VA’s regulations to limit the circumstances in which benefits will be apportioned for claims received on or after February 9, 2026.
Official source (external site)
Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.3.CLink to “Feb 9, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.3.C”
Good for veteransWho: Children of deceased veterans who are not in the custody of a potential surviving spouse, and their custodiansWhy: When a child who lives apart from a possible surviving spouse is entitled to DIC, VA staff are told to start paying that child's benefit rather than waiting for the spouse's separate claim to be decided. Affected children, or their guardians or custodians, should receive money sooner, though the amounts could later be adjusted once the spouse's claim is resolved.
What changed. M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section C - Awarding Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to Children Based on the Determination of Surviving Spouse Entitlement Updated to clarify that payment of DIC to a child, who is not in the custody of a potential surviving spouse, must not be delayed while a DIC determination is pending for the potential surviving spouse’s entitlement.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section C - Awarding Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to Children Based on the Determination of Surviving Spouse Entitlement
Updated to clarify that payment of DIC to a child, who is not in the custody of a potential surviving spouse, must not be delayed while a DIC determination is pending for the potential surviving spouse’s entitlement.
Official source (external site)
Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 VIII.iii.7.BLink to “Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 VIII.iii.7.B”
Procedural / no direct effectWhy: This is an internal VA claims-processing manual update about how staff submit military personnel records requests (code O50) to NPRC. It does not change eligibility, benefits, or what a veteran must submit for an asbestos-exposure claim.
What changed. M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iii, Chapter 7, Section B - Development and Examination Requests for Claims Based on Exposure to Asbestos Updated to reflect that PIES is no longer the primary method to submit code O50 requests to NPRC.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iii, Chapter 7, Section B - Development and Examination Requests for Claims Based on Exposure to Asbestos
Updated to reflect that PIES is no longer the primary method to submit code O50 requests to NPRC.
Official source (external site)
Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 VIII.iv.1.BLink to “Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 VIII.iv.1.B”
Procedural / no direct effectWho: Veterans with MST-related claims (internal VA processing change)Why: This is an internal instruction for VA claims processors: when a claim is flagged as MST-based, they must label the supporting document(s) in the SUBJECT field so later processors can find them. Veterans' benefits, eligibility, and filing requirements stay the same.
What changed. M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 1, Section B - Development for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Other Claims Related to Personal Trauma Updated to add guidance on identifying the specific document(s) used to determine a claim is based on MST.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 1, Section B - Development for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Other Claims Related to Personal Trauma
Updated to add guidance on identifying the specific document(s) used to determine a claim is based on MST.
Official source (external site)
Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.1.ALink to “Feb 11, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.1.A”
Procedural / no direct effectWhy: This is an internal VA claims-processing manual update about which system staff use to request a deceased Veteran's pay grade records from NPRC. DIC eligibility, rates, and what survivors must do are unchanged.
What changed. M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section A - Overview of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Updated to reflect that PIES is no longer the primary method to submit code O50 requests to NPRC.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section A - Overview of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Updated to reflect that PIES is no longer the primary method to submit code O50 requests to NPRC.
Official source (external site)
Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 IX.iii.2.ALink to “Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 IX.iii.2.A”
Unclear — check the official pageWho: surviving spouses and children in Medicaid-covered nursing facilitiesWhy: We couldn't confirm the effect on veterans from the official text.
What changed. M21-1, Part IX, Subpart iii, Chapter 2, Section A - Pension Reductions for Medicaid-Covered Nursing Facility Care Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part IX, Subpart iii, Chapter 2, Section A - Pension Reductions for Medicaid-Covered Nursing Facility Care
Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Official source (external site)
Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 XI.iii.1.BLink to “Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 XI.iii.1.B”
Unclear — check the official pageWho: families of deceased veterans and survivors claiming burial benefitsWhy: We couldn't confirm the effect on veterans from the official text.
What changed. M21-1, Part XI, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section B - Burial Benefits Updated to add guidance on expanded burial eligibility, automated burial transportation, and handling unclaimed Veteran remains claims.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part XI, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section B - Burial Benefits
Updated to add guidance on expanded burial eligibility, automated burial transportation, and handling unclaimed Veteran remains claims.
Official source (external site)
Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.1.BLink to “Feb 27, 2026 · M21-1 XII.i.1.B”
Unclear — check the official pageWho: surviving spouses and children claiming DIC or Survivors PensionWhy: We couldn't confirm the effect on veterans from the official text.
What changed. M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section B - Common Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Processing Issues Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Source quotes
M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section B - Common Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Processing Issues
Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Updated to add guidance on when Survivor's Pension at the Medicaid rate may be paid as the greater benefit instead of DIC.
Official source (external site)
Full list: 2026 M21-1 Changes by Date on KnowVA (external site)