38 U.S.C. § 5108

Supplemental claims

(a) In General.—

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) Duty to Assist.—

(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.

(Added Pub. L. 100–687, div. A, title I, § 103(a)(1) , Nov. 18, 1988 , 102 Stat. 4107 , § 3008; renumbered § 5108, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1) , May 7, 1991 , 105 Stat. 238 ; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1) , (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991 , 105 Stat. 404 , 405; Pub. L. 115–55, § 2(i)(1) , Aug. 23, 2017 , 131 Stat. 1109 .)