End Products (EPs) - VA Claim Types
Overview
End Product codes identify what type of action the VA is processing on your claim. Understanding these codes helps you interpret status updates and anticipate next steps.
Chief's Take: End Product codes tell you what type of claim action the VA is working on. EP 010 is your initial claim. EP 020 is an increase. Knowing these codes helps you decode the status tracker hieroglyphics.
How EP Codes Work
When the VA receives your claim, it assigns an End Product code based on the type of action needed. These three-digit codes appear in your claim status and VA correspondence.
Code incrementing: When multiple EPs of the same series run simultaneously, the number increases by one. For example, if you already have an EP 040 active and file another supplemental claim, the second becomes EP 041.
Claim consolidation: The VA cannot maintain multiple active EPs for 010s, 020s, and 110s at the same time. If you file additional claims while one is pending, they eventually merge. Earlier claims may appear "cancelled" administratively but are actually combined with the active claim.
Common EP Codes
| Code | Claim Type |
|---|---|
| 010 | Original claim (8+ contentions) |
| 020 | Subsequent claims after initial rating |
| 030 | Higher Level Review, BVA remands |
| 040 | Supplemental Claim |
| 110 | Original claim (fewer than 8 contentions) |
| 130 | Dependency changes |
| 310 | Future examination scheduling |
| 320 | Temporary 100% hospitalization determination |
| 400 | Incomplete claim correspondence |
| 600 | Due process notification required |
| 930 | Administrative error correction |
Special Situations
Authorization Review Claims (EP 699)
When the VA receives new service records from DoD without an active claim, the system generates an EP 699 automatically. A rater reviews whether the new records affect any existing rating.
In practice, most EP 699 reviews involve: - Duplicate records already considered - Documents irrelevant to rated conditions - Minor administrative corrections
Material changes to your rating through EP 699 are uncommon.
Wrongly Removed Claims
If you believe a properly filed claim was incorrectly removed or cancelled, schedule a VERA appointment and request supervisor review of the action.
What You Can Learn from EP Codes
Your EP code tells you: - Whether the VA considers this a new claim or a continuation - The general processing track for your claim - Why multiple claims might appear consolidated
What EP codes cannot tell you: - How long processing will take - Whether your claim will be approved - Your potential rating outcome
References
- M21-1, Part X (supplemental service records guidance)
- Appendix A: Regional Office Station Numbers
- Appendix B: End Product Codes
- Appendix C: Claim Label Index
BLUF: EP codes are internal tracking numbers. They help you understand what kind of claim the VA thinks it's processing. If your EP code doesn't match what you filed, something got miscategorized—schedule a VERA appointment to sort it out.