For service organization representatives
The claims work you already do — with the checking done by the program instead of by memory.
Which one am I?
A representative is a person recommended by a recognized organization and accredited by VA (38 CFR 14.627(q)). Your organization asks VA for your accreditation — it files VA Form 21 with VA's Office of the General Counsel, and recertifies you every five years (38 CFR 14.629(a)).
Your service is free to the claimant: neither a recognized organization nor its representatives may charge or accept a fee (38 CFR 14.628(d)(2)(i), 14.636(b)).
Also an accredited attorney or claims agent? The claim's power-of-attorney form decides the hat: through the organization, no fee; in your own name on VA Form 21-22a, the fee rules apply (38 CFR 14.631(a), 14.636(b)).
Accreditation, checked against VA
VA publishes the list of everyone it has accredited. This program downloads that list and checks your number against it — not against memory.
The check runs on every sign-in, and every answer carries the date the list was fetched.
Deadlines, computed in one place
Every filing period is computed by one part of the program, with the federal holidays and the leap years in it.
The clock starts from the date VA mailed the decision, not the date on its face.
The protective filing
Where a deadline is about to run out, a supplemental claim goes in before the last day — on your standing authorisation, with your name on it.
It is off until you turn it on. It can be turned off again. And it stops itself and asks a person wherever a supplemental claim is the wrong instrument.
Better to file and then withdraw than to miss the deadline that keeps the claim alive.